Back when I was in college, my professor told me writer’s block is not real.
Since then I’ve grappled with that statement — how is writer’s block NOT FREAKIN’ REAL when on numerous (read: approximately one million) occasions I’ve been stuck at my computer or notebook, completely stumped on how or what to write. Sometimes, this, dare I say mental block, lasts for days or even weeks. I desperately hope I’m not the only one.
Now, this is incredibly frustrating, for obvious reasons. It’s fair to say that a lot of my time is spent finding the top tips and tricks and methods to live a productive life. And YET, writer’s block (if you will) is my kryptonite. Having a million and one ideas running through my head without the capacity to get them down on paper is exasperating.
So, the question is — A) Is there a way to get back into the groove, and B) Is this “block” even real?
After doing some trolling around the internet and asking some of my writer friends, I’ve gotten pretty mixed responses, but all in all, the general consensus is “um, well, sort of.”
As Mark Twain says, “The secret of getting ahead is getting started. The secret of getting started is breaking your complex overwhelming tasks into small manageable tasks, and then starting on the first one.”
The problem with labeling your frustrations as writer’s block, however, is that in essence you’re just not creating content, while feeding the notion that it’s just “because of a block.” By telling yourself I just can’t do it, is feeding the beast! You’re giving your fears power.
So, this is to say, although it may be incredibly challenging to be paralyzed in the face of “writer’s block,” there is a solution: break your writing down to 10 minute blocks, sketching out some themes, associative words to your piece, and just getting started — even if it seems like the progress is slow.
Since I’ve done some research, I’ve found that working incrementally has been highly effective. I doodle. I write messy and fairly incomprehensive notes. I set my timer. I read in between. And somehow, I’ve managed to get through my block enough to write this piece.
Don’t resign to the notion of writer’s block, my dear friends! You are writers. ALAS.
such a beautiful article, it inspires me to write little more than yesterday.
Wow. Twain said that? I just said the same to my college graduate standing in her childhood bedroom surrounded by remnants of four years of college. Start. Set a timer and then we’ll go trolling for bins at the thrift store.
I don’t think you have writers block. You have life block but don’t worry. The true stuff will sort itself out. I like Chambers advice: Trust God and do the next thing. Which may be the next sentence, word or nap. Like the new look!
I have come to realise that what is termed “writer’s block” is actually best defined as “lack of inspiration”.
There is a huge difference between someone who is writing for the sake of writing a book to publish, than someone who is writing from inspiration. The ones who write out of inspiration, understand that there is something deeper to what they are writing.
So, like Mark has said, “Start somewhere, no matter how small it is.”