We talk about getting back into the “flow,” feeling like an idea dries up, sometimes that creativity rushes and overwhelms, or drip-drip-drips when we want it to gush. Instinctually, we seem to realize that creativity, and expressing that creativity, is as essential to our wellbeing as water is to our bodies. Sometimes facing blocks is best-done head-on. For me, getting to the root of the problem is quickest when I come at it sideways.

Lucky for us—I have read (or am reading) two books that will open our minds and blast open our blocks, if you are brave enough to join me. Are we ready to be brave? Excellent. 

Creativity Is Mysterious

First, I will admit that creativity’s source is mysterious. Like water, it feels like it is all around us in the air we breathe and buried in the ground we walk on. Creativity can feel like it is only reliably accessible to a select few who know where to dig or who know when it will rain and are in the right place at the right time.

Poppycock and fiddlesticks. Creativity is open for all. And those doors never shut.

Second, I will also admit it’s possible that reading about writer’s block is another form of procrastination. 

BUT…these books I am recommending aren’t writing craft books. 

There is a good reason for that. I don’t go looking for books that will help me with writer’s block because I refuse to admit there is a problem. That is the first step to recovery, right? Completely refuse to admit there is an issue? No? Well, it’s my first (and only) step. Huzzah for denial! Works all the time! (Kids don’t try denial without adult supervision.)

Usually what happens is I am reading a book for some other reason—like I think it might help me deal with my anxiety about the future, or it seems interesting. Honestly, there doesn’t need to be a reason except I liked the book jacket. (I DO judge books by their covers!)

Those books are the ones that end up unlocking creativity knots I didn’t even know I had, and that is exactly what happened with the two books I am about to tell you about.

“Every now and then one’s mind is stretched by a new idea or sensation, and never shrinks back to its former dimensions.” Oliver Wendell Holmes Sr.

Future Forecasting for Combating Writer’s Block

Stretching our minds is going to be so much fun! 

Imaginable: How to See the Future Coming and Feel Ready for Anything – Even Things that Seem Impossible Today by Jane McGonigal

Jane McGonigal is a future forecaster and game designer. I am already so intrigued, flipping over and reading the side flap.

I am about a third of the way through, and doing her “future imagining” exercises sounds terrifying after the last two years we’ve had, but it has unlocked a blind spot in my creativity I didn’t even know was there. McGonigal mentions these exercises help with creativity, but, honestly, I scoffed at it. 

I am not scoffing anymore. No scoffs! 

I have had three vivid dreams since I started these imagination exercises. Dreams in which I was an ancient Sumerian King fighting for his doomed kingdom, a small girl in India pitched against a global corporation, and finally, last night, I dreamed I was satisfied with everything in my life and utterly content. (Crazy right!?)

In completing the future scenario exercises, something has worked loose deep in my subconscious. There is something wonderful about tapping into your creativity while not thinking about writing. I used to paint when I was stuck on a plot point or scene, and now I know why. I needed to dip into that creativity well from another angle. Einstein used to play his violin. 

How Neuropsychology Is Catching up to Buddhism

You don’t have to be a Buddhist or a neuropsychologist to read book number two. The brief chapters are written in an easygoing style that is both straightforward and fascinating. 

No Self, No Problem: How Neuropsychology Is Catching Up to Buddhism by Chris Niebauer

Full disclosure: I have listened to this book about 4 times. There was such relief and joy in the support of right-brain thinking and a call for creativity that I felt bolstered and lifted as a creative when I read this book. 

Western society puts so much pressure on creatives needing to make money to be taken seriously, as if the art itself wasn’t the entire point. These judgments are left-brain perceptions. 

The premise of this book, that the “self” is in fact a myth created by our judging, pattern-seeking left brain, seems radical, nonsensical even. And so, I love this book. 

In the end, it isn’t whether the author’s premise is something I agree with or, frankly, even really understand. It’s the idea of my “self” as a concept I made up to explain the world has opened my mind.

Thomas Dewar said it best: “Minds are like parachutes – they only function when open.”

Open Minds, Defeat Writer’s Block

I encourage you to open your mind, open your heart, and see what happens to your creativity. 

This is a trigger warning for many people: you may have been told that opening your mind is dangerous. I can assure you from experience that this is not the case. 

You will not be lost if you are brave. You might be alone for a little while, but you won’t lose anything except that writer’s block. Keep learning, keep questioning, and stay curious. 

Be curious about your blocks, and come at them sideways with a book like the two above.

