What Writer’s Block Really Is—And How to Beat It

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A lot of folks have this idea that writer’s block is something that happens to you. When in reality, writer’s block is something you’re doing to yourself.

There’s also a misconception that writer’s block is the actual problem. In truth, it’s a symptom of an underlying issue.

Let’s take a look at this writerly headache,  what it actually is, and how you can cure it.

What is writer’s block?

Writer’s block is a symptom of one of three things:

1. You don’t have enough information.
2. You’re avoiding or procrastinating.
3. Your creative tank is emptier than the Ogallala aquifer, and you’re not letting it recharge.

The first two are the most common culprits by far. But the third is also legitimate…though—real talk—not necessarily your current problem.

What writer’s block is not

Sitting in front of your computer or notepad, not writing, does not automatically qualify as writer’s block. Plenty of legitimate writing work takes place between your ears, and that’s not always visible to an outside observer, nor does it reliably result in copious word count at the time it’s happening.

Thinking time is important, no matter how much (or little) you like to plan. Thinking time can be actual planning time, or it can be more a matter of letting things percolate in your near-subconscious, as you go about doing other things.

Not having enough information

How clear are you on the four big questions of What, Who, Why Them, Why You?

I beat this drum a lot, because fundamentally everything comes back to it. The questions can feel a little abstract, so let’s make them more concrete to your current project.

1. What questions do you have about what needs to happen next? Make yourself a list. (From there, you can easily draw a line back to one of the Big Four.)
2. Look at your questions. Can you spot an information gap? For instance, if you were able to answer one of those questions, can you see yourself easily continuing to write?

Now, turn this into a writing exercise: Pick a question and brainstorm a few answers, no matter how absurd they may seem to you. Take five or ten minutes. Then, pick one of those answers, and run with it for a specific period of time/word count. Don’t delete anything, at least for today. Revisit tomorrow.

Avoiding or procrastinating

If you’ve got enough information to write something, but you’re not writing, you’re probably avoiding. Think (briefly) about why. Avoid prolonged navel-gazing; this isn’t therapy; what you want is an answer.

Are you avoiding because Life is legitimately happening to you? Be honest about life events and plans that derail you for real: someone you love has died or gotten ill; you’re ill; you’re overwhelmed at work; you’re moving; etc. None of these are writing block. These are important events that demand your attention, and you only have so much to go around. Now may not be the time to beat yourself up about writing.

What you can do is making a plan for finding more mental space and time in the future, and/or plugging your writing into the schedule for after the dust settles.

For everyone else, the diagnosis is: you’re dragging your feet. Get serious about removing obstacles that you’re using as excuses.

1. Make a writing schedule and put it on your calendar. Treat it like the most important client/boss meeting you have; you can’t skip it, and you can’t have another meeting at the same time.
2. Make writing harder to avoid than it is to do. Choose a designated place for writing; disconnect your internet; give yourself a reward afterward—but only if you write first. And so on.

Running on empty

Most writers, most of the time, are dealing with one of the first two issues when they face writer’s block. But creative burnout is real and needs to be respected.

The writer/artist Austin Kleon has a bee in his bonnet about how boredom is necessary for creative work, and I agree with him. If your life (and brain) is filled to the brim with other information, you won’t have space for anything else. Not only that, but it’s exhausting.

This applies to activities we do for fun as much as anything we label “work.” If every corner of your free time is filled with you listening to music or podcasts, going to art classes, playing recreational sports, or scrolling the internet, your brain simply doesn’t have enough downtime to generate material.

And—no-brainer!—if you’ve just finished a big creative project (like another manuscript), you also need a breather to recharge your mojo.

Make room. You’re going to have to let go of one or more habits that you actually enjoy. But I promise you, you’ll appreciate the space much more quickly than you realize.

Cultivate time for that boredom.

Bottom Line

When you feel stuck while writing, that feeling is trying to tell you something. It’s your job to figure out what the actual cause of that symptom is. Only that way can you cure it.

As writers, we tend to want to give ourselves a pass whenever we contend with a block. But that’s lazy. Recognize when Life Happens, and when you’re the one getting in your own way. Remember, no one cares about your writing as much as you do. Be honest. You’ll be back to writing much more quickly that way.

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Need some help getting unblocked? A book structure intensive pulverizes foot-dragging.

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CC image “Writer’s Block” courtesy of andrew smith on Flickr. Some rights reserved.