Writer’s Block

by Rebecca Kiel

I sit down to write.  Perhaps it is my regular writing time.  Perhaps I have managed to squeeze an extra hour into my busy day.  Either way, there is work to be done.  Sometimes, it flows swiftly and freely, a tributary seemingly connected to the source of literary wisdom.  Other times, it doesn’t come at all.  Frustrating, terrifying, lonely as it is, this is writer’s block.

Writers from the unpublished to the best selling Emily Giffin, all talk about it.  It may be staring at a blank, back-lit page or trying to revise 85,000 words- again!  Either way, writer’s block gets in the way.

Some say writer’s block occurs from a lack of experience, a lack of true skill required to navigate through the treacherous waters of writing.  Others say it is as natural as breathing.  Whatever the cause, writer’s block is a signal.  It is a message telling us something is wrong.   If we are agile enough as writers, we are able to utilize writer’s block to our advantage.  To do so, we need to take the panic out of it, and diffuse the frustration.  These only get in the way.

When we can quiet around something like writer’s block, we can begin to appreciate its purpose.  Perhaps there are skills to hone.  Often, it is a message to simply put it down and walk away.

What to do instead?  Here are just a few reminders:

Get moving.  Loosening up physically can often unblock our creative juices.  There is a reason athletes, ballerinas, and musicians warm up.  Throw some endorphins in there and you’ll be good to go.

Get out.  Pulling away from the computer and stepping outside (of ourselves!) can do great things for our writing.  Fresh air gives room for thoughts to grow.

Get going.  We all know writing is more than creating a file of words.  There are queries to revise, agents to research, blogs to check, publishing options to weigh.  If you already have difficulty fitting writing into your week, there is plenty else to be done with the precious time you’ve managed to create.
Get support.  Sometimes a little validation goes a long way.  Connecting with other writers or creators is a beautiful way to take the “Argh!” out of writer’s block.

The possibilities are endless.  It would be too easy to roll over and claim defeat.  But where is the sport in that?  Writing is not for the faint hearted.  It takes courage.  It takes stamina.  It takes patience.  Writer’s block is just a secondary character.