The classic way for writers to zone out is alcohol or drugs and today they seek hits of brain dopamine by constantly consulting their phones or sites like Facebook.

The Cure

Identify the self-sabotaging behaviors and refuse to be seduced by them. We need to get pleasure from writings so you don’t need to rely on outside things to calm our minds. Our minds are designed to focus and lack of it is self-sabotage.

Aspiring writers write a sentence, paragraph, or page, and then immediately edit it. All perfectionists are deep into self-sabotage.

The Cure

You want a full first draft. Then you start the revision process.

Excuses for not writing. One common one is “Waiting for the Muse.”

The Cure

Plan your work and work your plan. I say, “Suck it up and be brave if you want to amount to anything as a writer.”