I want to talk about writer’s block.
You see, I’ve had a theory about writer’s block for quite some time. I’ve yet to be disproven, so until that day, I’m sticking with my theory. If ever I am disproven, then I’ll be the first to hold my hands up.
Ready? Okay. Writer’s block is a way for writers to bullshit their way out of writing.
I’ve spoken to a few writers who claim to have writer’s block in the past. ‘I just can’t write, because I have writer’s block and it won’t let me write.’ I thought about this statement for a while. Firstly, the notion that somebody has something, like a disease or virus, that won’t let them write.
It’s a powerful thought, isn’t it? Imagine some sort of parasitic being in your brain, ‘writer’s blockius’, or whatever you want to dub it. If it’s something alien, like the common cold is when it affects your breathing, then there’s not a lot you can do about it other than just not write and let it pass, is there?
Actually, submitting to this false idea of writer’s block is not only the worst thing you can possibly do, but it’s what your subconscious wants you to do, whether you realise it or not.
I realise I’m getting pretty deep here, but it makes complete sense. By creating and constructing this alien idea of a ‘writer’s block’, and by blaming that alien idea for your lack of writing inspiration, it’s a perfect way to divert from the fact that YOU, the writer, are the problem.
Newsflash: humans blame people for things. They blame objects for things, too. Don’t tell me you’ve never smacked your head against an open cupboard door and for a split second, either blamed a.) the person who you suspect left it open, or b.) the cupboard door itself.
And yet, the blaming of the cupboard door is completely irrational. In a sense, so is the blaming of the other person too. Blame is just the mind’s way of not taking responsibility for a dumb error of judgement. It’s easier to blame everything but yourself.
Think of writer’s block as that cupboard door, or that other person who may or may not have left it open. Your mind uses writer’s block as an excuse; something inanimate to blame when it simply can’t be arsed to write.
I know I may be coming across as a little blunt, but I think it’s a subject that requires bluntness. The fact of the matter is, in 99 out of 100 cases, writer’s block is an excuse. It’s something to blame. If you don’t like this idea and you kick up a fuss because ‘your writer’s block is so real’ and ‘you’ve struggled to conquer it for months’ then I’m sorry but you’re just stuck in a blame cycle.
What to do when you think you have writer’s block
Firstly, remember that writer’s block doesn’t exist. Look at potential reasons in your life why you may not be writing or feeling inspired — perhaps you’re getting in from work later and can’t quite muster up the courage you used to be able to, to write 1,000 words. Or perhaps you’ve hit a dry-ish patch around the middle of your novel, or are overwhelmed by the details.
See something in common with all of these examples? There’s a real problem at the root of them, and it isn’t writer’s block. In case A, it’s fatigue and motivation. The solution? Re-assess your daily writing goals. Case B? You’re getting a very natural fear that your novel isn’t quite what you expected. Your fight or flight mechanism kicks in. It opts to hide its head under the covers and blame something abstract — writer’s block.
If you think you have writer’s block, the next step is to just keep on writing. Get a new playlist if you like listening to music. Change the time of day you write. More often than not, you’re simply getting overwhelmed by the task at hand, or struggling for motivation.
I’m working on a new novel at the moment. Most days I’ve enjoyed writing. Some days, I struggle. What do I do? I just write. Maybe the first half hour will be a nightmare of uncreativity. Maybe I’ll write nothing but crap. But still, I write.
Writer’s block is the greatest hurdle to all authors. It’s what keeps would-be authors in the dreaded ‘aspiring author’ zone. It’s what leaves potential masterpieces stuck at 40,000 words and locked in a cabinet. What a shame, considering writer’s block doesn’t even exist.
Have you ever encountered what you believe to be writer’s block? Do you believe it exists? What did you do to conquer it?
Image courtesy of Rennett Stowe via Flickr
I have to agree to a certain extent, Ryan. The term is simply a label for a great many reasons for ‘getting stuck’.
