What to Do When You Get Stuck In Your Project!
What to Do When You Get Stuck In Your Project!
Stuck In Your Project?
Do you ever get in a stuck place with your writing or creative project? I have and I know it is a natural part of the creative process. Yes, it can be uncomfortable, but I believe honoring our process supports the actual work and makes for better final product. I have experienced this at work in both my visual and my written art. Getting stuck usually shows up when I don’t like something, when something feels off or missing. When I was writing The Curious Magic of Buckeye Groves. I got stuck after writing thirty pages. At that point, I was bored with the story – something was missing and I was unclear what it was, therefore I began feeling completely uninspired. I actually set the project aside and started working on another story. Eventually a solution spontaneously arose and I was re-inspired and started working on it again, this time completely in the flow. I spoke with another author about this and she told me she often used the same tactic. I have heard of people who set aside a story for years before coming back to it. I think the key is letting go – a form of non-attachment which creates space for solutions to arise from our subconscious. Sometimes pushing too hard can get in the way.
There have been other times when I pushed myself through my resistance. Sometimes resistance is just resistance. Listening to music helps and so do walks in nature or sitting with trees. Creation is a very intuitive process and it is important to be attuned to the messages that come through and to trust myself.
Creative projects can be much like giving birth, there are moments when we breath and moments when we push. If you haven’t finished projects in the past, that is not a prescription for what will happen with your next one. The past is not a predictor of the future. Examine your beliefs about finishing projects and look at any limits you are putting on yourself. You may be pressuring yourself in ways that are not helpful.
Stuck in your project? Here are a variety of tips for approaching and/or overcoming the block:
- Don’t judge your block. Get curious about it. Visualize – how does that block show up in your body? Can you find a metaphor to describe it? What does the metaphor say about your block? This can be a powerful way to get under the surface to understand what is really going on.
- Re-examine your commitment and purpose. What was your original motive for this project? Is that still true? What is important to you about this project now?
- Examine your output goals? Are you beating yourself up over unrealistic goals? Our inner critics tend to get in our way and de-motivate us.
- Take a break and work on something else for a while
- Try pushing through your resistance for ½ hour. Did your engagement with the project change?
- What is a good source of inspiration for you? Music? Walks? Dance? Take some time to nourish your muse and then try writing again.
Of course you can always contact me and we can set up a session to explore your project idea, uncover your blocks and get you started pr working again.
Contact me to set up a Finally an Author session.
What to expect from a Finally and Author session:
- Create a sense of clarity around why you want to write your book
- Get in touch with your inspiration and your motivation for writing your book
- Discover the #1 reason why you haven’t written your book already
- Identify the most powerful actions that will get you writing consistently
- Complete the consultation with the excitement of knowing exactly how to move forward with your book project
You can reach me here, or call me at 925-207-9525.
Maura McCarley Torkildson, MA, CPCC, ACC
Communications CoachLearning SpecialistWriter
Certified Professional Co-Active Coach
www.mauratorkildsoncoaching.com
925-207-9525