Is there a book that has pushed the boundaries of reality for you? A book that made you question yourself and your role in the world? If so, how did that affect your writing? Please tell me all about it and I will add them to my TBR list!

Tell us in the comments: What books have helped you break out of your writer’s block?

Angela Yeh is an East Coast Canadian native that lives and works in the great state of Texas. Angela is a black belt wanna-be who loves to garden, write about magic, and eat cake. She is the proud author of her debut YA fantasy novel, A Phoenix Rises, a finalist in the Dante Rossetti Book Awards for YA for 2021. She lives with her husband, two lovely human children, and three cranky fur babies. You can follow her on Twitter and Instagram or on her website.

The post Unlocking Writer’s Block Sideways appeared first on DIY MFA.

Today I have the great pleasure of hosting Julie Duffy on the show.

Julie is the founder of the StoryADay May creative writing challenge, which is basically like the short story version of NaNoWriMo. This challenge happens in May, which is only a few short weeks away and if you’re looking for a way to reboot your creativity, this is it. The StoryADay challenge is an incredible experience!

More personally, though, Julie and I both started our respective projects (her StoryADay, my DIY MFA) the same year and only a few months apart. You could say we’re part of the same creative cohort and we’ve “come up through the ranks” together. Julie is one of my most trusted colleagues, probably the person I most frequently turn to for advice and insights outside the DIY MFA team, and I’m also lucky to count her as one of my good friends. Today it is an honor and pleasure to introduce my word nerds to someone who I’ve known is AWESOME for quite some time.

In this episode Julie and I discuss:

• Whether writing one story a day for a month is easier or harder than writing a novel in a month.
• How to keep the creative well from running dry.
• Setting limits and how they can help you be more creative.
• Barriers to overcome in order to be more creative.

Plus, Julie’s #1 tip for writers.

Resources:

About Julie Duffy

Julie Duffy is the founder of StoryADay.org and a experienced public speaker on topics such as creativity, productivity for writers, self-publishing – with an emphasis on ebooks and print on-demand, and short stories. Her first ebook, 21st Century Publishing, was published in 2001 and grew out of her popular newsletter and website of the same name. She has been sharing tools and insights with authors ever since, in publications such as Writer’s Digest and Writers’ Journal.

Julie has hosted StoryADay May since 2010 and StoryADay September since 2012.

In the late 1990s and early 2000s, Julie was Director of Author Services at Xlibris, the first company to offer print on-demand services directly to authors. In this role she frequently spoke at writers’ conferences about the new age of publishing that was dawning and is now shaking apart the publishing world. She personally worked with a couple of thousand authors from first-time writers to best-selling authors such as Piers Anthony and Daniel Pinkwater.

She knows writers. She knows about the new world of publishing. She is happy to introduce them to each other. If you want to learn more about Julie and StoryADay, visit her website or follow her on Twitter, Facebook, or Pinterest.

Links from the Episode

Interested in signing up for StoryADay? Go here to sign up! You can also sign up for email updates to get reminders about upcoming challenges and other StoryADay info. And don’t forget to order your copy of A Month of Writing Prompts 2016 (affiliate link).

Need inspiration to jumpstart your story writing? Check out Writer Igniter.

We also mentioned That Guy in Your MFA during the show.

Link to Episode 91

(Right-click to download.)

Also, make sure you sign up for the Storytelling Superpower Summit in June. This week-long video training series will help you discover and harness your strengths as a writer. Best part is, it’s FREE.

To find out what your unique talent as a writer is, take the Storytelling Superpower quiz at: DIYMFA.com/STSP.

If you liked this episode…

Head over to iTunes, leave a review, and subscribe so you’ll be first to know when new episodes are available. Also, if you know anyone who might enjoy this podcast, please share!

Until next week, keep writing and keep being awesome.

The post Episode 91: How to Write Every Day – Interview with Julie Duffy appeared first on DIY MFA.

Creative monsters take many forms and use a variety of techniques to rip our creative ideas and spirit to shreds. In this episode, we’ll learn how to recognize the creative monsters in your life and how to avoid them.

If you’re enjoying these podcast episodes, please head over to  iTunes and leave a review. Also, make sure to subscribe soyou’ll be first to know when new episodes are available. Got friends who might enjoy this show? Help spread the joy by telling them about DIY MFA Radio.

Now let’s talk writing.

