Around the Writer's Block · Using Brain Science to Solve Writer's Resistance by Bane, Rosanne -- Read -- Imperial Library of Trantor

Index

CONTENTS SECTION 1: Overview 1. INTRODUCTION

What Do They Got That I Ain’t Got? Resistance Is Normal Resistance Can Be Resolved The Power of a Writing Habit

2. WHY IS IT SO HARD TO WRITE?

Why Do We Do That? If I Only Had a Brain Brain Basics Who’s Driving the Bus? Limbic System Takeovers Meet Aimee Who’s Your Dr. Claparède? Writing Is Its Own Reward—or Threat Recognizing Resistance Hope Is Not Lost Plastic Brain to the Rescue!

SECTION 2: Three Habits 3. HABIT ONE: PROCESS

Success Story Process Time Follow Their Lead—or Create Your Own Dance Surrender Expectations When and How

4. HABIT TWO: PRODUCT TIME

Success Story When Is It Process Time; When Is It Product Time? Why “Product Time” Instead of “Writing Time” Showing Up Is Key How to Evaluate Product Time Stages of the Creative Process The Second Key: Fifteen Magic Minutes First Things First Ten Reasons to Keep the Commitment Small Past Initial Inertia Surrender Illusions of Grandeur and Expectations of Perfection

5. HABIT THREE: SELF-CARE

Success Story: You Can’t Truly Care for Others If You’re Not Caring for Yourself Self-care Success Story: Self-care, Not Self-indulgence Success Story: Perchance to Achieve a Dream Success Story: On the Move Writers at Work—Attention Required Preserve Time to Focus Success Story: Quietly, Mindfully Refilling the Well Success Story: The Play’s the Thing Play Is Serious Business Play Is Creative

SECTION 3: Putting the Habits into Practice 6. RITUALS AND ROUTINES

Success Stories Why Are Writers So Superstitious? Experience Creates Connections Stop in the Middle Of

7. RECORD AND REWARD

Success Story Writer’s Log: Stardate 2012 Benefits of Tracking It Pays to Pay Yourself What Rewards Do to Creativity What Rewards Do for Routine Tasks Puppies and Teeter-totters: Shaping Behavior Shape-shifting

8. WHY IS IT SO HARD TO WRITE, REVISITED

Anti–success Story The Saboteur May or May Not Be Your Inner Critic Psychological Origins of the Saboteur Success Story Know Your Enemy Five Faces, Four Characteristics, One Goal Don’t Give In and Don’t Give Up Success Story An Obsession of a Different Color Get Clear

9. FOUR STEPS TO RESOLVING RESISTANCE

Learning Story What Went Wrong Resistance by Any Other Name That’s Life; This Is Resistance Why the Why Doesn’t Matter Relaxing in the Now The Leap of No Faith The Non-leap of Faith Smarter Than the Average Whale? Spontaneous Redirection

10. WHY IT MATTERS

Your Success Story Habit Begets Mastery Teaching Story: Feed the Right Wolf You Owe It to Them; You Owe It to Yourself Pay It Forward Success Story: Love Matters Public and Personal Success When Audience Matters Too Much Choose Your First Audience Well Can Your Partner Be Your Writing Buddy? Starting Over Success Story: Hope in the Face of Disappointment Keep It Small; Keep It Light; Keep It Up Please Tell Me Your Story

APPENDIX: FORMING A WRITER’S SUPPORT AND ACCOUNTABILITY GROUP (S&A GROUP) ACKNOWLEDGMENTS NOTES INDEX