I really appreciate this post over at The Write Practice, which takes a bold approach to writer’s block: It doesn’t exist.
Writer’s Block: there’s no such thing.
We say that we have this thing called “writer’s block” and it’s the reason why we’ll never achieve our dreams. As if it’s a contracted disease. But it doesn’t exist.
What we are experiencing is the self-inflicted phenomenon of writers making choices that frequently lead to failure.
And knowing that writer’s block is a myth is exactly what you need to beat it. If you are blocked at the beginning of the story, there’s a solution. You don’t need Inspiration, and here’s why:
It’s essential to understand that Inspiration is usually just a single element of a story. Here are some examples:
- Meeting a single mother who works 3 jobs: This is ONLY a character with a goal and motivation, but not a Story.
- Visiting the glistening beaches of Hawaii: This is ONLY a setting where a Story can take place.
Stories require goal-driven characters, settings that push back against the pursuit of those goals, and character choices with increasing stakes. Inspiration can’t deliver all of that.
So when you are inspired by a situation, an observation, an overheard conversation, remember: This is not a Story. It is just Inspiration. And Inspiration—on its own—tends to get a writer blocked.
Unblocking the Start
Remember: There’s no such thing as “writer’s block.” It’s the self-inflicted phenomenon of writers making choices that frequently lead to failure.
So what choices don’t lead to failure? Strategic choices. A good place to start is in the management of your Inspiration.
Track it. Keep a journal. Take notes of the emotions you feel in particular situations or around different people. And then, when you do sit down to begin a story, go into it knowing that the Inspiration alone isn’t enough.
If you’ve been inspired by a setting, realize that you’re going to need characters and conflict. If you meet a person with a larger-than-life personality, plan on giving him some goals that he can’t achieve yet. Writing isn’t a purely imaginative activity. It’s highly strategic from the start to the end.
Great stuff. Read it all here.