According to the Oxford Learners Dictionary, writer’s block is “a problem that writers sometimes have when they cannot think of what to write and have no new ideas.” The reasons behind this phenomenon can be diverse.
Writing is a challenging creative process that involves many aspects: experimenting, extensive research, and an imaginative thought process. It requires more cognitive skills than most of the other professions leading to struggle experienced by writers who blame it on lack of inspiration. The concept of ‘Writer’s Block’ took root in the early 19th century as the English poet Samuel Coleridge first talked about his “indefinite indescribable terror” at not being able to produce work that would do justice to his talent and name. However, after this, the French writers gave writing a somewhat romantic flair suggesting that writers were unable to write until they suffered anguish and “possessed a tortured soul”.
“Biting my truant pen, beating myself for spite: Fool! said my muse to me, look in thy heart and write.”
Phillip Sydney, Astrophel, and Stella.
Psychologist, Susan Reynolds, like many others, is of the opinion that it is a mere myth and not a real-time psychological condition. Whether true or not, it can easily be said that ‘Writer’s Block’ does happen, and the reasons behind this struggle are varied.
Problem 1: Too Few Ideas
When ideas stop flowing, the writer starts feeling uncreative. This could be due to being closed up in familiar spaces wherein an author feels confined in a box and keeps going in circles without reaching anywhere.
What to do?
To think out of the box, get out of that box! Simply get out of your comfort zone. Try doing new things, put yourself in unfamiliar spaces: a hidden park bench, your mother’s balcony, your office cafeteria. Explore what stimulates you. A change always helps to get the creative juices flowing.
Problem 2: Too Many Ideas
Too many ideas create havoc in the mind so that the writes gets confused as to where to start and ends up not writing at all or choosing the wrong project.
What to do?
Focus. Recognize your best ideas. Just like a patient is tended to in a hospital on the basis of their condition, understand your strengths, and focus on your best thoughts. List your thoughts on a paper randomly. Think about them; how much each idea inspires you? Does it reflect your core values? Which ones need to be developed more? Which characters are calling out to you now? Number them according to priority and get, set writing about the number one on your list!
Problem 3: Too Many Commitments
Writing, to quite an extent, is like meditation. A Writer needs to have an empty mind, an open window from where the clouds can come in and tickle his imagination. But everyone has responsibilities which cannot be kept on the back burner. It is natural to feel frustrated and pressurized here, but it is also important to figure out how and when writing works for you.
What to do?
Think. Decide on what is most important that needs immediate attention and leave those less urgent tasks for later. Ask yourself how to get creative with your time. Be flexible and don’t let the pressures of the world be a roadblock to your writing. I am a full-time working professional who needs to take care of other responsibilities like home and kids. But I love writing so I find time for it at night, when there is peace and quiet. Most people pursuing their passion have duties to compete with. It’s up to us to figure out what works best for us!
Problem 4: Excessively Driven by Perfectionism
Some writers are too finicky and always want to ace everything. It is good. It’s great! But revising and editing over and over again can also lead to burnout because you never finish anything. Self-doubt is a natural response but it shouldn’t inhibit one’s writing.
What to do?
Just write. Even if it doesn’t match up to your standards, give it a go. Leave the revision and editing for the end. Commit yourself to complete your piece of writing.
Many best-selling authors wallow in self-doubt, but instead of stopping your creativity, let it make you excel.
Problem 5: Fear of Rejection
Rejection sucks. It always gets a person down and can stop them in their tracks. We need to overcome this fear ASAP. A writer has to keep going, whatever it takes. The best and most famous writers have also been rejected numerous times. Rejection does not define us. It helps us hone our craft.
What to do?
Write more. Submit more. It increases the possibilities. When there are multiple writings afloat, rejection from one source doesn’t seem life-threatening because you have others in the bush. Moreover, join clubs, talk to people in the same business, and take inspiration from their rejections.
The dispute will go on about writer’s block being a myth or a reality. The truth is that writers are extremely sensitive people who need to keep evolving because evolution is not a leap but a slow process. Keep drawing aside the curtains, find your guiding light, march ahead, and experiment with new techniques to take you where you want to go!
Saloni Poddar
Blogger | Soft Skill Trainer | Content Creator
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Well written and quite informative.
Thanks a lot.