The six writer's blocks you should know about

On Wednesdays, Steven Pressfield, author of “Gates of Fire,” and “The Legend of Bagger Vance” as well as “The War of Art,” holds forth about writing (his blog is www.stevenpressfield.com). Recently he described the sticking points (or block points) writers typically encounter:

 1) Before we begin. We’re afraid to launch, to commit.

2) An eighth of the way through. The honeymoon rush of enthusiasm wears off. We start having second thoughts. “What have I done? Where did I get the crazy idea that I could pull this thing off?”

3) In the thick of the action. We’ve committed so much that we can’t go back–but we can’t see the end either. Befuddlement strikes, the fog of war. Paralysis.

4) Nine-tenths of the way through. We suddenly discover our whole premise is faulty; we must scrap 65% and start over. Arrrggggh.

5) In sight of the end. Can we close the deal? Will we freeze? Will we choke?

6) When we’re actually done. Now we’ll be judged. We are struck by fear of failure, fear of success, “the full catastrophe,” as Zorba the Greek once said.

 Sounds about right, although fortunately we don’t hit all six every time. For some people it can be a big help to know that this is common, not something unique to them. Pressfield’s advice is to be patient, don’t panic or over-react, and apply your logic and your craft. The result may be that you move to a higher level. (By the way, the rest of the time Pressfield’s site is concerned with “war and reality in Afghanistan, and fascinating.)

(I will help you overcome your blocks when you join my Breakthrough Strategy 60-day online coaching program. For more information, see www.jurgenwolff.com or email me directly at j4london@aol.com)