Someone asked me to write a blog post on writer’s block. It is something that every writer suffers from, sooner or later. And there are as many causes and solutions as there are writers, because everyone is different. But, here goes…
First, don’t fret. Like a baseball slugger who suddenly can’t hit the ball for anything, it will pass sooner or later. You can’t know how long, so have patience and be forgiving toward yourself. And if you are under a deadline, while it is difficult, don’t psych yourself out. It will come back.
Sometimes, trying to figure out where the block is coming from can help.
Maybe it is a hitch in a current story you are working on. You can’t figure out how to resolve it. Ask a friend, a family member, a fellow writer, or your editor for advice. You can also highlight that section of the story, or notate it elsewhere, and move past it, continuing on until you find a resolution. Sometimes, in fact, the act of writing can solve it. Beware, though, that it may be different from what you had originally planned, i.e. a character you had planned on living you now realize must die. Also look at your story layout. The hitch, and your block in getting past it, may be evidence of a poorly constructed plot, and you may need to scratch it and begin anew. It happens. Sometimes, we just write bad stuff and we must recognize that and deal. But sometimes, all that is needed, as stated above, is writing past it, kicking the problem down to the next draft. I have used this method here or there, knowing I’d need to resolve the issue at some point, but at least being able to continue for the time being, and keeping the flow of thought continuing.
Maybe it is fear of finishing. This is especially true for first time writers and/or students working on a long, complicated project, such as a capstone paper or dissertation. Once we finish, we must submit the writing project to the world. To editors, readers, critics, professors, students, etc. Everyone will judge it. It is human nature to dislike criticism, and given as writers we are artists, then is even truer. If you are a student, a grade, even a degree referral, may be on the line. If you write for the public, different things are on the line, such as finding a publisher, or critics’ reviews once published. Believing you are a bad writer and suffering from fear of failure is a psychological barrier that can be hard to get past. In this case, though, you must do anything you can to push through (some suggestions on that are below).
Maybe it is indecisiveness. Perhaps your story has two obvious endings, each of which will involve some set up, pages or even chapters ahead, and you just can’t make up your mind. My advice in that case is to write two drafts, one for each ending and mid-story set-up. After they are both done you read each–or have a friend do so, and see which you prefer.
Maybe the problem is coming up with an idea. You have written several stories, but now you can’t think of anything and you wonder if you are done as a writer. Or maybe you are a student and rather than being given a topic by the professor, you can choose most anything and you have no idea what to choose, convinced once you choose something, you’ll get buyer’s remorse (hey, it happens). The potential breadth is a stumbling block. In the latter, think of what interests you. This is your opportunity to deal some real research into a passion project, pending professor approval, of course. I was fortunate enough to parlay several personal passions into school papers; the passion and commitment is almost always rewarded with a good grade. As for story-writing, there are workarounds. Maybe you should pen a sequel to a previous story you wrote. Maybe you don’t wish to do that, but you like the world you created, so you might write in that world, but not a direct sequel. Or perhaps it is genre-based and you got that out of your system. So how about changing it up? Change from a contemporary to a historical. Or a drama to a science-fiction Or, if you are able, take a little time off, relax and do some reading. An idea will come, sooner or later.
Below are some suggestions if the above advice doesn’t work or isn’t applicable to your particular block. These suggestions are pretty generic:
Make writing a part of your routine. Schedule a time each day to write. While some suggest working eight hours a day plus meal, like a “real” job, I don’t advocate that. It’s hard to keep the juices flowing, and it just isn’t good for you physically–especially for your eyes! But your pre-writing activities–research, spreadsheets, etc.–can probably occupy several hours a day. Or maybe use the weekends, rather than the work week. Whatever you choose, STICK WITH IT.
Or go the opposite direction. Change it up if needed. If writing during the day isn’t doing it for you, maybe writing in the middle of the night would. With the world around you asleep, amidst the quiet, maybe you will be productive. While this sounds like it’s breaking with the above rule, it is simply changing your routine to a different schedule.
Avoid distractions to the best of your ability. Turn your phone, TV, radio, etc. and ask your family to leave you be (or work when they aren’t there or are asleep). Distractions can be bothersome at the best of times, interrupting the flow. But they are plain deadly when you have writer’s block.
Move to another space. If you have the freedom a laptop provides, switch up where you type. While working in the same space at all times has its advantages, a block by nature requires doing it differently. Move to another room, or outdoors, or go to the library.
Do something other than writing for a while. Play hooky and read or watch TV. Walk, garden, play with your dog, do the dishes, even read a book. Any of these things can help free you from the rut you are in.
Work on another section of the book. As mentioned above, it can help, and there doesn’t even need to be a reason for it. A block is a block; if you have it, switching to a different section can help dislodge it.
For my own writing, I usually have multiple stories going at once, in various stages. If I’m flummoxed enough, my own personal strategy is to switch it up and work on a different story for a while. Sooner or later, the inspiration to return to the original work returns. It always does.