Writer’s Block: Fact or Fiction?

There’s a reason why there are so many memes about procrastinating writers. Take a gander at just a few:

• Harry Potter’s Professor Snape glares at the meme’s audience with the caption, “Shouldn’t you be writing right now?”
• Dori, the smiling blue, yellow-finned fish from the movie Nemo, repeats to herself, “Must keep writing, must keep writing. Ooh, a new book idea!”
• A man holds a mop and a pail in front of a white work van sporting a Writers’ Cleaning Service logo. He explains to the customer, “The process is simple: You tell me to get some writing done and then, to avoid getting started, I clean your whole house.”

Writer’s block puts a name to the would-be author’s struggles. It can refer to the anxiety of failing to transfer creative ideas into words. Or it may surface self-doubts that whatever gets penned will be derivative, inadequate, or simply boring. Perhaps it describes the overwhelmed feeling of having a mere 10 words typed out of a 95,000-word novel (source).

Some claim, however, there’s no such thing as writer’s block. They define it as a situation, not some sort of mental condition that requires treatment or an excuse outside of the writer that hinders creativity (source). This argument posits that other professions like plumbers, for instance, don’t find themselves angst-ridden over the approach to fixing a leaky pipe, so all writers need to do is treat their vocation with the same discipline and expectations as any other.

Building a vibrant story world, compelling characters, and a riveting plot from thin air seems like it might require a different type of mental load than mending a drain, so perhaps this comparison lacks validity. Regardless, making the act of writing a regular practice can’t hurt.

Tips to overcome the paralyzing fear of the blank page:

• Create a routine – Write every day, even if it’s only a sentence. It can be a blog or a brainstorm or a short story. Getting into the habit of daily practice can make the words flow easier.
• Jump in anywhere – Go to that exciting scene that’s fun to write and skip over the stuff that’s tripping you up.
• Take a break – Sometimes the best way to move forward can be a pause. Encouragement can crop up anywhere, like walking in nature, watching a movie, or listening to the radio.
• Storyboard – Visualizing the scene can give another perspective that opens up the mind to more possibilities.
• Write like it doesn’t matter – Stream of consciousness prose with no punctuation or spelling concerns can boost the creative juices.
• Do some research – Surfing the web for art, photos, or articles related to your work in progress invites new perspectives and insights.
• Enjoy the moment – When writing becomes a chore, procrastination replaces productivity. Remember to rekindle the joy and passion of the why behind your inspiration.

Happy writing!