What If Writer’s Block Didn’t Exist?
Yesterday was another thoughtful #WrMatters chat, during which Michelle Baker opened up a discussion about a current problem for her: procrastination and writer’s block.
We all know what it is, and anyone who’s had trouble writing has tried all kinds of wacky tips to break through the wall erected by a muse that just doesn’t want to be bothered.
Michelle Walkden replied:
#wrmatters @corpwritingpro I don’t believe in writer’s block. But I’m an ex-journo where deadlines eliminate writers block very quickly.
— Michelle Walkden (@MichWalkden) June 28, 2012
Michelle claims her journalism career has broken her belief, but I’m known to beg clients for deadlines, or to tell them I’ve set one just so I can tell myself they’re expecting it on a certain date. There’s never a shortage of words, then.
But what if you don’t have any deadlines–not even those you’ve imposed on yourself–and yet, writer’s block doesn’t exist? Why are you still staring at a blank screen?
Put another way, with another good question posed by Michelle Walkden,
#wrmatters But when does a lack of action become writer’s block per se?
— Michelle Walkden (@MichWalkden) June 28, 2012
At what point does procrastination turn into writer’s block? The third day you can’t seem to get coherent words on paper, or the first? The moment you reach for your muse and bruise your knuckles against that brick wall between you and inspiration?
Or is procrastination simply procrastination, with no bearing on your ability to sit down and write?
I think we tend to look at the pieces we write in a vacuum, forgetting its context, mental and physical. So when we’re frustrated, we don’t know why. But is our muse too crowded with other ongoing projects or stressors to properly approach a piece? Do we have all the information we need to begin? Do we need something yellow?
When you know what the problem is, it’s easier to work toward solving it–and getting your writing to flow again.
So ask yourself: What if writer’s block didn’t exist? Now what’s my excuse? Eliminate it, and get working.
If you need a little help deciding which problem you have instead, this article may help.
Thanks again for another lively chat, and I hope to see you at the next #WrMatters chat on July 12 at 4PM EST. Ask, provoke, and demand better written communication from all of us!
Photo credit: Sean McEntee, courtesy Flickr, CC 2.0.
Enter your email to get random special notes from me about marketing copy, language, and grammar you can put to work as soon as you read them. It’s not a newsletter–it’s your chance to pull me aside for answers to your own questions, too!
adamtoporek richescorner Good ideas, Adam--when some writers get blocked they use it as an excuse to do something less productive. But even if we're stalling, it's a good idea to try to do something that will carry us closer to our goal.
I do think that procrastination has the effect of building up writer's block. I've noticed that when I set a goal for myself to blog every day, the writing comes easier to me. Whereas when I lag and skip days and procrastinate, it gets harder to get back to writing a post.
richescorner I've had the same pattern, which is why I try to keep a schedule on my blog even though some say don't do it. As a writer, my blog is kind of like my daily warm-up work-out, words-wise.
I agree with richescorner, habit makes it much easier. We all have those uninspired moments; I think you can find writing-related activities like research or outlining to fill them.
- spam
- offensive
- disagree
- off topic
Like