Overcoming Writers' Block: Even Mathematicians Can Get It

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Ever found yourself staring at a blank page, feeling the weight of creative paralysis? You're not alone. Writer's block isn't just for novelists—it affects bloggers, students, and even research mathematicians like myself.

In this deep dive into the psychology of creative stagnation, I explore what writer's block really is: that temporary inability to express yourself through words, accompanied by frustration and self-doubt. Whether you're struggling with perfectionism, fear of criticism, depleted inspiration, overwhelming stress, or that nagging inner critic, understanding the root causes is your first step toward breakthrough.

The heart of this episode reveals ten practical, proven strategies to get your words flowing again. From the liberating practice of freewriting to the surprising power of changing your environment, breaking down intimidating projects into manageable chunks, and giving yourself permission to write imperfectly. You'll discover why stepping away from your work sometimes provides the very breakthrough you've been seeking, and how establishing consistent writing routines trains your brain to access creative states more easily.

Drawing from my unique dual perspective as both published mathematician (Paula Tretkoff) and novelist (Diana Dirkby), I share how creative blockages manifest across different disciplines, revealing the universal nature of creative struggles and their solutions. The mathematics we use to describe our world wasn't simply discovered—it was created through the same challenging creative process all writers face, with the added constraint of logical validity.

Remember, writer's block isn't a wall—it's a speed bump. With the right mindset and practical techniques, your creativity can flow again. The words are still in you, waiting to be set free. What strategies have helped you overcome creative paralysis? Share your experiences and let's inspire each other to keep creating.

Thank you for listening or watching. Don’t forget to subscribe to my YouTube channel, sign up for notifications about my Podcast, and like my videos. Your comments are valuable too. You can enjoy just the audio through Buzzsprout or Apple Podcasts.

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My channel on YouTube: @DianaDirkbyWrites (https://www.youtube.com/@DianaDirkbyWrites)

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Episode Transcript

Speaker 1 (00:02):
So today I'm going to talk about overcoming writer's
block.
Even mathematicians can get it.
So what is it?
Writer's block?
It's that dreaded moment whenthe blank page stares back,
taunting you with its emptiness,whether you're a seasoned
novelist, a blogger or a studentworking on an essay.

(00:25):
That paralysing inability toput words on paper can affect
anyone.
But here's the good newsWriter's block is not an
insurmountable wall.
It's a temporary obstacle andwith the right strategies, you
can break through and rekindleyour creative spark.
You can break through andrekindle your creative spark.
In this post, we'll explorewhat writer's block is, why it

(00:49):
occurs and practical ways toovercome it.
What is writer's block?
Writer's block is the inabilityto start or continue writing,
often accompanied by feelings offrustration, self-doubt or
mental fatigue.
It can manifest as a completelack of ideas, difficulty

(01:14):
finding the right words or anoverwhelming sense that nothing
you write is good enough.
While it's commonly associatedwith creative writing, it can
affect any form of writtenexpression, from academic papers
to a marketing copy.
I was a research mathematicianfor many years and I will
discuss how that feels later.

(01:34):
Why does writer's block happen?
Understanding the root causesof writer's block is the first
step to overcoming it.
Here are some common triggersPerfectionism the need to create
perfect work can stop you fromstarting.
Fear of failure or criticismoften prevents writers from

(01:58):
expressing their thoughts.
Lack of inspiration Sometimesyour creative well runs dry.
A lack of new ideas or exposureto stimulating experiences can
leave you feeling stuck.
Stress and overwhelm, externalpressures, deadlines, personal
responsibilities or emotionalchanges can make it difficult to

(02:21):
focus and create Self-doubt.
That inner critic whisperingyou are not good enough can sap
your confidence and halt yourprogress.
Burnout writing intenselywithout breaks can drain your
mental energy, leaving youunable to generate new ideas.

