Busting the Block (Writer's Block that Is)

You are sitting down at your computer. You are ready to start writing that article, story, or chapter in your next novel, and nothing comes. You sit staring at the blank screen.  You type a word or two. Hit delete. You arrange stuff on your desk. Take a sip of coffee which has cooled considerably during this process. So, you warm it up. Come back and start staring at the screen again.  

We’ve all been there. Sometimes the words just don’t come. You have writer’s block. So, how do you get past it?  

The Myth of Writer’s Block 

I belong to several writers’ groups. And over the years, I can’t count the number of posts in those groups, often quite long ones, in which the writer laments that they have writer’s block and have been unable to write anything that day. Anything, that is, other than a lengthy post about not being able to write. Do you see the contradiction?

Barring a brain injury or a rare neurological disorder, true writer’s block doesn’t exist. It is important to remember this. You might be stuck figuring out an approach to a piece of writing, but that does not mean you lack the ability to write.  

What we call things matters. When I say I have writer’s block, that can cause me to view it as an incurable (if temporary) malady. I begin to believe that there is nothing I can do about it.  

Nothing could be further from the truth. There are many ways you can deal with and even prevent writer’s block. Let’s look at a few of them.  

Write Badly 

Many times, what we call writer’s block is simply an expression of perfectionism. We are trying to create a perfect draft. It’s not that we can’t write something. It’s that we don’t like what we have written and will not proceed until we get it perfect, and if we can’t think of the “perfect” wording, we stop writing. 

I have certainly done that in the past. However, that is not how most veteran writers write. No. I’m not talking about “messy imperfection.” When it comes to your final product, your reader deserves your best effort. However, as they say, “Every masterpiece began as a disaster-piece.”  

Instead of editing – even in your mind – keep writing. If it is a blank page, and you can’t think of anything “good” to write, start writing badly. First drafts should be messy. Write down what you are thinking without judgment. As you get the flow going, the writing will get better.  

Skip Around 

If you find yourself stuck in the middle of chapter 10 of your book, don’t just sit there staring at a blank screen, work on a different chapter. Often, your “block” is only with a specific part of your writing. If you shift your focus to another section, you can keep writing and keep being productive.  

Sometimes, the more we focus on any problem, the more stuck we become. However, if we work on something else, our brains can work on the problem in the background, so to speak, without the pressure.  

Take a Walk 

Or do dishes, listen to music, watch Netflix, work out, take a drive. Do anything that takes your mind off writing. As mentioned previously, being too focused on any problem can paradoxically reduce your chances of solving it.  

It’s kind of like when your computer gets overloaded, or a feedback loop starts, and you get that annoying “Program not responding” message. What do you do? Control-Alt-Delete. You shut down the program and restart it.  

Think about these distractions like rebooting your mind. Putting some distance between you and the problem reduces that sense of urgency which can impede creative thought. Creativity requires the ability to see many options. However, when we become too focused on a problem, especially if we are looking for the “perfect’ solution, we limit our options. Taking a step back, not even thinking about writing, can help clear our minds of those limiting options and think outside the box as they say.  

Understand the Block 

Is there a pattern to your writer’s block? Do you find yourself being “blocked” when you write about certain things? It could be that the problem is not with the writing, but with what you are writing.  

A few years ago, I was writing a novel. In one of the scenes, my female main character was talking about having been raped. It was not a major part of the plot. It was just a piece of her backstory to help the reader understand some of her actions.  

I had the hardest time with that scene. I kept skipping over it. Eventually, I realized that even though the details were different, rape is part of my backstory as well. Even though that was thirty years in my past, a few fragments of PTSD over that event were still present.  

Once I understood the reasons for the block, I found the strength to break through it and keep writing. I felt good about the final product, and the process was therapeutic.  

One of my graduate degrees is in psychology. One of the principles of therapy is “Resistance has a meaning.” Those subjects a client avoids talking about or gets angry about when asked to discuss are significant. The same can be said about writing. If you find yourself blocked on certain subjects, take some time to look at what is going through your mind right before you were blocked. Understanding the block can give you the strength to work through it. Or you might discover that you are not quite ready to open that door. And not opening a door until you are ready is a good outcome as well.  

Preparation 

I admit that when I am writing fiction, I tend to “write by the seat of the pants.” What writers call “Pantsers.” But I’m a modified version of that type. I usually have a general idea of where the story is going. I lay down, close my eyes, and “watch” the story play out as if the back of my eyelids were a movie screen. It’s not complete but more like when you are fast-forwarding through a program on Netflix with thumbnails popping up. Once I have an idea about where the story is going, I start to write.  

I probably have more places where I get “stuck” than someone who makes a detailed outline. However, my personality is such that when I try that detailed approach, I lose my creative fire.  

Now, with nonfiction. I’m the opposite. I have a detailed plan right at the start. I don’t always write it down anymore because I have been writing nonfiction professionally for more than 50 years. But I can close my eyes and see the outline in my mind. I rarely hit a block with nonfiction.  

If you prepare first in whatever manner works best for you, you will hit fewer blocks. Even a simple list of topics on the back of an envelope will work.  
 
For instance, This article has this outline 
 
Writer’s block – describe a common situation 

Myth of Writer’s  Block 

Techniques 

Write Badly 

Skip Around 

Take a Walk 

Understand the Block 

Preparation 

Conclusion – Don’t Worry. It’s a block of ice. Not stone.  

Don’t Worry 

The block gets worse with worry. I’ve never had a permanent block, even though some seemed that way at the time. It’s a block of ice – not of stone. Eventually, it will melt away and you can get back to writing.