Down with writer’s block

Writer’s Block is NOT real. Before everyone beats down my door with their proverbial pitchforks and torches, let me explain.

There are thousands of websites and how-to guides that break down ways to overcome writer’s block. Stemming from anxiety, writers can feel as though their creativity is blocked or hindered.

Symptoms of this kind of block is when a writer find that they cannot focus on the task at hand or a mental fog. These kinds of feelings can cause the writer to be frustrated and can hinder their creativity. But don’t fret! This is not the end of the world. This kind of condition is only temporary.

Jerry B. Junkins, the author of the Left Behind Series, put it best when he questioned why this kind of block does not exist in any other profession. You can find his full link here: https://youtu.be/LTrTBjwUulE

Have you ever heard of a physician that did not treat a patient because he was feeling too “blocked” to practice medicine that day? No. Probably not. Have you heard of a plumber that could not fix a leak because he was feeling blocked? No. It is possible that the plumber could not fix it because it was a situation that he had not encountered prior, but not because he was feeling blocked. Because it does not last forever and because it is not found in any other profession, this is what leads me to believe that it is not real. 

The point is this: “Writer’s Block” is actually “Procrastination.” Yes. As writers, we tend to write ourselves into corners or deplete our creative wells, but this is our JOB. At the end of the day, if you want to go from “Writer” to “Author,” getting over these kinds of hindrances begins with getting to the root of actual problem. 

Procrastination is actively delaying or postponing something. We use the term “writer’s block” as a creative excuse to keep from putting words on the page.

It is true that when we write, the direction our writing can take us can back us into a corner. The truth of the matter is that part of our job as a creator is to find a inventive way to get ourselves out of sticky situations. The issue is that when things get tough, we actively avoid the problem instead of working through it. 

Let’s Just Get Started

Part of fixing the problem is simply getting started. If you have written yourself into a corner, skip ahead to write the scene that you know you will get to eventually. Some times we procrastinate or actively avoid working because we assume that we have to write linear – one scene right after the next. Who wrote this rule? Who said it MUST be done this way? Each writer is different which means, styles, processes, ideas and motivations would be different. 

Pick up somewhere in the story or feel free to work on another project to get your creative well flowing again. It is your story. YOU are the one who will have to figure it out!

Schedule Your Writing

Another thing that needs to happen to stop you from feeling blocked is to turn the hobby of writing into a job. A job with actual hours and time set aside specifically dedicated to making it happen. If you are planning to take the steps to becoming an author, something will be sacrificed. 

It is easy to calendar your writing and actively do something else because you can “catch up later.” This is how you find yourself creatively empty and the words “won’t come.” It is not that you are a terrible writer or that you cannot do this. It just means that you have not disciplined yourself to do this. Create a plan to write, schedule time to write, and do NOT renege (back out or change your mind) on your writing. You will only be cheating yourself and impeding your creativeness.

One Step at a Time

It is so easy to fall victim to Shiny Object Syndrome. (Yes. This is an actual thing – especially for entrepreneurs). This is the disease of distraction. Every shiny new idea that crosses your mind hurdles you off the deep end into another project that you are suddenly super excited about. Abandoning the project you were working so hard to create. Before you know it, you have multiple “dead” book-babies in the corner and no one has the opportunity to read your awesome thoughts. 

We tend to set full-fledged goals and make astronomical plans for our dreams. This is a good thing; however, we tend to drop ball on the action portion of goal setting. To birth reality from a dream, desire must become motivation and motivation breeds action. Set achievable milestones. These mile markers are faster goals to reach which will keep you excited about the project.

Conclusion of the Matter

Feeling blocked is not the end of the world, but it is what we do with the block that makes all of the difference. Writer’s Block is a self-justification to avoid doing your job. If no other profession acknowledges this as a viable excuse to stop working, than why should authors. Dig deep, set your schedule, and get the job done. 

What are your thoughts? Is Writer’s Block Fact or Fiction? Leave a comment and let’s debate.