Writer’s block: Is it a thing? Or a figment of your imagination?
We’re of the opinion that writer’s block is not a diagnosable condition but a symptom of other problems. It’s not imaginary, but focusing on the block itself isn’t the solution to your problem. In a guest post on Anne R. Allen’s blog, writer William Hahn agrees, and offers a simple definition of writer’s block that we can get behind.
“Writer’s Block, in my view, can only be defined as a situation in which you are not writing when you would like to be. Nothing else,” Hahn says. “And that means in the end Writer’s Block is personal to each of us. For whatever reason, we are not writing when we think we could be.”
The reasons for this condition vary from writer to writer and circumstance to circumstance. Variants include imposter syndrome, burnout, discouragement, story problems, perfectionism, lack of joy, and more. “We don’t write for all kinds of reasons, and we call it the same thing, and we blame ourselves for it (but nobody else),” Hahn writes. “Rubbish.”
Hahn says the first step to overcoming writer’s block is to identify the type. Consider whether life pressures are in your way or if there’s something about writing or your particular story that are inhibiting you. In other words, is the problem internal or external? There’s not always a quick fix for life problems, but the good news is that your internal problems have internal answers.
A motivating quote or article can give you the impetus to get past imposter syndrome. You can stop relying on your “fickle muse” by redirecting your energies to concrete tasks (and stop anthropomorphizing nonexistent beings!). If “something feels wrong” in your story, fix it. Editing, revision, and seeking feedback count as writing. If all else fails, skip to a new scene or chapter and come back to the part that’s giving you trouble. Sometimes a later section will reveal what’s missing from an earlier chapter. It’s also ok to wait until you figure it out.
“Sometimes you’re not suffering from Writer’s Block, you just have a life that demands your attention,” Hahn writes. “But the more power you can exert, the more it means to you and the better off your story will be.”
