Stop Waiting!

• "Who has a good prompt for me?"
• "When will a new Challenge drop?"
• "What's the next holiday, anyway?"
• "How do you write something everyday?"
• "Where can I find writing ideas?"

Do these questions sound familiar? I see them, almost daily, in group chats and plaintive social media posts. Writers trying to fulfill daily writing goals, considering participation in NaNoWriMo, struggling with the confines of a writing challenge, and dreading to face the blank screen and blinking cursor.

This is the first of a series addressing Writer's Block, which is defined by Mike Rose, a writing expert, as 'the inability to begin or continue writing for reasons other than a lack of basic skill or commitment'.

It's helpful, I believe, to define a thing before you proceed writing about it. That very simple definition from Mr. Rose gives us a lot to consider. Here's my three takeaways for you:

WRITERS experience Writer's Block

This condition is exclusive to WRITERS. Said another way: if you aren't already a writer then you don't experience writers block. Other professions don't have this problem.

During a book signing and keynote address, I once heard author Ann Patchett talk about this. She noted that doctors don't have 'doctor's block'. A surgeon prepares, consults, diagnoses, and operates. They don't have 'surgeon's block'. They proceed with their work.

Teachers don't have 'teacher's block', bus drivers don't get 'driving block', chefs don't get 'chef's block'. They do what they do.

Actors, now they may be on to something. Film actors don't get 'acting block'. They do 'takes', which is a single filmed performance or scene, which are then evaluated and then move on to the editor to be polished and inserted into the overall film.

Actors, then, take ACTION, producing work that requires EDITING and EVALUATION. In fact, many films even include the outtakes, or bloopers, that give a behind the scenes view of the creative process and the subsequent mistakes.

Writer's Block is NOT Related to Skill

The hesitancy to write, to move forward with a project, or to complete a self-assigned piece doesn't mean a person is a 'bad writer'. A person isn't writing because they cannot write. They are, simply, not writing.

Writer's Block is not writing. It's standing at a closed door and expecting the door to open without any assistance save the will of the door itself. That's not realistic.

It doesn't mean that the closed door is a bad door. It doesn't signify that the door lacks talent. There is no whiff of the door being past its prime because it is closed at this very time and had been merrily swinging on its hinges just a few months ago.

A closed door is simply not open. Writer's Block is simply a writer not writing. When a writer writes they have opened the 'door' and eliminated the illusion of writer's block.

Writer's Block Isn't a Lack of Commitment

A writer isn't writing because they are uncommitted to their craft or vision. They aren't 'terrible with resolutions', or 'not good with time'. Time has a funny way of proceeding day by day whether we are terrible about it or not. Time just is.

Often, writer's block is standing in front of the door and waiting. Waiting for inspiration. Waiting for motivation. Waiting without seeing progress isn't a lack of commitment. Far from it. Unfulfilled waiting takes a powerful commitment. The issue is a lack of action and the presence of anxiety.

Looking Ahead

This series will address Writer's Block, the Evil Twins of Inaction and Anxiety, and of course include that wonder of wonders: Writing Prompts. Sounds like fun, doesn't it?

Limber up by leaving a comment: what are your thoughts about Writer's Block? Have they changed any after reading this? What do you do when you feel caught in the non-existing grips of Writer's Block?

~ Here's the next in the series: