7 Personal Barriers to Writing

Published by MM Ryan 3/8/2023

We've previously looked at what motivates us to write, the common factors that those of us embarking on this adventure seek to achieve with and through our writing. Now we'll look at the factors that keep us from achieving our goals.

1. Lack of time: The most obvious--busy lives make it difficult to find time for writing. Between work, family responsibilities, and other commitments, writing often takes a backseat. Making time is challenge, but 5 to 10 minutes whenever possible can make a huge difference and help you build momentum.

2.   Fear of failure: The fear of not being good enough or not being able to create something meaningful. Remember, it doesn't have to be meaningful to anyone but you!! Don't overthink it.

3.   Lack of inspiration: People can struggle with writer's block and find it challenging to come up with new ideas or feel inspired to write. A Journaling habit can help with this.

4.   Perfectionism: Some people may find it difficult to start writing because they are concerned that their work won't be perfect. Perfection is a myth that keeps us from appreciating our best efforts.

5. Distractions: In today's digital age, social media, email, and other online activities can quickly take up time that could be spent writing. Putting healthy boundaries in place, to limit empty consumption will create time for your writing.

6. Procrastination: Many people struggle with procrastination, and putting off writing can become a habit that's hard to break. Recognize this unhealthy pattern and be intentional about changing it.

7.   Lack of confidence: People may lack confidence in their writing skills, making it difficult to start writing or to share their work with others. Write for yourself, and avoid sharing your writing with non-writers until you build up your confidence in your own work.

All of these factors must be acknowledged before they can be addressed. Once we see we're being impacted by these detractors to our writing life, the sooner we can take action to change the negative patterns. Once successful we'll see the results of our completed projects that are ready to share with the world.