In a recent blog interview, I claimed (rightly, I felt) that I don’t suffer from writer’s block and never have. My ideas flow constantly, even if they are uncontolled at times like a burst pipe as opposed to a tap (faucet). But recently, I ran into a problem whilst writing my sequel – I’d used up all the ‘easy’ chapters that had been set up during my ‘frameworking’ of the sequel. I was momentarily stuck for what to write next.
I remembered my own words – ‘I don’t suffer from writers block’ – and, determined to prove the claim, I pressed on with planning out the next section of the book. Nothing to blame but my own threadbare planning – no problem.
Great point about planning, Andrew. Personally, planning tends to be decided on a project to project basis for me. Sometimes, I like a loose map to guide me, whilst with other projects (like the third novel I’m working on at the moment), it helps to have a sort of guide.
Good luck with the writing. Keep on believing in it!
BTW – I have just nominated you as the next recipient in The Next Big Thing Blog Hop. See http://andrewtoynbee.wordpress.com/2013/01/13/the-next-big-thing/ for details. Congrats and have fun!
Just spotted this — cheers! I’ll look into it.
Ryan, terrific article on writer’s block. I totally agree. I don’t believe in writer’s block. I do feel like I am “blocked” at times, I can’t break through a concept or story element that is stopping my progress, and that just serves to alert me to the fact that I need to get creative to tunnel through. The key, as you said, is to not allow the harder things to become an excuse. Go work on a part of the novel that you like better or still have ideas for, and a lot of times the answer to the problem will come while you’re eyeing it from the other corner of your project. I feel like people who hide behind the writer’s block need to flex their creative muscles and learn to not let it stop you. Sometimes you have to go into a sort of “holding period” that is more research and less writing, but that phase is super valuable too, because it allows re-eval and thinking and putting the mental pieces together, and generating new ideas that can become better than whatever blocked you before. It is all perspective and looking at the “thing you can’t figure out” as an opportunity and challenge, not a problem. This makes it easier. Another thing I do often is to stop agonizing about it, and do something else. I play video games or watch TV (both great ways to jumpstart creativity if especially if there is a good story to them) and let it simmer. The brain gets overheated sometimes and needs to mull on it slowly sometimes. Thanks for this. A lot of what I’ve been thinking for a while now.
Thanks a lot for your insightful comment. I think you’re 100% right about the best way to conquer the block — to change your focus, work on another book or scene, whatever. Writers who hide behind writer’s block are generally the same 90% who call themselves ‘aspiring writers’ (another thing I don’t believe in which I’ll address in my next post). It’s an excuse not to write, simple as that. Sure, there can be good times and bad times, but the whole idea of writer’s block is designed as a defence mechanism.
Bit of context: I didn’t do any writing on Wednesday, Thursday or Friday, mainly because I was busy with uni/travelling. I could easily have postponed today, because I didn’t really feel like it. Instead, I wrote through it, and produced some great words, I believe. Inspiration comes in the strangest forms.
Ryan,
I often find my writer’s block is really just me letting all the other things I need to get done distract me from writing. Sometimes I think I operate better with a deadline – even if it’s self-imposed. Thanks for a great post.
Kellie
Cheers for the comment, Kellie. I agree — writer’s block is generally just other things in life that tend to bog us down and make us not want to write, not a separate entity. Deadlines can be great. Personally, I try to set mini-deadlines. 1,500 by the end of the day, 7,000 by the end of the week. Seems to work for me, but we’re all unique!
Wonderful! (Somehow I missed this post) You and I share the same perspective about writer’s block… it’s a mental game. Whenever we don’t feel like writing or think we can’t write is when we SHOULD be writing. It’s imperative… and the writing doesn’t necessarily have to be good, as you mentioned. As long as we’re getting words down, that’s what matters. The second we stop the harder it is to pick up the pen again– which is why the lie is so dangerous.
Outstanding post, Ryan!