Comments on: What Writer’s Block and Stage Fright Have In Common

By: Mark McGuinness

Mark McGuinness — Thu, 22 Jan 2009 16:36:25 +0000

Thanks for the feedback Abigail, glad to hear it did the trick!

By: Abigail

Abigail — Thu, 22 Jan 2009 02:48:52 +0000

Perfect! Just what I needed, thank you. I’ve been blocked about updating my blog, and it has felt like stage fright and writer’s block combined, and your post has given me just what I need! I’m envisioning pages and pages of updates on my blog now, thanks to you.

By: Mark McGuinness

Mark McGuinness — Wed, 12 Nov 2008 18:03:08 +0000

Renita — yes that’s very true. Once you realise it’s normal it becomes a lot less scary and a lot easier to deal with. Did you see John Unger’s piece on Lateral Action? He says something very similar in relation to creative burnout: http://lateralaction.com/articles/john-t-unger-creative-burnout/

By: Renita

Renita — Mon, 27 Oct 2008 04:08:05 +0000

Hi Mark, found my way here from Lateral Action.

As a performer, I think a big part of being blocked is simply the resistance to BEING blocked. “Here is the moment I’ve been working so hard toward — why do I feel so awful, what’s going on, why aren’t I enjoying this, this isn’t right!?” For some reason, I think I’m supposed to feel like I do when I’m practicing in my living room and the sweaty hands, shaking knees, etc. when I’m on stage take me by surprise each time, as if they are some bizarre aberration. Not only do I have to deal with the physical symptoms of nerves, I have to deal with feeling betrayed by my body!

But once I realized that’s just what happens when I’m about to perform and accept it — “Oh yeah, there’s that familiar sweaty hands, shaking knees thing” — the resistance fades away, the block loses its power and everything else calms down too. (Love when that happens!)

By: Mark McGuinness

Mark McGuinness — Thu, 07 Feb 2008 13:27:17 +0000

Hi Ella, thanks for sharing your experience – great minds think alike eh? Yes I think if you’re basically comfortable with yourself it’s a lot easier to present yourself to an audience. One of my favourite books on presentation is called ‘Present Yourself’ by Michael Gelb and is based on exactly that insight.

Your business looks interesting – I read Tim Ferriss’ 4 hour work week recently and it opened my eyes to the world of virtual assistants. There are so many opportunities to work from home and be more flexible and fulfilled about work these days. All the best with your business.

By: ella

ella — Wed, 06 Feb 2008 06:47:30 +0000

I’ve learned a lot in this article. I did experience performance anxiety way back in college and now that I am a stay home mom and maintaining my own blog, I also now suffer from a writer’s block. And for months I was thinking its the same thing. Your suggestions and tips will be very much helpful to me and the readers on how to avoid both. One of the crucial steps I took to overcome my stage fright was by accepting myself and being comfortable with my self.
“The more confident and comfortable you are about yourself, the easier it will be for you to greet other people, circulate and introduce yourself to strangers. Smile as you greet new faces.” – taken from an article from stagefrighthelp.com

By: Writerâ€™s Block and Stage Fright | How Not To Write

Writerâ€™s Block and Stage Fright | How Not To Write — Wed, 30 Jan 2008 14:48:14 +0000

[...] What Writerâ€™s Block and Stage Fright Have In Common: For writers, it can be hard to find this momentum. Far from split-second timing, it sometimes feels like it makes no difference whether you start writing now or next week. You approach the desk, you feel the twinge of fear, you shy away, like a nervous horse at a showjumping fence. Maybe you should have a cup of tea or a cigarette, or tidy the desk before you get going. Or just check your e-mailâ€¦ Hours later, you realise the day has flown by with little to show for it. [...]

By: Mark McGuinness

Mark McGuinness — Mon, 21 Jan 2008 11:56:11 +0000

Thanks Roger. As your examples show, there are lots of ways to get blocked/stuck – in fact we can be quite creative about it!

By: Roger von Oech

Roger von Oech — Fri, 18 Jan 2008 18:16:34 +0000

Thought-provoking.

When I’m blocked, it’s usually the result of one of two things: 1) either I’m love with an idea to such an extent that I can’t see alternatives; or, 2) I’m unable to focus, and my mind is going too many places.

When I’ve felt butterflies before a session, it’s typically the result of one of two things: 1) I’ve over-built up the power of the audience in my mind; and/or 2) I’ve not grounded myself in my own power thoroughly prior to the event.

Good stuff.

By: Mark McGuinness

Mark McGuinness — Fri, 18 Jan 2008 14:05:34 +0000

Thanks Rosanne, I know the feeling I recently learned there’s a speeded-up version of Tai Chi that was (is?) used for actual combat. Apparently it’s lethal.