Writer's Block

Seth Godin was asked by his friend Tim Ferriss, while at dinner once, for advice on how to cure writer’s block.  His response, “Show me your bad writing.”

Actually, Seth’s first response, “Didn’t we already talk about this? You asked me this 7 months ago at our last dinner.”  His advice hadn’t changed.  Needing to hear the message more than once is a defining characteristic of being human.

Writer’s block probably isn’t really a thing, the mind always works…it’s a term applied to the Resistance to the hard work that creeps in when the punch lines are slow, the final draft isn’t clear, the concept isn’t perfect and the results aren’t immediate.  Immediate gratification, or perfectionism, is the enemy to producing.

Seth’s reminder: to get great writing, you have to start with bad writing, which leads to good writing, which leads to great writing…and then a finished product.  What’s more…‘bad writing’ probably isn’t a thing either.  It should be called ‘execution’ instead.  Reframing at its finest.  Doing the necessary work to get to the end. Rough draft to final draft.  It was the perfect advice for Tim from a trusted friend. 

Practice doesn’t make perfect, but it’s the only way to progress. 

What about ‘fat loss block’?  Or ‘strong block’? Or ‘healthy block’?  Have you ever experienced that?  Of course, we all have.

The same level of Resistance shows up every day in health and fitness…and the solution remains the same as writing.  You must start with bad reps, bad workouts, bad diets until the quality sets in.   With that competence also comes confidence.  The momentum can be unstoppable.  Ever seen someone completely change their physique or lifestyle?  It comes after months and then years of repetition. The end result is their very own version of a ‘best seller’.  It started with low quality reps and nutritional slips and falls.

To clarify, I don’t mean bad in the sense of dangerous or uneducated.  I mean execution. If writers must sit at the table and write every day, then we must get to the wellness table every day. We’re all on the fitness and nutrition journey together…we’ve all tried different diets, then change.  *We’ve tried different workouts, then change. All great stuff, it means we’re learning.  Hopefully you find some great coaches along the way to help.

*(pro tip: people who bounce around to different gyms every 2 months for years on end…it’s not the workout, it’s you…time to have dinner with Seth Godin). 

The proverbial ‘bad writing’ looks like those first awkward looking kettlebell swings in the gym, walking on the treadmill while others sprint, tiny running strides on the pavement, :10 in a cold plunge, falling 30 times on the surf board, resting on the yoga mat, a quick :30 in the meditation app, feeling bored without booze after a day at work and everything that is hard about the kitchen.  You’re learning how to move well, tune into the appropriate intensity for that day, how to recover mind and body and find a way that works for you to eat.

What does your rough draft look like to you (the process)? 

What does the final draft look like (the reward)?

Next time your friend says they’re having a hard time getting in shape, ask them to show me your bad writing and explain away.  How have they spent their time trying?

To quote Ramit Sethi, “Show me your calendar (time: who/how) and how you spend your money and I’ll show you what you really care about.”