Understanding Writing Blocks Pt. 3

Hi everyone! This is LaVel Moorehead: writer, reader, and book blogger extraordinare. I have the third and final part to Keith Hjortshoj notes. His book "Understanding Writing Blocks" both illuminates a simple concept, but also the strange complexity of Writer's Block. You ready for the notes? Go get em'! :-)

Chapter 7: Putting Writing In Its Place
-writing blocks are psychophysical (93)
-writing blacks have emotional implications (93)
-Syntax Block: Andrea story (student of Hjortshoj) where instead of writing her dissertation, she drew complex diagrams chunk full of info (relates to idea of confusion, 95-96)
-Factors helping Andrea: 1. she’s unreliable judge of own work
2.writing became “interesting and clear” to friends and family when she implemented strategies
3.enjoying sensation of movement, not editing while writing as much, being able to explain
Gender
-75% people coming to Hjortshoj are women
-suspects that men suffer more from WB because of pride issues (I disagree, 103)
Productivity Requirement
1. Making writing a clear priority in your life
2. Set aside time for writing when you are most relaxed and alert
3. Find a particular place for writing
4. Decide the time and place to write (108-110)
Chapter 9: What Can You Do?
-How can you tell if you’re blocked or not > Are you making progress with writing projects are are you getting nowhere? (128)
1. Writing is a real psychophysical activity (129)
-Text you produce is also real (130)
Advice
*When considering q’s to one’s writing, write down answers
*put understanding into practice (133)
-compartmentalize writing projects and difficulties (more thoughts WON’T make you more productive, 134); keep work confined to less than 4 hrs a day
*Fine models for writing projects to examine (134)
*Try to avoice isolation with task (134)
*finally, don’t be stuck with defeatist attitude: “Woe is me, I have WB!” (135)