I was talking with a writer the other day - he was "blocked" - what should/could he do?
Well... whatever anyone suggested there was a reason it wouldn't work.
I have known this in other interests/hobbies and even professions.
So - I have come to the question: is "writer's block" something that can be desirable? Does it (sometimes at least) have a useful function?
:-)
I am lucky that I am a planner, so I've never really experienced writer's block, but my guess on how it could be useful- you get to take your mind off your work and think of newer things that help you after the block is gone.
I can't say that I have ever suffered with it yet and I hope I never will. But it may just be that part of the brain saying it needs a rest. That said I often feel at my most creative when I am tired. Though I can imagine as Jonathan says frustration just doesn't come into it.
I believe writers block is simply a lack of confidence that you can't write, either what's in your head, or in such a way that anyone would want to read it. So you do something else, because anything's easier than facing your own shortcomings.
Frustration doesn't come close :(