Questions for the community: wrtier's block - what is it, who gets it, and what do we do to overcome it?
Replies
I tend to be with Khai on this. Because I plan, most of my 'getting stuck' periods are when on the one hand my head knows what it wants to write but my inner critic insists it won't be good enough.
I think it's similar to depression, in a way - there appears no logical reason for such a condition to exist but it certainly does and is really debilitating for the sufferer.
The problem with trying to drive yourself out of the fugue by means other than writing is that often makes it worse. Procrastination is the thief of time, they say, which is what any other form of non-writing activity is, really. And putting something off this way adds fuel to the 'manana' fire.
Best to just write, if you can. Any old rubbish, because you can always edit it later.
I am convinced that "writer's block" is essentially one of two things; 1. not knowing what to write due primarily to a lack of planning; and, 2. being overly self-aware of any number of areas in your work-in-progress and unleashing the inner critic upon it.
Other paralysing forces (though not necessarily "writer's block") include such things as having too many ideas, absence of a routine, comparing your manuscript to a published work, pressure of past success, and so on. A lot of these usually stem from a fear of something - not being good enough.
I tend to be with Khai on this. Because I plan, most of my 'getting stuck' periods are when on the one hand my head knows what it wants to write but my inner critic insists it won't be good enough.
I think it's similar to depression, in a way - there appears no logical reason for such a condition to exist but it certainly does and is really debilitating for the sufferer.
The problem with trying to drive yourself out of the fugue by means other than writing is that often makes it worse. Procrastination is the thief of time, they say, which is what any other form of non-writing activity is, really. And putting something off this way adds fuel to the 'manana' fire.
Best to just write, if you can. Any old rubbish, because you can always edit it later.
Except I'm very bad at taking my own advice.
I am convinced that "writer's block" is essentially one of two things; 1. not knowing what to write due primarily to a lack of planning; and, 2. being overly self-aware of any number of areas in your work-in-progress and unleashing the inner critic upon it.
Other paralysing forces (though not necessarily "writer's block") include such things as having too many ideas, absence of a routine, comparing your manuscript to a published work, pressure of past success, and so on. A lot of these usually stem from a fear of something - not being good enough.
Oops, that should have read, before I start to write.