Wisdom For When You’re Feeling Stuck in Your Writing

Lately, writing has been a challenge for me.

Let’s step back a moment to start with the obvious: writing is hard.

Sometimes the ideas don’t flow onto the page the way they sound in your head.

This may be unique to me, but I don’t think it is. I’ve heard esteemed writers detail the challenges and terrors of writing. Especially when it comes to writing about your personal experiences, or crafting narratives.

Writing is both art and a means of expression. Articulating the ideas, choosing words, forming sentences, creating coherency — it’s all freaking hard.

Cognitively knowing this and actually embodying this to the point where you can have compassion for yourself are two different things. And I tend to struggle with the latter.

Self-judgment is my habit. And it makes everything worse.

The other day I sat down to journal about my challenges. I journaled the old-fashioned way: pen on paper. There’s an alchemy that happens in this form; a truth that speaks through me.

What comes through when journaling by hand is not from my mind, but from a place of deep wisdom.

What came through was helpful to me. And I felt called to share it because you might also find it helpful.

Writing is hard. If you’re struggling with it, know you’re not alone.

Here is the wisdom:

The reason you’re feeling stuck in your writing is because you’re focused on the outcome, the result, the purpose of the writing. You’re trying to make a point.
No other art form gets wrapped up in this michegas.
A dancer doesn’t think about the impact on the audience. A musician doesn’t consider the point of the composition. A painter doesn’t think about a call to action.
The purpose of the dancing is the dance.
The impact of the art is a byproduct of the creative expression.
When we express who we are, people connect. They are moved to take action because something stirs within them when they watch, observe, listen, or read. Not because you asked a question or encouraged them to “share in the comments.”
Give yourself the freedom to fully express.
Let go of your vision of what it might look like or how it might serve.
Just express yourself with joy.
Create art and poetry.
Paint. Draw. Make a mess.
Give yourself permission to suck, to fumble, to dance, to fall.
Let your creative soul live free.