There’s a great golf book written by Jimmy Roberts called “Breaking the Slump.” He interviews 18 high profile professional golfers about slumps in their golf games and how they overcame the problems to get back on track.
We all encounter slumps, even writers. We grow bored with material. Stress makes you feel overwhelmed and you can’t focus. Sometimes the subject matter is overly complicated or so simplistic that you struggle to find ways to make it palatable to readers.
When you hit the wall, there are many ways you can recalibrate and recharge. One of the best is just to get up and walk away from your desk. Go outside and walk around the block. Breathe deeply. Let your fantasy life activate. When you come back to your computer, you’ll be invigorated.
If you’re having a mental block, another technique is to set aside your project and move to another one that is fun. Maybe you like surfing vacation spots on the Internet. If so, go for it. Let your mind disengage.
A third possibility to reinvigorate your mind when you are challenged is to take the subject matter you are working on and research how others have communicated it. Don’t steal, but look at how others structure the information and let it percolate inside you. Take notes, then put it in your own words. Seeing how others write in the fields you cover is very helpful in breaking a writing slump.
If you continue to struggle, take a nap or go to bed. Tomorrow is always another day.
We all encounter slumps, even writers. We grow bored with material. Stress makes you feel overwhelmed and you can’t focus. Sometimes the subject matter is overly complicated or so simplistic that you struggle to find ways to make it palatable to readers.
When you hit the wall, there are many ways you can recalibrate and recharge. One of the best is just to get up and walk away from your desk. Go outside and walk around the block. Breathe deeply. Let your fantasy life activate. When you come back to your computer, you’ll be invigorated.
If you’re having a mental block, another technique is to set aside your project and move to another one that is fun. Maybe you like surfing vacation spots on the Internet. If so, go for it. Let your mind disengage.
A third possibility to reinvigorate your mind when you are challenged is to take the subject matter you are working on and research how others have communicated it. Don’t steal, but look at how others structure the information and let it percolate inside you. Take notes, then put it in your own words. Seeing how others write in the fields you cover is very helpful in breaking a writing slump.
If you continue to struggle, take a nap or go to bed. Tomorrow is always another day.