You’ve made your plan. Scheduled your writing time. Brewed the coffee. You know exactly what scene you’re supposed to write today.
And then… nothing.
My current work-in-progress had started to sprawl. The kind of slow, aimless sprawl that kills interest fast. I paused, listed the key scenes, and sat down to write. But the new scene would shift the story’s direction. It didn’t derail it, exactly, but I had to refocus on what really mattered.
I didn’t have the answers yet, so I started doing… other things. Not writing.
Days passed. I wrote a couple of paragraphs, but kept rewriting and tweaking them. Meanwhile, I cranked out 1700 words about magical artifacts. Interesting, but not actual progress.
I knew what was happening: procrastination. Again.
What finally helped? Accountability. I belong to a weekly writing goals group. One I founded decades ago. Each Monday, we check in, and knowing I had to report in snapped me out of it.
I finally wrote the scene and finished it late Sunday night, and I was happy with it.
Too bad I didn’t start sooner. I might’ve written three scenes instead of one.
What Self-Sabotage Looks Like
Self-sabotage often feels like productivity, until you realize you’ve been orbiting the work, not doing it. Here are five common traps:
1. Perfectionism Disguised as Productivity
You want the opening paragraph to sing, so you rewrite it 12 times… and never move on.
Author Nora Roberts states the folly of this practice best. “You can fix anything but a blank page.”
Instead of getting caught in the rewrite loop, try this approach: Write first, edit later. Use brackets or comments to flag what you’ll clean up later.
In a nutshell: Draft first, edit second—no rewrites mid-stream.
2. The “Research” Rabbit Hole
One quick Google search turns into a deep dive on Shoshone beadwork. (That’s where my 1700 words of artifact notes came from as I orbited the writing I should’ve been doing.)
Try this: Use a placeholder in your draft like [Research later] and keep writing. You can fill in the facts and details when you have a draft to work with.
3. Impostor Syndrome
“Who am I to write this?”
“This story’s been done before.”
“I’m not a real writer.”
That voice isn’t the truth; it’s fear pretending to be helpful.
A 2020 study in The Journal of General Internal Medicine found that up to 82% of people experience impostor syndrome, especially high achievers.
Remind yourself: No one else can write your version of this story.
4. Fear of Success
You’re getting closer to finishing, but suddenly, you stall. Because what happens when someone reads it?
“Our deepest fear is not that we are inadequate. Our deepest fear is that we are powerful beyond measure.” – Marianne Williamson. Her quote suggests our real fear is the magnitude of our own potential. True power comes with responsibility, and that can be intimidating. Embracing our strengths means stepping up, being seen, and making an impact, something many of us quietly resist. This quote is a call to stop playing small and to recognize that when we fully own our abilities, we inspire others to do the same.
Try this: Notice when you slow down. Ask yourself what feels threatening about succeeding?
5. Procrastination Masquerading as Planning
Worldbuilding, outlines, beat sheets, etc. are all good things. But if you’re still planning after six weeks and haven’t drafted a scene, it might be fear in disguise.
Try this: Set a hard “start writing” deadline. Plan, then commit to draft, even if it’s messy.
Why We Do It: The Psychology Behind the Freeze
Self-sabotage isn’t laziness. It’s a safety response.
Creative work is emotionally risky. I’ll never forget the first time I shared a chapter from my book The Inheritance with a critique group. It was my first work of fiction and it felt like handing over a piece of my soul.
When your brain senses that kind of vulnerability, it often defaults to avoidance.
Reorganizing your desk? Safer than facing judgment.
Rewriting instead of drafting? Safer than finishing.
Here’s what’s going on beneath the freeze:
· Writing Is Vulnerable
You’re exposing your thoughts, voice, and imagination. Of course it feels risky and your brain treats it like danger.
· The Brain Prefers Comfort, Not Growth
Creativity brings uncertainty. And the brain hates uncertainty. So it nudges you toward safer activities, even chores.
· Perfectionism Is a Form of Control
If you don’t finish, you can’t be judged. If you’re always “almost there,” you never risk failure. But you also never grow.
How to Write Anyway: Practical Tools
You don’t need to out-muscle your inner critic. You just need a few smart ways to keep moving:
· Write a Bad First Sentence on Purpose
Start ugly. Intentionally. Even if it’s, “This is a terrible opening sentence.”
Now you’ve started.
· Time-Limited Sessions
Set a timer: 20 minutes of writing ugly. You can survive that, and often, you’ll want to keep going. (I’ve used this exercise for decades and it works really well for me).
· Create a Ritual, Not a Goal
Light a candle. Play a specific playlist. When you focus on showing up instead of output, pressure fades and consistency grows.
· Talk to Your Inner Critic Like a Character
Give your critic a name, a weird voice, an identity. Mine’s part snooty editor, part gremlin. Naming it helps tame it. (I’m still working on a name so she’s not tamed yet. I’m currently calling her Grimelda Crabb.)
· Reward the Behavior, Not the Result
Celebrate writing, not just word count. Five minutes of writing = five minutes of music, chocolate, or playing your favorite game.
Writing Isn’t Just About Finishing Stories
Writing isn’t just about finishing stories, articles, etc. It’s about learning to keep going, even when fear shows up wearing a clever disguise.
Self-sabotage is tricky. But now? So are you.
