What is writer’s block? And how can you get through it? I’ve talked before about overcoming writer’s block, but today I really want to dig into where it comes from. Can you avoid it? And, if you’ve got it, how can you get rid of it?
What is writer’s block?
Put simply, writer’s block is an inability to write. But that’s not a very satisfying answer, is it? There are all sorts of reasons why you might find it difficult to write, and not all of them fall under the category of writer’s block. A shortage of time can make it challenging to get writing done, and even if you have the time to sit down at your computer you might not have time to really get into your writing. That, for most people, doesn’t count as writer’s block though.
Writer’s block is more about what happens when you’ve got the time to write, but you can’t get started. You stare at your blank page, you maybe start a sentence or two, but the words just won’t flow. It’s feeling stuck, and not having a clear idea of how to move forward with your writing.
Where does this come from? What causes it? And what can you do about it?
What causes writer’s block?
Okay, so I’m not an expert, but I have some theories here. I believe this is a non-exhaustive list of some of the reasons why you might get stuck in your writing:
1. Self-doubt
I know I sometimes lose confidence in my writing, and when that happens it can be hard to want to write. Why pour hours of work and a ton of effort into something that’s not very good? It doesn’t feel like a good use of your time and energy, and as a result you might struggle to get yourself working.
2. Boredom
What is writer’s block if not a kind of catastrophic loss of interest in writing? Okay, it might be lots of other things. But I definitely think it can sometimes come from feeling like your current project has got stale. A lack of inspiration or interest in what comes next can leave you feeling listless and unable to write.
3. Anxiety/Pressure
This is similar to, but not the same as, the writer’s block that comes from self-doubt. Anxiety about a project might come from feeling like you’re not able to do it justice, but it can also come from trying to hold yourself to a certain standard. Believing that you have to write 2000 words a day, or you’re not a real writer, can leave you struggling to even sit down at the computer.
4. Comparison
Reading is a really important component of writing. I stand by that. But sometimes seeing what other people are writing can make it weirdly hard to work on your own projects. Sometimes it’s because you feel like you’ll never measure up to the work you’re reading, I know I get that a lot when I’m reading some of my favourite authors! But sometimes it can be more subtle than that. Seeing somebody else’s version of a character arc or plot you’ve been working on can change the way you feel about writing it yourself.
5. Distraction
There are so many things competing for our attention at any given moment of the day. My phone is always going off, and even if it isn’t I know there are apps and games waiting impatiently for my return. When I’m at my laptop, I could be checking my emails, posting to social media, watching YouTube or reading other blogs. With all of those things vying for my interest, my poor book barely gets a look-in!
How can you get the spark back?
First of all, let’s acknowledge that this might not be the right thing to aim for. Writing isn’t always fun. It isn’t always going to be something that you want to do, and waiting for inspiration or joy in your work can make it hard to really dig in and finish a project. If you want to finish books, you do have to find a way to write even when you don’t want to. Even when you feel like you’ve got nothing to say, and there’s nothing interesting about what you’re putting on the page.
I think that’s true and important, but I also don’t think it’s the whole story. Because if you’re asking the question “What is writer’s block?” you’re probably not just talking about feeling reluctant to get back to work. It can feel like you really can’t pull any words out of your head and onto the page.
I’ve talked about some strategies before, and you might find something useful there. But I also wanted to look at specific strategies based on my hypothesised causes of writer’s block.
If you’re struggling with self-doubt, start by reading through what you’ve done
You don’t have to love everything you write. That would be weird, and probably counterproductive in the long run. But if you can sit down and take a clear-eyed look at your own work, you can dispel some of the catastrophising elements of self-doubt. Chances are it won’t be the best thing you’ve ever read, but it also won’t be the worst. Pick out a couple of things you really like about the last thing you wrote. Pick out a couple of things that you know you can improve, and make a note for yourself on how you’ll work on those moving forwards.
Writing is a learning process, and critically examining your own work is vital for improving. But it should also help you to see that you’ve got something worth working on!
If you’re bored, jump ahead
Last NaNoWriMo I learned the joys of writing out of order. I know I’m late to the party, but I swear, it was a revelation! In case you also hadn’t come to this information yet: You don’t have to write a book from start to finish. You can write all the fun bits first if you like, and worry about joining them together later! It’s like eating dessert first.
Yes, you will still have to write the connecting bits later. But changing the section you’re working on can be a great way to break out of a rut. Also, if something’s going to be hideously boring to write, sometimes you need to find a way to skip it or have something different happen anyway – and this technique can also help bring you a new perspective on parts of your story where this might be necessary. It’s win-win!
If you’re feeling anxious, try taking a break
Feeling anxious or pressured can make it seem like the solution is to force yourself to write, no matter how little you want to. But that isn’t always the best way to get through writer’s block. Taking a break and doing something different, particularly involving a change of scenery, can be a great way to reset and take some of the stress out of writing.
Going for a walk is suggested so often that it’s basically a cliché, but it’s suggested for a good reason. A simple ten-minute walk outside can do wonders for your frame of mind. If you don’t want to go outside, I personally recommend setting a fifteen or twenty-minute timer and doing some cleaning or tidying. Nothing makes me want to write more than housework! Joking aside though, sometimes just taking the immediate pressure of yourself can really help to alleviate writer’s block.
Struggling with comparisons? Try changing the format
Changing the way you write, or the kind of thing you’re writing, can help if your block is coming from comparing yourself to other work. You can play to other strengths here, if you have other creative outlets you enjoy. If you like to draw, you could sketch a moment between your characters, or draw a short comic strip. Or you can use another way of switching up the format of your project, such as narrating your ideas into a voice recording app.
The idea is simply to take your project out of the medium that makes it so easy to compare. Turn your brain to the challenge of working with a new style of creating, rather than thinking about how other people have done things better, or already covered the same ground as you.
If distractions are holding you back, try giving yourself a deadline
There are a lot of practical things you can do to give yourself a break from distractions. Airplane mode on your phone, blocking apps on your laptop, turning off your wi-fi, etc. But sometimes the added pressure of a firm deadline can work wonders for your focus.
If you’re disciplined enough to stick to your own deadlines, then that’s great. But for this, you might want to rope in a friend or family member who can provide some accountability for you. I may never have finished the first draft of my book if it weren’t for the fact that my brother was always waiting for the next installment! Ideally you want to form this agreement with somebody who you trust to see your work, even if you think it’s awful. Otherwise you risk backing yourself into an anxious, self-conscious corner, which is definitely not what we’re going for here. Alternatively, joining in with some kind of writing challenge can help provide you with a deadline and the accountability to stick to it!
No matter what’s getting in your way, my last recommendation is to write something unrelated
Sometimes the best way to get through writer’s block is to try writing something completely unrelated to the project at hand. I often recommend writer’s I’m working with try freewriting if they’re feeling stuck. Set a timer for five or ten minutes, and start writing as soon as the timer starts. Even if all you write is “I don’t know what to write”, you can’t stop until the timer goes off.
You can write about how you’re feeling, what you’re planning to do tomorrow, how stupid you think the exercise is – as long as you don’t stop writing. You might never do anything with the writing that comes out of a session like this, but you might find that it shakes something loose. And even if not, the act of writing can often make it easier to come back to your original work.
What is writer’s block to you, and how do you deal with it?
I know different people experience writer’s block differently, and everyone has their own approaches for when it crops up. Please share any favourite strategies in the comments!
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