Writing Talk, No. 5 - Writer's Block
If you're here because you think you have Writer's Block (which I've decided to capitalize) I'm here to disavow you of the notion that such an ailment even exists.
I'll continue to refer to Writer's Block, but to make it clear: there is no such thing. You might think there is, you might know a brother's uncle's mother's cousin's plumber's friend who had Writer's Block, but I can guarantee that you don't. I can give this guarantee based on the fact that Writer's Block is not total, and it is in no way in control of you. It is your rival, but not your enemy.
Writer's Block is misdefined. Nothing can stop you from writing, not really. What is typically referred to as Writer's Block is actually just a refusal to work on a specific project. Writer's Block has a cause and a cure.
It's caused by a misstep. A chapter you didn't fully think through; a character you didn't mean to add; it can be caused by any decision, you just have to find out which one. Writer's Block is not a hinderance, it's a warning; a resistance to go forward and keep working on something that won't necessarily pan out; a suggestion that perhaps you should cut your losses (you shouldn't). If you have what's typically referred to as Writer's Block, you don't have a problem, but your story does.
For now, work on something else. It doesn't have to be writing, but writing is best. Work on anything other than the blocked story; get a fresh perspective. It's possible you were just plain bored. No matter how enthralling the prose ends up, writing can still be peerlessly dull. Don't think about your blocked story.
If this doesn't help, something needs work. Take a look at motivation. If your story has characters in it, then it has motivation at well, at least it should. Make sure someone (hopefully the protagonist) is working towards an eventual goal. Your protagonist is the focus here; the story won't move unless they do. Your protagonist won't move unless they want to. I've written more extensively about motivation, so I'll stop here. If you think motivation might be your problem, click here.
Make sure that the story has room to go somewhere. Run some hypothetical scenarios. Take notes on the story, and write character profiles. You don't necessarily need to get word count to get progress.
Above all, don't think of Writer's Block as though it actually exists. Work with your story, make sure everything lines up so that the characters rush of to save the world (or buy donuts, depending on the length of your story and the preference of your protagonist), and make sure to look back.
When you're writing, the temptation is only to write forward, but it's possible that something you wrote previously is holding you up. Take a closer look, swap things around; again, run some hypothesis. Change the setting, mess with character's ages and professions and relationships. Eventually you'll come up with a combination that your curiosity can't resist. You'll start writing again, eager to reach the end of a story that hasn't been written yet.
Writing is like reading in many ways, but that's for another time.
I'll continue to refer to Writer's Block, but to make it clear: there is no such thing. You might think there is, you might know a brother's uncle's mother's cousin's plumber's friend who had Writer's Block, but I can guarantee that you don't. I can give this guarantee based on the fact that Writer's Block is not total, and it is in no way in control of you. It is your rival, but not your enemy.
Writer's Block is misdefined. Nothing can stop you from writing, not really. What is typically referred to as Writer's Block is actually just a refusal to work on a specific project. Writer's Block has a cause and a cure.
It's caused by a misstep. A chapter you didn't fully think through; a character you didn't mean to add; it can be caused by any decision, you just have to find out which one. Writer's Block is not a hinderance, it's a warning; a resistance to go forward and keep working on something that won't necessarily pan out; a suggestion that perhaps you should cut your losses (you shouldn't). If you have what's typically referred to as Writer's Block, you don't have a problem, but your story does.
For now, work on something else. It doesn't have to be writing, but writing is best. Work on anything other than the blocked story; get a fresh perspective. It's possible you were just plain bored. No matter how enthralling the prose ends up, writing can still be peerlessly dull. Don't think about your blocked story.
If this doesn't help, something needs work. Take a look at motivation. If your story has characters in it, then it has motivation at well, at least it should. Make sure someone (hopefully the protagonist) is working towards an eventual goal. Your protagonist is the focus here; the story won't move unless they do. Your protagonist won't move unless they want to. I've written more extensively about motivation, so I'll stop here. If you think motivation might be your problem, click here.
Make sure that the story has room to go somewhere. Run some hypothetical scenarios. Take notes on the story, and write character profiles. You don't necessarily need to get word count to get progress.
Above all, don't think of Writer's Block as though it actually exists. Work with your story, make sure everything lines up so that the characters rush of to save the world (or buy donuts, depending on the length of your story and the preference of your protagonist), and make sure to look back.
When you're writing, the temptation is only to write forward, but it's possible that something you wrote previously is holding you up. Take a closer look, swap things around; again, run some hypothesis. Change the setting, mess with character's ages and professions and relationships. Eventually you'll come up with a combination that your curiosity can't resist. You'll start writing again, eager to reach the end of a story that hasn't been written yet.
Writing is like reading in many ways, but that's for another time.
Comments
Post a Comment