Hurdles Intro

So far, I've talked about how you can begin to prepare yourself more easily and effectively, but there are a few other things I'd like to talk about before we get to the actual creation section.

There are quite a few different elements to actually creating, and there are quite a few emotional elements linked to that. And I suppose that's really where this section focuses. What's going on in a writer's head. It's a big jumble of thoughts, worries, fears, hopes, and everything we've ever experienced and been taught. Then you add in our characters and the universes they live in on top, and it's a pretty crazy place.

And it can be a pretty lonely, isolating place. It's easy to feel misunderstood, or hopeless, when shit happens. It's easy to wonder if it is all worth it. Or worry that what we've just created totally sucks and is the suckiest piece of sucky writing in the history of sucking .

These thoughts, worries and baggage we have from previous failures can trip us up and prevent us from even sitting down to write, or sabotage us on the first words alone. It can cause havoc.

This section deals with how you can handle your emotions and mentality relative to your feelings. It explores ways you can learn to cope. What thoughts you can ignore, and when you just need someone else to tell you what you can't seem to tell yourself.

I'm also going to talk about procrastination. Let's face it, no book on productivity would be complete without something on procrastination. Everyone does it. I've even done it writing this book. When it comes to working on anything, procrastination always pops up at some point. But it's something that can be tamed and overcome. Beating procrastination is just another skill. And just like other skills, it can be learnt and applied again and again.

Finally, although writers tend to have moments where they combat these things, it's easier, and the downs in life are less difficult if the writer knows how to communicate effectively with others and build the right network of accountability and support around themselves. We all have bad days, but the right friends can help bring us out of creative lows and put us back into the creative zone again.

So let's start with what goes on inside our heads.