‘Favourite’ Blocks and Barriers To Being Creative

by AnnA Rushton

Creativity can get blocked for a number of reasons. Sometimes we can’t get started on a project, sometimes we can’t finish it and in-between we can hit a wall. Your reasons will be particular to you, and can change depending on the project... Here are some of the ‘favourite’ blocks and barriers to being creative I first came across as a seven step outline from Linda Dessau's www.genuinecoaching.com site and have expanded them so you can see if you can identify your particular blocks and try the solutions!

1. Procrastination – stopping before you even get started.

First I must just ….
I haven’t got enough time right now
Later, when the job is less demanding, the children are older …
I haven’t got a computer
I know how to get started but I can’t see the end yet …..
My paperwork needs to be in order first
I haven’t got a special place to write
It needs a bit more thinking about or research
If I could just get the right idea, it’s not quite there yet

Try this: promise yourself you are only going to write for 5 minutes and then you can stop – you will usually carry on much longer. Do the writing first and never use writing time to pay bills, make phone calls or anything else!.

2. Perfectionism – judging yourself and your work too harshly.

Compassion starts at home – you are not required to be brilliant
Would you be this unkind to someone else?
Keep a separate notebook/paper by your side and write down your judgemental thoughts immediately and return to writing  
Treat yourself as a beloved, and talented child, don’t scold
All creativity comes from chaos, a divine spark, leave space
What is your biggest and loudest critic saying? Turn it round
The best work comes from love, not fear, accept your demons
Hold the vision of the outcome and go beyond your negativity

Try this: the world is always ready to judge your work, give yourself a head start and don’t do it for them. Keep a notebook by your side and just write down the negative thoughts that arise and go straight back to writing.

Then afterwards turn those negatives into positive statements – remember to be as kind to yourself as you would to anyone else, in fact more so.

3. Guilt – unable to put your own creativity before others needs.

Creativity is not selfish, it is essential for your wellbeing
God created the world, then attended to the needs of the people, play God when you create
When you create you are not saying no to others, you are saying yes to yourself
Every worker is entitled to a morning and afternoon tea break, around 15 minutes each. That’s 3 hours a week, not including Sunday you have available to play with!
Start with small amounts of time, 5-15 minutes and build up as you accustom others to accommodating your creativity

Try this: selfish is good, repeat that after me! There are always going to be demands on your time so you need to schedule writing time and make it a priority. You do have the right to do the things you want, and if you have to say to someone else’s demands think of it as saying yes to yourself.  

4. Negative/distorted thinking – seeing only problems or others successes.

Focus on what you are doing and not on other people’s work
Envy produces nothing useful– use it for your own creativity
Treat problems as opportunities and creatively solve them
Everyone gets stuck, don’t use it as an excuse for not moving forward
Because someone else is successful does not mean you will not be

Try this: OK, you are not going to be another J K Rowling, but if you want to write a wizard fantasy go right ahead because it will be yours, and uniquely different. Just because someone else is successful doesn’t mean that you won’t be. Think of how many gardening books and thrillers there are and has that ever stopped someone writing another one?

 5. Clutter – it is hard to create in a confused physical or mental space.

Creativity comes from chaos – chaos needs a container to function in
You want to stimulate your imagination, clutter overwhelms your visual senses and draws energy from you
Clutter wastes time, if you can’t find your notes or materials that is less time you have for creating
Clutter is the procrastinator’s best friend

Try this: artists need stimulation, but it is hard to create in visual overwhelm. Keep your workspace clear enough to let the ideas through, plus if you really are a clutter hound you are going to have difficulty in finding your notes and ideas for the book in the first place.
 
6. Isolation – trying to do it all by yourself with no feedback/support.

Writers need nurture, time, space, love and support
You get insights from others feedback that can help you get unstuck
Ask for help, not for criticism
Get the opinion of someone you trust, not themselves a failed writer, or join a writers group or circle.
Timing is critical for feedback, not too early or too late

Try this: the idea of a writer in a garret is a romantic one and if that’s what you want by all means go ahead, but we all work better with support from others and positive feedback on our work can go a long way to improving it. That’s why there are writers’ circles and creative writing classes.

7. Inspiration – either not having it or waiting around for it to strike.   
 
Creativity is 90% perspiration and 10% inspiration
The ‘muse’ strikes when you are in position, open and ready to work
You create inspiration through awareness and application
You don’t have to be inspired to create
Creating something means putting yourself in a position to work, and then doing just that!

Try this:   of course it will strike eventually, but you could sit around for ever waiting. Real writers just get on with it and write something while waiting for the muse to strike, and strangely enough that is often inspired. If you are really stuck then do a writing exercise, write an imaginary letter to a historical figure you admire and tell them why and what impact they have had, describe in mind boggling detail the worst thing that has ever happened to you, and the best. Don’t wait, write!

You now have some information to get to the heart of what is holding you back. It’s not about beating yourself up but about honestly looking at what the problems are and then putting in place a solution that works. Just one small step at a time, and you will crack it.

Need more help? Read on.

Writer’s Toolbox

You will soon find the things that you need to make writing easy and pleasurable for you. It’s not about suffering, it’s about creating an environment that supports you to write regularly. So think about these:

A place to work that is comfortable and where you can keep your material

The right equipment

Music to write with

Ideas box/inspiration board

Artists dates/Treat jar

Resources to help you write and provide research

An answerphone so you are not distracted or the means to switch the phone off while you are writing

A notice for your day that says ‘keep out writer at work’ and pin it there while you are writing and impress on the family that it means what it says

Schedule regular writing time into your diary – it’s not going to happen if you don’t

Creativity can get blocked for a number of reasons. Sometimes we can’t get started on a project, sometimes we can’t finish it and in-between we can hit a wall. Your reasons will be particular to you, and can change depending on the project, but there are some methods that we all seem to share!

I hope these help you.    

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Article published with kind permission of author.

AnnA Rushton - life and creativity coaching -
see her site Creative Catalyst creativecatalyst.co.uk

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