What is Writer’s Block?
Well, I just can’t think of a single darn thing to say. Oh well, I’m outta here!
Sound familiar? No! Oh get real! We’ve all experienced this phenomenon when we absolutely have to write something, particularly to a deadline. I’m talking about …. uh, I can’t think what the word is …. oh, yes, it’s on the tip of my tongue … it’s:
WRITER’S BLOCK!!!!
Whew I feel better just getting that out of my head and onto the page.
Definition from Wikipedia
Writer’s block is a condition, associated with writing as a profession, in which an author loses the ability to produce new work. The condition varies widely in intensity. It can be trivial, a temporary difficulty in dealing with the task in hand. At the other extreme, some “blocked” writers have been unable to work for years on end and some have even abandoned their careers.
Writer’s block can also affect you when you start to write your first ebook.
Writer’s block is the demon of the blank page. You may think you know EXACTLY what you’re going to write, but as soon as that evil white screen appears in front of you, your mind suddenly goes blank. I’m not talking about ZEN meditation stare-at-the-wall-until-enlightment-hits kind of blank.
I’m talking about sweat trickling down the back of your neck, anguish and panic and suffering kind of blank. The tighter the deadline the worse the anguish of writer’s block gets. Now can you figure out what might possibly causing this horrible plunge into speechlessness?
Tthe answer is obvious: FEAR! You are terrified of that blank page. You are terrified you have nothing of value to say. You are afraid of the fear of writer’s block itself. This fear is more than likely subconscious and you are not aware of it consciously.
You may have done all the research and all you have to do is write sentences that you can repeat in your sleep and link them together into coherent paragraphs.
Writer’s block can strike anyone at any time. Based in fear, it raises our doubts about our own self worth, but it’s sneaky. It is writer’s block after all, so it doesn’t just come out and let you know that. No, it makes you feel like an idiot. If you dare to put forth words into the greater world, they would surely come out as gibberish.
Let us try and be rational with this irrational demon. Here is a list of what might possibly be beneath this terrible and terrifying condition.
- Perfectionism. You must product a literary masterpiece straight away in the first draft, otherwise you are a complete failure.
- Editing instead of composing. There’s your monkey-mind sitting on your shoulder yelling as soon as you type “I was Born” No, not that, that’s wrong, that’s stupid, correct it, correct it, correct it and correct it.
- Self-consciousness. How can you think, let alone write, when all you can manage to do is prise the fingers of writer’s block away from your throat enough so that you can draw a few shallow breaths? You’re not focusing on what you are trying to write, you’re focusing on those gnarly fingers around your windpipe.
- Can’t get started. It’s always the first sentence that’s the hardest. As writers we all know how EXTREMELY important the first sentence is. It must be brilliant, it must be unique, it must hook the readers from the start. There is no way we can write the piece until we get past this impossible first sentence.
- Shattered concentration. You’re dog wants out, you suspect your partner is cheating on you, you have a crush on a friend who is not aware of it, you have a suprise birthday party planned for your partner. You …. need I say mor. How can you possibly concentrate with all this mental clutter?
- Porcastination. It’s your favourite hobby. It’s your soul mate. It’s the reason you’ve knitted 100 sweaters or made 300 bookcases in your garage workshop or you may have a batch of homemade beer or wine nearly ready for bottling.
FACE IT, IT’S ONE OF THE REASONS YOU HAVE WRITER’S BLOCK.
I will continue this in my next post and tell you ways to overcome writer’s block.
Your sensible comments are always welcome.
Richard
Hi Richard,
Your post on writer’s block really hits home with me. I not only suffer from writer’s block but also from creative block in general. I can’t seem to get any of the changes on my blog going.
When you mentioned FEAR it really rang a bell . I do sometimes and now in particular feel like an idiot.
All six reasons on your list constantly flow through my very being, not all at the same time but rather like a merry-go -round inside my head.
I look forward to your future post(s) on this debilitating condition.
Thanks,
Bob
Hi Bob
Glad you liked it. My next post coming tomorrow will give you some methods to help overcome writer’s block.
Writer’s block is a problem I think we all have at one time or another suffered from. Even gazzman who as you know is a prolific writer I’m sure has suffered from it in the past.
Just keep plugging along and by following the tips coming you will overcome writer’s block and with it the creative block you have as well.
Richard
Hi Richard
My problem is ‘word’ block when I want a particular word and can’t think of it. I think it’s called senility!
Great post as usual Richard.
Dee
H i Dee
As you are only a wee bit older than myself I would not say you were senile, we all can forget words at times but if you carry on the missing word will come when you are revising your work.
Richard
Hey Richard,
I think we all have the writers block affliction at one time or another. I have the problem of wanting what ever I’m writing to be right the first time so it takes away from my thought process.
With the help of a friend I have overcome most of my writers block. He told me, among other things, to just start writing something and it works for me most of the time. Looking forward to your solutions in your next post.
Dennis
Hi dennis
You gave one of my solutions away in your commentbut no mqrrer the rest are now available for everyone to see.
See yu in the forum.
Richard
Hi Richard. . .
An appropriate subject – well I have to say that – I just wrote about it myself
And it’s true that the dreaded writer’s block strikes when you least want it.
But I have to agree with Dennis that writing something trumps writing nothing. Do that and pretty soon the words will flow. These days, you can record yourself waffling or meandering about the subject until you discover a path to write down. And generally that works well too.
Anthony
Hi Anthony
Yes I felt it was an appropriate time to post about writer’s block as I thought it could help those following the IBCX course at this time.
The saying “Great minds think alike ” comes to mind as you have also written on the subject of Writer’s block.
Richard
Hi There Richard,
Um, Oh, Hmmm… That’s the writers block thing! If it’s not perfect, it’s not good enough!
Yes, we can be our own worst enemy.
Writing well is a skill and talent comes with practice.
You have a lot of good and valid points listed above of why.
But if you want something bad enough, you’ll find a way to make it happen!
That’s what I tell myself at least.
Inward and Onward,
Jurgen (Another IBCX member)
Hi Jurgen
Yes if you want something badly enough you will try to find a way to make it happen. But writer’s block is so insiduous you may not even notice what is happening.
Some years ago I heard of a well known author who due to writer’s block had to quit writing totally. This person had written dozens of books previously but just could not get the words to come when trying to write the next one. I think it took about 4 years before he was able to write again which in the IM business would be fatal.
Richard M
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