10 Comments

For me,my writing resistance has to do with self-doubt. I get imposter syndrome everytime I write. “My ideas don't sound intelligent enough,“ “What am saying is not important”, and a whole lot more. Even when people genuinely compliment my writing, I just think it's a way to make me feel nice.

Thank you for this 10 minute tip. This is going to make writing less dreadful for me.

Expand full comment

I hear you! Always thinking “probably should read something first, so I can write something meaningful” wonder how much the academic culture around citation and who is considered worthy

Expand full comment

In my experience, it is helpful to treat writing as a way to sort out my own thinking. "Meaningful" doesn't occur until about fifth draft! :-)

Expand full comment

I know all about those thoughts, Sonia! Please let me know how the 10 minute approach works for you.

Expand full comment

I never got to see the film, but we had a (really bad) babysitter who told me the plot, when she was babysitting us. My parents got home to find me rigid with fear. And they had to find a new babysitter.

I read a great piece of advice in a blog once that helps me counter resistance - to start every writing session by forgiving myself for not writing more. Sitting down to write can bring up hard feelings about all the writing I haven't done, so I try to let that go with this small practice.

Expand full comment

that was a terrible babysitter, Razza!!! Great idea for countering writing resistance. Thanks for sharing that!

Expand full comment

I love this post, and I think it may help me get un-stuck. Monday will be my first scheduled 10-min writing day!

Expand full comment

Excellent! Good luck with it. It is small but effective.

Expand full comment

You are brilliant! I literally logged in at 11:55 for a noon college meeting, couldn't for the life of me find the Zoom link for 15 min, emailed Dean's asst.....then realized I was a week early. So I found an hour and started thru my emails and found your prompt, which I REALLY needed to 'hear.' So I am writing right now....and scheduled 3 times this week I will do so.

Expand full comment

That is wonderful, Laura - I am so happy to hear this!

Expand full comment