✍️ Diary of an Author: Battling Writer's Block and Procrastination
Put down that laundry and pick up the pen!
Happy Sunday! In today’s newsletter, you’ll learn about…
✍️ Why you’re *actually* procrastinating
☕️ The power of rituals and routines around your writing
😎 What I’m doing to be better at sticking to my writing goals
📖 3-Minute Story: “Fake” Productivity and Beating the Myth of Writer’s Block
It was here.
I ran to the front door, and opened it to see that telltale paper bag with a mermaid logo on it.
My partner Kyle watched with raised eyebrows as I brought it in with a big grin, setting down the bag on the kitchen counter.
Inside, my kryptonite:
A Starbucks Pumpkin Cream Cold Brew and cheese danish.
I’m having a writing day, I reasoned. It’s 110 degrees outside and there’s nothing to do but write, especially as our next trip to Peru and Costa Rica was right around the corner and I had goals to hit with my new book!
Starbucks was my version of smashing-the-emergency-glass and putting the equivalent of rocket fuel in my veins — a far cry from my usual mellow morning matcha.
It was go time.
Until…
I started thinking about the laundry I could do. Why not get that off my plate first? Oh, and I needed to go through the clothes I was taking for the last leg of my trip. Didn’t I have a few supplements I needed to order?
Eight hours later — no words were written.
Procrastination doesn’t come for me often, but when it does everything in the world looks more enticing than sitting down at my computer.
Today — if you can’t tell by these words being committed to the page — my procrastination is no more.
I get back to finding the words I need for the projects I’m working on with this 3 step process:
1️⃣ Step One: Stop and Declutter Your Feelings
I took a breather yesterday and pulled out my journal. Why was I sprinting through all these unrelated tasks but unable to get to my writing?
I realized I was feeling a little overwhelmed with all of the prep I had to do before leaving on the next leg of my travels. I wanted to be prepared for the epic adventures I had ahead of me, and I was burned out from stuffing all of my doctor/dentist/travel vaccine appointments in a week and a half.
Journaling always helps me identify what’s keeping me from the writing I want to do, and clear mental space to get back to the page.
2️⃣ Step Two: Get Out of Your Mind and Into Your Body
All of us suffer from some version of imposter syndrome or insecurity around our work — no matter how great of a writer you are!
This is why I love physical hobbies. I’ve always returned to things like yoga, running, and dance to help me overcome mental blocks with my work.
I also highly recommend investing in a foam roller or yoga ball to help work out tension in your muscles — you’d be surprised how much more relaxed you are when you use simple, low-cost tools like these in your stretching routine! (You can find my favorite at-home workout equipment here on my Amazon list.)
Working out can also help burn through any negative feelings that are keeping you from focusing — so pick up a paddle and get out on a pickleball court to get over your plot problems!
3️⃣ Step Three: Retreat into Routines and Rituals
You are what you do every day, so if you want to be a writer — show up as one!
This is why so many notable authors either wake up early or stay up late and create space, time, and quiet for their work.
Light a candle, get yourself a nice little pumpkin-flavored drink, turn on your writing playlist — do whatever helps your brain to associate “writing time” with a special set of rituals.
Because I travel all the time, I keep my rituals super simple. On days without meetings, I clear my inbox, clean my desk, turn on Lo-Fi music, and hit play on my Coffitivity browser extension, and dive into my work as my first deep work block of the day so that the page gets my best energy.
✍️ The Myth of Writer’s Block
Everyone likes to blame writer’s block, but in reality what you’re facing is much different than that.
It’s not writer’s block: that’s just a name for the messy feelings you haven’t felt fully yet, or your body telling you to go for a walk and get some sunshine and movement.
I find writer’s block evaporates when I look deeper into what I’m actually needing — inspiration, a tough workout, or a hug.
Have a great week, and I hope you get what you need to light your creative soul on fire. ✨
✨ 2 Quotes to Inspire You
“The best and most beautiful things in the world cannot be seen or even touched. They must be felt with the heart.” —Helen Keller
“We try so hard to hide everything we’re really feeling from those who probably need to know our true feelings the most. People try to bottle up their emotions, as if it’s somehow wrong to have natural reactions to life.” —Colleen Hoover
✍️ 1 Journal Prompt for Reflection
What is the root cause of your restlessness or any procrastination you’ve felt lately? What are things that are holding you back from hitting your writing goals?
Feel free to share your reflections with other Modern Authors in the comments:
💻 New Blog Posts on AmySuto.com
3 Steps: How to Write a Book Outline for Your Memoir or Nonfiction Book
My Favorite AI Tool: Text-to-Audio in YOUR Voice [Wondercraft AI Review]
🎙 New Diary of an Author Podcast Episodes
I create these podcasts episodes from my blog archives using the tool Wondercraft AI, a text-to-speech tool that speaks in your voice so you can create more podcasts, newsletter voiceovers (like the one you listened to on this newsletter!) and video voiceovers — all by just dropping in some text.
🎙 Use my code SUTO50 or this link to get 50% off your Wondercraft AI subscription!*
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📸 Photo of the Week: Archery as a Life Skill
Nobody believed me when I said that I hit the bullseye the first time I stepped foot in an archery class — until we did this escape room last week and I had to casually hit a bullseye in one shot to help us escape!
If you’re in Phoenix, you absolutely have to go to Nemesis Club, one of the top escape rooms in the world, and you must do the bigfoot room.
Follow me on X/Twitter or Instagram for more!
⚡️ Upcoming Wednesday Edition: 3 Life Hacks for Productive Writing Sessions
This Wednesday, the productivity train continues!
Diary of an Author subscribers will get an exclusive issue with…
✨ More productivity tips to help you make the most of your writing sessions
🧪 Life hacks and other tools that every writer needs to know about
📚 My findings on: is waking up early really worth it? And more on trying out other people’s writing productivity hacks
Sending creativity and good writing vibes your way,
-Amy