There are those who will try to convince you writer’s block exists, that it is a curse on writers the world over. I do not agree. There is no bad luck associated with writing. There is only the state of writing or not writing. The first exists by sitting down and stringing words together until they resemble sentences and then putting those sentences into paragraphs and repeating until you have a finished piece, or at least a rough draft.
Not writing is caused by many things, none of which are incurable. The danger in accepting the concept of writer’s block is that it allows you to shrug your shoulders and not write. It is an excuse and nothing more. I can assure you, there are many causes for feeling like you can’t write, but none of them are a reason to walk away.
In most cases, a case of “writer’s block” is nothing more than a red flag alerting you to a problem that, like most problems, will not disappear by looking away.
Here are some of the typical causes for what you are experiencing:
1. The biggest cause of “writer’s block” is having a lack of purpose or direction. You want to write, but aren’t sure about what or why. This dilemma is enough to stall any writer. Maybe you’re in love with the idea of writing more than that act of it? Maybe you are burned out and need a break, which simply means you should take a break for a prescribed amount of time and then get back to it? Perhaps you need to do more preparation before you will be ready to work, which leads us to the next point.
2. Consider whether you are suffering from a lack of information. When writers don’t have enough background material, it is easy to get stuck. It’s as simple as realizing we don’t know what to say, which is a different matter than not being able to say something. The best remedy is to hit the books, call the experts, phone a friend. Find out more. Once you have the facts, the sentences should start to flow. You can’t write what you don’t know. It’s an maxim for a reason.
3. Lack of motivation is another issue writers typically face. Writing is hard. Figuring out what you want to say and finding the perfect way to say it and then crafting an entire book or script or speech takes effort and time. It demands much from the writer. Staying motivated is hard too sometimes. Since writing is a solitary act, there is no one to help out, to urge you on, unless you count clients, agents and editors (which you should). But most of the time, you are alone. It’s just you and the empty page and it’s up to you to keep writing. When I start to lose motivation, I pull out quotes from favorite authors about writing to reassure myself I am not alone. I re-read passages from “Letters to a Young Poet” by Rainer Maria Rilke. Or I take a walk and look at the critters. It always helps me get back in the right head space to write. Then I plop myself back in the chair and begin again.
4. Of all the causes lurking behind the nefarious label of “writer’s block” the worst is self doubt. Nothing can kill your writing (or motivation, mood, mental health) more than self-doubt. It’s awful. It drains you and drags you to places best left alone. If interviews with other writers are to be believed, though, it is a common pitfall. I don’t have a solution for this one because it is tenacious and insidious and personal. What I can say is that you have to find a way to make that part of your brain be quiet. Shut down the negative self-talk and push ahead anyway. It is not easy. I fall prey to this one myself, but it is NOT writer’s block. It is a lack of confidence. The only way to deal with it is to move through it. Get help if you need it. There are coaches and therapists who specialize in working with people in creative fields. Read. Meditate. Then pick up your pen and write. Write about your feelings and anger and worries. Write about your doubts. Then write your story.
5. Finally, writer’s block can be a delaying tactic. It’s the same reason you put off raking the leaves in the fall or doing taxes in the spring: our good old friend procrastination. I won’t go into that again. You know how I feel.
The thing to remember is that “writer’s block” is not in charge of you. It doesn’t really exist. It is just an umbrella term for not writing for whatever reason. Since it does not exist it cannot stop you, unless you allow it.