So you’ve got this dream. You don’t want to be a famous singer or movie star. But you love telling stories, and you’d like to share those stories with the world. Only problem is you don’t have a “good” story idea, or any real sense of how to tell that story in the “right” way. Could you have Writer’s Block? Nah. This week, join us for the Writer’s Block Series to learn why not.

Here are 5 reasons you think you have Writer’s Block:

1. The haters

Your writing isn’t going to be everyone’s cup of tea, but some people simply won’t want to see you succeed. They envy your attempts at greatness—when they themselves are falling short—so  they’ll take a shot at you whenever given the chance. Understand that not everything these haters say is necessarily true because their motives for criticizing your work could be skewed. Take criticism with a grain of salt and keep pushing.

2. You’re rushing

Perhaps you have a fun idea with captivating characters, but no clue where to take your story. This isn’t Writer’s Block. Sometimes all it takes to keep ideas flowing is a 10–15-minute brainstorming session. Set a timer and freewrite your options. Fill out a worksheet or bounce ideas off a friend. Taking the time to develop your plot or characters can break down any mental hurdle.

3. You don’t prioritize the writing

You’ve got homework. You’ve got a meal to cook. When was the last time you flipped your mattress? As we went over in the Start Series, there are a million and one reasons all of us could come up with to not get our butts in the chair and start writing. But at the end of the day, you’re going to prioritize what matters to you. If you want to be taken seriously as a writer, you have to take yourself seriously. Make a schedule and stick to it.

4. You don’t believe in your ideas

Similar to our first point about haters, this is a mind over matter obstacle. If you continuously shoot down your ideas, you’ll never get anywhere. Choose the option you’re most interested in and just write. You can always revise later.

5. You don’t believe in yourself

Once you’ve gotten your priorities straight, forced yourself to slowdown, and overcome those pesky haters, it’s essential that you don’t become a hater yourself! Don’t shoot down your ideas and abilities before they’ve even had a chance to grow. Get those words down—whether you believe they’re great or not—and let those doubts fuel you as you revise. Check out our Aspiration Series or show your work to a few trusted friends. You’ll soon find that you’re on to something.

Conclusion

For all our writing advice, there’s really no “wrong way” to do it. Writing is an art form, a creative process that takes refining if you hope to put out your best work. But you are more than capable if it’s what you truly want to do. Don’t let lies hold you back.  Want to know why Writer’s Block is a myth? Check out Part Two of the Writer’s Block Series here.