How to Destroy Writer's Block

Whether you're a writer or not, we have all felt a lack of creativity or inability to focus and get something done. As a writer, I know there are times when I feel inspired and writing comes easily. I can write pages in what feels like no time at all. Other times I can spend 30 minutes and only get a sentence or two. It's crazy!

This weekend I watched a 30 minute class by Mozart Guerrier called How to Destroy Writer's Block and it was fantastic!

Mozart is a good friend (you may remember him from his awesome Everyday Humanitarians interview this summer) and I think the advice he shares is amazing.

Here are his 10 Big Ideas briefly, including many I hadn't thought of before:

1. Inner Writers’ Script - we all have voices in our head, rewrite your script and make it positive
2. Accept the Help - before you take in more information (books, blog posts, etc) act on the help you've already received
3. You Deserve a Three Minute Experiment - write for 3 minutes at a time, that's all - just get started
4. Community = Life - all great writers don't just do it alone, they have communities of support - find yours
5. Going Deeper with Quality Music + Books - you get out what you put in - find work you adore and consume it again and again
6. Embracing Distraction - don't be ashamed, leverage what you love and make it into something great
7. The *Body* is Bigger than the Brain - start with breathing (4 seconds in, 6 seconds out), talk a walk, take care of yourself
8. Speak It Out, Yo - ever had talker's block? Of course not. Write how you talk, record yourself - it works wonders.
9. Chunking and God’s Business - focus on the why, not the what
10. 3 Magic Questions - Ask these questions to characters in your story: Have you ever been accused of something you didn't do? Do you know the circumstances of your birth? Have you ever almost died?

Thanks for teaching a great class Mozart, I look forward to seeing what you come up with next!

To learn more, check out Mozart's class.

Here's to ending writer's block!

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I was so inspired by Mozart's opening to the class with his reading of The Invitation that I decided to do my own!

On Friday I'll share my recording with you as well as a copy of the poem. Check back or subscribe to see it then!

The Happiness of Pursuit

  I'm very happy to say that I received an advanced copy of Chris Guillebeau's book, The Happiness of Pursuit: Finding the Quest That Will Bring Purpose to Your Life, which launched today in bookstores around the country and I love it! I've included my brief video review below.

I've been a long-time admirer of Chris and had a chance to sit down with him to ask a few questions about his new book. Thank you Chris for taking the time to share some of your thoughts with us and for writing a really fantastic book.

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What inspired you to write this awesome book?

Well, first I spent 10 years visiting every country in the world. :) After that, I felt like I had a story to tell.

What was your favorite part of writing it?

Learning that I wasn't alone in questing. At first I heard stories of other travelers pursuing travel-related quests, but then I began to see that there were all kinds of other quests, too. It was great to see how people had applied the concepts of pursuing a big adventure in their own way.

What is a quest? Is it just a long trip or athletic pursuit?

A quest has a few specific characteristics: a clear goal, a real challenge, and a set of milestones along the way. Interestingly, while a quest is often an extended physical journey—like visiting every country in the world or circumnavigating the oceans in a small sailboat—there are many other kinds of quests as well. Over several years of research, I met activists, academics, artists, and others who chose to spend long amounts of time on something that mattered to them. I was interested in why they undertook such a mission, and what happened to them as they drew closer to their goal.

How do questers decide on what to pursue and what to avoid?

If you’re going to pursue a quest, you should choose something you’re really excited about. My quest was to visit every country in the world, mostly because I loved travel and enjoyed combining it with the structure of goal-setting. Others focus on their own hobbies or passions, turning them into the long-term pursuits: to knit 10,000 hats, to walk across America, to become a real-life ninja, and so on.

It also helps if there’s a deeper purpose to your quest. Many of the people I talked to for the book felt a sense of calling or mission, even if they weren’t religious. They were compelled; they simply had to pursue the quest. They knew if they didn’t, they would always regret it.

Is it important to document a quest?

One of the key themes of quests is that they must be measurable. They must have an end goal—you have to be able to say, “This is what I’m working toward and I’ll complete it when x happens.” Documenting the steps along the way provides tremendous momentum, since you can see how far they’ve come and how far still remains.

In my case I used a Wikipedia article that contained a list of every country. I copied it into Evernote and whenever I visited a new country, I’d place a big X beside it. As the years went by, the number of Xs grew until there were only a few places I hadn’t visited. Finally, I was able to visit those places as well. Just having that file gave me a sense of urgency as I made my plans and set out on another Round-the-World trip or 30-hour series of flights.

What happens to someone after they’ve completed the quest or achieved their goal?

Most of the time there's a feeling of accomplishment combined with a sense of melancholy or even alienation. Quests are complicated! Very often, much of the identity of the quester lies in the quest itself. The best path forward is usually to take some time to reflect on the journey. Then—whenever the time is right—you’ll need a new quest.

How can people get involved in the amazing work you are doing?

I'm happy to connect with them on my blog or on their preferred social network. Oh, and I'm also doing a 40 city tour for the book. Please join us!

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I encourage everyone to go check out The Happiness of Pursuit by Chris Guillebeau, you won't regret it!

Happy People Have Projects

It's easy to forget this little bit of wisdom: happy people have projects.

I've had lots of up and down times in my life, in terms of passion, meaning and happiness, but certainly when I had projects those were the happiest times for me. I know that personally to be true.

Science also backs up that hypothesis. If you read Happier by Tal Ben-Shahar or A Philosopher's Notes by Brian Johnson, you'll see study after study that shows that people who have projects in their life -  hobbies or activities they are passionate about - are happier. Whether it's projects on the side or full-time projects, they are happier.

I was reminded of this when I watched this interview with Seth Godin below, which I loved. He talks about "art projects," doing what you love, why it's so hard to step out into that work and also why it's important to realize what is stopping us. I hope you enjoy it as much as I did.