Goodreads asked Jaques Smit:

How do you deal with writer’s block?

Jaques Smit I have many ways that I manage myself. I can't say that I really have writer's block. I either have a lack of motivation/focus, too many ideas that I haven't given priority, or a creative challenge that requires a solution I haven't yet thought of.

1. Lack of motivation/focus - I put myself in a room, set a 2 hour timer that I'm not allowed to do anything but stair at the wall or write, then I start by reading the last related chapter I wrote out loud. If I haven't written anything related, or finished reading, I start writing anything, it doesn't matter if it is trash, I just write it anyway. When I'm done, I read it again, and then I decide if I want to rewrite it or keep it.

2. Too many ideas that I haven't given priority, or a creative challenge that requires a solution I haven't yet thought of. For these two I have the same solution. I read the work out loud, ask myself, what is the most important thing to focus on? I don't answer the question, I just go for a walk in the bush. When I come back, my default mode network has done the job, and I simply sit down and start writing.

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