Writing the Life within
Part Six — Writer’s Block = Your Inner Critic
by Francine Brevetti
Folks ask how to get past writer’s block. This term is a mask for the inner critic, that pesky, derogatory voice we all seem to have in our heads.
The voice that always tells you that what you write is shlock and it lectures you like your 9th grade writing teacher. She tells you that your grammar is faulty, that you’ve made a poor word choice, or worse, that your topic is unoriginal and uninspiring.
For me, my mother (long deceased) stands over my shoulder even today and says, “Are you really going to write that? What will people say?”
Guess what. Your inner critic can be a friend. What’s its purpose anyway? It’s to bring you up to a higher standard. To improve your writing.
Let’s sit back and think about this. You don’t want this critical voice to demean you, your spirit or who you are, but you can engage with it for your benefit.
You can name it and talk with it. Mine is Alice. Apologies to all the Alices out there.
Take some time to write to it: “Who the heck are you and what do you want? What are you trying to tell me about my writing?”
Maybe it won’t give an intelligible response. But just asking the question takes that voice outside you as an irrational part of your ego. You don’t have to identify with it anymore.
Once you know why she or he’s there, you will understand your need for your inner critic, but not while you write your first drafts. (Did you get that, drafts? Plural. You may be drafting more than once.)
The critical part of your brain needs to be doing something that is linear, counting- or detail-oriented, which is great for editing but not for the outpouring that is the first draft of composition. Tell her she’ll get to edit later, at a specified time.
Create first and edit later
Do not look at your text until you have said all you want to say. Your inner critic may come out and play only once your first draft is dodone.
Then when you’re ready, have a dictionary and thesaurus handy and any other reference tools you may need. Surf the web for references of the exact brand name of that red wagon, or the precise year hot air ballooning started, your Nonna’s birthplace. Your inner critic is going to love this.
Re-read your work out loud
This serves two functions. One, you validate the inner critic, you also validate the creative mind. New ideas will emerge just by doing so.
Thank your inner critic
Yes, thank him or her. And, for that matter, thank your creative self.
Even though the inner editor or critic can be harsh and inappropriate, until we train her to behave, Alice serves an important function of keeping us safe. We need to validate her for doing a good job on our writing.
And thank the muses of poetry, of course. Without them, you could not be a writer.
Writing a book is an adventure. To begin with, it is a toy and an
amusement. Then it becomes a mistress, then it becomes a master,
then it becomes a tyrant. The last phase is that just as you are about
to be reconciled to your servitude, you kill the monster and fling him
to the public.
– Winston Churchill