(02:43):
Strategies to overcome writer'sblock.
The good news Writer's block istemporary and there are proven
ways to push past it.
Here are practical strategiesto get your words flowing again.
Set a timer for 10 minutes andwrite whatever comes to mind,

(03:05):
without worrying about grammar,structure or quality.
The goal is to bypass yourinner critic and let ideas flow.
You might be surprised at thegems that emerge from this
unfiltered process.
Change your environment.
Changing your environment canignite new ideas.
Try writing in a coffee shop, apark or even a different room

(03:30):
in your house.
Fresh surroundings can changeyour perspective and boost your
creativity.
Break it down Large projects canfeel overwhelming.
Break your writing into smaller, manageable tasks.
Write one paragraph, outline asection or brainstorm key points

(03:57):
.
Small wins build momentum.
Step away.
Sometimes the best way to solvea creative problem is to stop
thinking about it.
Take a walk, listen to music orengage in an on-riding creative
activity like drawing orcooking.
Giving your brain a break canlead to unexpected breakthroughs
.
Read for inspiration.
Immerse yourself in someoneelse's words.

(04:19):
Read a book, poem or article ina genre you love.
You can pay attention to howother writers craft their
sentences or structure theirideas.
This reading of others' workcan reignite your passion and
give you a fresh perspective.
Set realistic goals.
Instead of aiming to write2,000 words in one sitting,

(04:44):
commit to a smaller, achievablegoal, like 200 words or 15
minutes of writing.
Small, consistent efforts addup and keep you from feeling
overwhelmed.
Silence your inner critic.
Remind yourself that firstdrafts don't have to be perfect.
They have to exist.

(05:05):
Permit yourself to writesomething messy.
You can always revise later.
Try writing prompts If you'restruggling to come up with ideas
.
Use a writing prompt tokickstart your creativity.
For example, write about acharacter who wakes up in a
world where everyone hasdisappeared.
Prompts provide a startingpoint and can lead to unexpected

(05:29):
stories.
Establish a routine.
Write regularly, even for just10 minutes a day, trains your
brain to enter a creative statemore easily.
Find a time and a place thatworks for you and make writing a
habit.
Address underlying issues.
If stress, burnout orself-doubt is the root cause,

(05:53):
tackle those head on.
Practice self-care.
Talk to a supportive friend orconsider journaling to process
your emotions.
Sometimes, clearing mentalclutter is thealing.
To process your emotions.
Sometimes, clearing mentalclutter is the key to unlocking
your creativity.
Reframing writer's block Insteadof viewing writer's block as a
failure, see it as a signal thatsomething needs attention,

(06:18):
whether it's your mindset,environment or creative process.
It's an invitation to pause,reflect and try a new approach.
Every writer faces thischallenge at some point, but it
doesn't define your ability orpotential.
Final thoughts before I say aword about writing mathematics.

(06:41):
Writer's block may feel like abrick wall, but it's more like a
speed bump.
By trying different strategies,nurturing your creativity and
giving yourself grace, you canget past it and rediscover the
joy of writing.
The next time you feel stuck,try one of the techniques above
and remember the words are stillin you, waiting to be set free.

(07:06):
What's your go-to strategy forovercoming writer's block.
Please share your tips in thecomments and let's inspire each
other to keep creating Writing.
Research mathematics.
I was a research mathematicianfor many years, publishing under

(07:27):
my real name, paula Tretkoff.
Diana Dirkby is my pen name forthe novels I write.
When I tell people about my jobas a mathematician, many find
it hard to understand howresearch in mathematics can
exist.
After all, isn't mathematicsjust there, describing the world

(07:48):
around us for other sciences,so more like a language than a
science?
It's not at all like that image.
The mathematics we use in thesciences was created by humans
trying to get as close aspossible to a precise
description of the world aroundus, checking the validity of

(08:09):
their ideas using logical rules.
The mathematics that exists maybe logically valid, but many
questions and problems aboutthose mathematical objects
remain unsolved or open, whichis why research is necessary.
When we want to record ourmathematical findings, we face a

(08:30):
challenge similar to that ofcreative writing, with the added
constraint that our ideas mustbe logically valid.
With all that pressure,especially when trying to solve
an open question.
With all that pressure,especially when trying to solve
an open question, writer's blockis common.
A few oddballs like me love thewriting part most, but many
don't.
It's solving the problem thatdrives them.

(08:53):
Thank you for listening orwatching.
Don't forget to subscribe to myYouTube channel, sign up for
notifications about my podcastand like my videos.
Your comments are valuable too,and in the episode description
I'll be leaving some references,including some Amazon affiliate

(09:17):
links, and as an Amazonassociate, I earn from
qualifying purchases.
Well, have a great day andremember, if you're having a
really bad day with your writing, it won't always be like that.
There are ways around it.