Debunking the Myth of
Writers Block
By Mary Kole
Mary Kole is a former literary agent, freelance editor, writing teacher, author of Writing Irresistible Kidlit, and IP developer for major publishers, with over a decade in the publishing industry.
Many writers know the feeling of sitting in front of a blank page, unable to conjure up even a single word—an affliction otherwise known as writers block. Even multi-published authors get struck down with this inability to write sometimes. It’s perfectly natural and normal, but that doesn’t mean writers block has to frustrate your writing dreams. Here are some helpful tips to avoid writers block, and some reasons why I believe it can be a myth and a self-fulfilling prophecy.
Defining Writers Block
Imagine this scene: you sit at your computer or notepad, gnawing on the inside of your cheek. You know what you want to say, yet no matter how hard you try, nothing comes out. Sound familiar? Most writers have experienced this very thing. And it feels very real.
But here’s the thing: writers block is a myth. That's not to say you don't feel like it's real—you do—but if you take a step back and look at the issue objectively, you might see beyond this seemingly tangible obstacle. Writers block is a self-defeating behavior that some writers engage in because they are feeling resistance to one element of their story or their confidence or another (otherwise known as “resistance,” as described in Steven Pressfield’s The War of Art).
What Causes Writer's Block?
Writers are great at getting stuck in their heads—and sometimes, this is a wonderful thing, as it allows them to create entire worlds, characters, and scenarios. But when that analysis paralysis or overthinking translates to writers block, this becomes a liability.. Let's explore why this is the case and how developing a regular writing practice can help.
Writers block is caused by a lack of confidence or fear of failure. Strangely, it can also be caused by fear of success—like when you feel you have a truly great idea, but you doubt you can pull it off. It’s common to be intimidated by the challenge of writing something that lives up to your own standards or expectations. This intimidation affects even seasoned writers, especially if they’re writing an option book or trying to follow a bestseller or feel that stakes are otherwise high.
Beating Writers Block
The key to overcoming writers block lies not in trying harder or staring at the blank page for longer, but in changing your approach entirely. Instead of waiting for inspiration to strike before sitting down to write, develop a regular writing practice instead. This could mean setting aside one hour per day specifically dedicated to writing, or committing yourself to writing 500 words every morning before heading off to work (obviously, choose something you can commit to and which fits your lifestyle, or you’ll set yourself up to fail).
The key is commitment and consistency (two undervalued mental and emotional writer tools). When you train yourself to show up to the page, your writing will show up for you and writers block will become less frequent or debilitating. You will no longer be waiting for inspiration to strike and instead, you will be making slow and steady progress, whether you’re “feeling it” that day or not.
When you make writing part of our daily routine, it becomes easier and more natural over time. You can also set yourself up for success by ending each writing session by creating a few bullet points as a To Do list for next time. This way, you are never sitting down to the blank page, and you know exactly what to do.
Putting Writers Block In Its Place
Your inner critic might still rear its ugly head from time to time—but having established writing habits and routines will make it easier for you to push past these unpleasant feelings that manifest themselves as writers block.
While this obstacle might feel real in the moment, it doesn't actually exist as an actual condition. Writers block is a manifestation of fear and intimidation around being able to write something that meets your own standards or expectations. Don’t let this fear keep you from moving forward. With patience, persistence and some structure thrown into the mix (i.e., developing a regular writing practice) writers block can be overcome. If you're experiencing writers block right now, don't despair, just take a few deep breaths and start putting pen to paper (or fingers on keyboard), slowly but surely.
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