Authors Talk Writer’s Block
Issue #62, Writer’s Block 2 of 4
Jumping in on this four-issue topic now? Back up one post to Writing Rhythm Issue #61 to hear how it has crippled some of the most renowned writers in the business. You can also check out definitions.
This issue, for your further rumination (meaning to “chew over” as a cow ruminates), I’ve compiled a collection of sometimes poetic, sometimes insightful reflections and definitions from more real-life authors who’ve wrestled this beast and come out on the other side.
Writer’s block…
“…is just a symptom of feeling like you have nothing to say, combined with the rather weird idea that you should feel the need to say something.”
“[feels as if]…there are dead spells. We die sometimes. And it’s as though we’re in a tomb; it’s a death.”
“…is often a dislike of writing badly and waiting for writing better to happen.”
“[is]…just a lazy-thinking kind of cliché…in a very obviously lavatorial way, it suggests that you’ve got something in you and you can’t get it out because of the blockage. So you’re straining away, and then it becomes more and more blocked.”
“…was this incredible avoidance and I could think of so many things to do, and they were all totally legitimate things. I mean your taxes have to be done, right? All the things that interfere in life.”
“…happens when I am boring, when my mind is flat, when I have nothing to add to what has been said and done. Therefore it happens nearly all of the time…when writing is an obligation and not a desire…writer’s block is a sign that I probably ultimately don’t give enough of a shit.”
“…is a load of nonsense—I’ve always been a bit suspicious of it. It’s more likely to be a symptom of depression or maybe they’ve just got nothing interesting to say.”
“…[is] laziness, lack of imagination, inflated expectations, or having-spent-your-entire-advance-in-Rio-de-Janeiro-and-taking-taxis-and-going-to-restaurants-you-can’t-afford-before-you-have-written-a-single-word-of-the-book-you-pitched-to-a-cretin-with-an-out-of-control-cash-flow.”
“…has nothing to do with the talent of writing or the skill of writing. It’s completely performance anxiety.”
“…is another name for writer’s dread—the paralyzing fear that our work won’t measure up.”
“… is just a warning that you’re doing the wrong thing.”
“…[is] a myth…if Writer’s Block were real, why would it affect only writers? Imagine calling your boss and saying, “I can’t come in today. I have worker’s block.”
Enough problem-posing. In Writing Rhythm Issues #63 and #64 we’ll have remedies.
This bring us to the vocab word of the issue.
I’ll hint at the answer this time with a photograph and a caption.
Imagine this guy, deep in philosophical thought. Then see if you can recall the meaning of the following word without clicking first.
What is rumination?
Action Plan:
On X (formerly Twitter), I post a new daily rhyming writing tip on which many of these issues are based. Follow—you know you want to.
Next Up:
63) Authors Unlock Writer’s Block, Writers’ Block, 3 of 4
See you next time!
—Craig
This is great Craig. You found some good ones. It seems like every writer is different in every way. Which is weird, because it's all the same product-- a book.