Creative monsters never hit you while you’re down. They jump out when you’re actually making progress and feeling successful. And they come in a variety of shapes and sizes.

• The boss who drops a giant project on you at the last minute, when you were headed out the door to have a weekend dedicated to working on your project.
• The friend who constantly asks you when you’re going to get published.
• The spouse who calls you with a crisis when you’re supposed to be writing.

All of these reasons can be legitimate, not intended necessarily to bring you down. Still they can chip away at your creative confidence if you don’t learn how to combat them. Here are three steps to help you evade these creative monsters in your life.

Tips for Monster Evasion

1. It’s not you, it’s them.

When you are being successful and creative, your monsters are feeling threatened. Their worldview, and the role that you play in it, can feel attacked. You’re doing something that takes away from who they expect you to be and that’s scary for them. And the people who are closest to you can be the biggest creative monsters because they have the most to lose.

It’s important for you to remember that you aren’t doing anything wrong. You can find small adjustments to help them deal with your creative side. But you will have to learn how to keep them at bay so that you can get to the important, creative work you have to do.

2. Avoid giving them ammunition

Your creative monsters may be well-intentioned, but they don’t understand writing and publishing like you do. Don’t complain to them about how hard writing is. Don’t go on a tirade against the publishing industry. They will only use this information for evil, not for good. The creative monsters will take these frustrations and build an argument for why you should quit writing altogether instead of helping you figure out how to work through the obstacles in your path.

Likewise, they may not understand the significance of small victories or exciting milestones that you encounter on your creative journey. Their reaction when you tell them about these things will only drag you down.

Instead, find a group of like-minded writers, your new creative allies, to share the ups and downs of your creativity with.

3. Practice self-care for the setbacks and celebrate the small victories.

Creative monsters can diminish your triumphs. Make sure to give yourself credit for your victories in a way that is meaningful for you. Whatever that looks like for you, make sure you tell yourself when you hit those little milestones.

Now, I’m dying to know…

Who are the creative monsters in your life? How can you lovingly evade them and care for yourself to help keep them at bay? Do you have any awesome, monster-evading techniques you’d like to share with us? Leave a comment below and tell us how you combat the creative monsters in your life.

Link to Episode 14

(Right-click to download.)

If you liked this episode…

Head over to iTunes, leave a review, and subscribe so you’ll be first to know when new episodes are available. Also, if you know anyone who might enjoy this podcast, please share!

Until next week, keep writing and keep being awesome.

The post Episode 14: Creative Monsters appeared first on DIY MFA.

If you’ve ever experienced writer’s block, you know that you have to get through all these stages to be able to get back to writing. Writer’s block is painful, but not writing is even more painful.

Listen to the episode below for details about the five stages and how to overcome them.

Stage 1: Denial

“I don’t have writer’s block. I’m just really busy.”

If you’re going to get past a block, you have to acknowledge that it is there and that any excuses you have for not being able to write are just a way of avoiding writing.

Stage 2: Anger

“I never have time to write. It’s not fair!”

Anger is a defense mechanism. It masks the truth that you’re not writing by shifting the blame to someone or something else. The cure is simple. Just start writing. Use your anger to fuel your creativity.

Stage 3: Bargaining

“If I don’t write today but I write twice as much tomorrow, it will even out, right?”

Bargaining is just a fancy word for denial. Don’t let the cycle of procrastination pick up momentum. Sit down and write, even if it’s only for 15 minutes.

Stage 4: Depression

“Why bother? Everything I write is lousy.”

Up until now, the focus of your inability to write has been external, but now it is internal. This phase happens when you let your frustrations about writer’s block become personal. It’s important to remember that this is just a temporary phase. The best way to work through it is to sit down and write something. It doesn’t have to be good. Failure is ok. Mistakes are what teach us so that we can do better next time.

Stage 5: Acceptance

“Maybe I have writer’s block, but it’s ok. I can still sit down and write through it.”

All it takes is one small step at a time to get back on track. Just sit down and write. When we carry our stories in our head, it’s like we’re carrying all of this excess baggage in our brains. We need to dump it onto the page so that we can clear our minds and so that we can make it into something beautiful.

Link to Episode 13

(Right-click to download.)

If you liked this episode…

Head over to iTunes, leave a review, and subscribe so you’ll be first to know when new episodes are available. Also, if you know anyone who might enjoy this podcast, please share!

Until next week, keep writing and keep being awesome.

The post Episode 13: The 5 Stages of Writer’s Block appeared first on DIY MFA.