Goodreads asked Mahina Perrot:

How do you deal with writer’s block?

Mahina Perrot I've had to deal with it for years, and now it's almost gone. When it comes back, I leave my manuscript for a few days, and trust the motivation and inspiration will come back. But something I heard on a Ted talk stuck with me too: "You'll never feel like doing it", and she was talking about everything In general, dieting, etc. And it just stuck in my mind and actually helped me overcome the block I felt when writing about my adventures. Don't wait for you to feel good enough and motivated enough to write. I found that no matter how tired or nor inspired I feel, if I just open the computer file and start writing, I'll keep writing. Still though, being a writer is intuitive, to me anyway, so there are times when you may do this and write but it all sounds wrong and you just don't feel like it's working. If that's the case;, drop it, do something else. I find that when I meditate, or do other activities, when I know I can't write right now, inspiration suddenly comes! So in the supermarket, in the car during traffic, wherever I am I always carry a notebook in case inspiration comes so I don't forget the words that came. The main thing though is also to trust yourself. I have written 10 books in just a few months yet the one book I started in 2009 is still sitting there, fully complete (first draft) but half-way through the second draft. I think it is because I put a lot of myself in this book, and I love it, but I guess it never seems good enough when I edit it, yet I can't wait to finish it too. I think we also need to be okay with the fact that a book, even perfectly edited, can Always be changed, it could always be better (like any artwork) but it could also be worse. you have to feel happy to write and not have too high standards, though these are good, but just, at some point, decide that your book is good enough, that you're satisfied. Do go back to it until you feel that way, but don't spend too much time thinking about it without actually writing. it is the fear of not writing a good enough book, and sometimes even the fear of knowing our book can be a great success, that prevents us from writing! But there's nothing to fear, we all have something to share with the world! So share your story too! xx

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