Writer’s block and why you should love it

Creative writing - From think to ink - Lindstrom Simeon 2015

Writer’s block and why you should love it

I like to think of writing as a kind of therapy, and when you have writer’s block, something interesting is usually going on. Don’t freak out, don’t rush in to try to figure out why you can’t think of anything, just stop for a second and have a good look at where you are.

Writer’s block can be a valuable tool if you’re not afraid of it and know how to use it when it emerges. Feeling “stuck” can actually be a fantastic moment full of clues about how to proceed. The next time you feel dried up and unable to move on, ask yourself the following questions:

·  Is there something on the horizon you’re avoiding? Are you getting close to doing or writing something you’re actually afraid of?

·  Look at what happened immediately before you felt the writer’s block. Do you always feel uninspired writing about a particular character or idea? Could this be a clue that this idea or character isn’t working for you anymore?

·  Think of the last time you bust out of writer’s block and exactly what it was that got you going again. Can you recreate that now?

·  Do you perhaps just need a break? If you’ve been going all out, heed the call and take a breather to rest and refresh.

·  If you’re bored …you might be making your readers bored too. It’s hard, but it might be time to admit that your idea has run its course and isn’t so engrossing as you first thought.

·  Have you unwittingly allowed premature criticism of your work to block you? What I mean by this is showing your work to another person before it’s really ready, and then unconsciously holding this person’s opinion in your mind as you write. This can be a kind of performance anxiety.

·  Maybe, and don’t get a big head here, maybe what you’re holding back from is the fear of success. Nothing can be so threatening to your idea of yourself as a bad writer than writing something amazing, right?