Is Writer's Block a Real Thing?
Is Writer’s Block a Real Thing?
Yes. No. Maybe.
It depends who you ask, but I think writer’s block is all part of the process and embracing it makes getting unstuck so much sweeter. I’m in search of a new name for it - one that doesn’t stir up agony and anguish.
Please know that my writing process isn’t all unicorns and rainbows!
I have to constantly remind myself to surrender to those slow-as-molasses struggle times. I have to lean into the moments when I finally get a breakthrough because it strengthens my faith in the glory of the writing process.
“We have all been there, and it feels like the end of the world. It’s like a little chickadee being hit by an H-bomb. Here’s the thing, though. I no longer think of it as writer’s block. I think that is looking at the problem from the wrong angle.”
SPS (Seeking Possibilities Stage)
Yes! I think Anne Lamott was channeling Ralph Waldo Emerson. He suggested that “in writing, there is first a creating stage - a time you look for ideas, you explore, you cast around for what you want to say. Like the first phase of building, this creating stage is full of possibilities.”
That’s an angle I take to heart.
I’m casting about.
Exploring.
Seeking possibilities.
Exploring and seeking are positive words, but the work isn’t always visibly fruitful on the page.
Seeking Bravo and Carbs
I come upon dead end ideas, paper tossed in the trash, or hours staring at a blank page. Suddenly, I am inspired.
Not to write, but to make chocolate chip cookies, rearrange the living room furniture, organize my closet, check email, or watch the latest episode of The Real Housewives of Beverly Hills.
If I’m feeling super healthy and on a self-care roll, I take a long walk, do Pilates, reach out to a friend in need, call my mama, or tend to my bird feeders. Who am I kidding? It’s mostly Bravo and carbs mixed with a side of self-doubt. “Why am I doing this? I should just quit!”
And then, in a magical moment, I’m unstuck. The words and ideas pour out. My faith is restored. I can do this. I’m actually good at this. Let’s do this!
Getting Unstuck
After teaching for over 30 years and writing since I was a young child, I know the way to get unstuck is different for everyone.
For me, it boils down to three factors:
Time to think and muddle through it. I need to do mundane things that don’t take a lot of bandwidth while I’m stirring up creative ideas in my head. The furniture rearranging and cookie baking and Bravo watching is giving my subconscious brain space to play with new ideas. It’s essential. That’s why so many creative folks walk a lot as part of their process. (By the way, studies have shown that this is way better than drinking and drugs which are a close second to walking for artists.)
Read a lot. Reading words - especially in the universe of my topic - feeds my creative brain and helps me write from a place of plenty whether I use what I learn or not.
Make a lot of messy notes all over big pieces of paper. I need lots of space to scribble my emerging ideas and still have space left over when I cross them out. The poster-sized Post-its are a favorite tool. I stick them on the closet doors in my writing studio.
Discover a structure to hold my ideas. This is THE thing that really unlocks the floodgates of my creativity! It’s like I’ve been trying to drink water from my hands and I finally put that life-giving liquid in a beautiful glass cup that doesn’t leak.
What Does Finding a Structure Mean?
For me, it means seeing the big picture flow of my ideas. I get a feeling that all the pieces finally fit. This feeling might come from:
Discovering a genre that matches my idea (haiku, long free verse, short story, blog post).
A theme that connects my ideas ( I see that all my ideas have one thing in common and it helps me dump the ideas that don’t fit).
A way to begin and end a piece (I don’t actually write the words for the beginning and ending, but I have the seed of an idea about where and when I want to start and finish. It’s like bookends on a shelf holding everything together).
Does this apply to any creative process?
For example, are you a quilter? When you discover your color palate or one fabric that unites the others, do you get in the flow?
Are you an aerospace engineer? I asked because I live with one. My husband said he can get unblocked when he’s reached critical mass which means he knows a lot about his topic. Like I mentioned above, in the writing world, that’s writing and thinking from plenty. He also said it helps to talk about the project with another human. That’s so true!
Finally, he reminded me about the cute little copper wire flowers he makes me. He said it helps him to visualize the end product first. Then, he can start more easily.
My Recent Writer’s Block Moment (Oops - I meant to say SPS - Seeking Possibilities Stage!)
This whole post started because I had a writer’s block day last week.
Yes, for a while I was pulling the quarantine card, but then I noticed some predictable behaviors while I was trying to plan my upcoming summer writing camp for kids.
I was on the struggle bus with a lot of Bravo watching, wanting to quit, why am I even trying this in the middle of a quarantine kinda stuff.
Good thing we ran out of flour and still can’t find any in the store.
Good thing I’ve trained myself to be aware of my writing process!
It was a whole day of yuck and I’d already been pondering and seeking and exploring possibilities for the past two weeks.
Then, around 7:00 PM (when I should have been making dinner - thanks Ron for getting us takeout!), I had a breakthrough.
I finally landed on a daily structure and schedule for the whole camp that incorporated all my fabulous writing ideas AND one-on-one conferring for each kid!
I went to bed exhausted, but thrilled. The image in this post shows you the notes I took when it happened!
Then, at 4:30 AM, my eyes popped open with more details falling into place. I knew where all the pieces fit with a theme and flow. I got up and wrote notes on the pink pad of paper that’s stuck to our refrigerator for weekly grocery lists.
Finally, the fruits of the Seeking Possibilities Stage were VISIBLE.
My subconscious mind found its voice.
Bam!
Faith restored!
Agony and pain forgotten in a flash of creative energy.
So worth every moment!
Conversation Invitations
Do you think writer’s block exists?
Do you think all makers and creatives have some kind of block - it’s just called something different?
Do you think it’s part of the process or a sign that you aren’t a good writer?
Describe a time you had writer’s block. What did it feel like? What did you do? How did you get unstuck?
What’s a name for writer’s block with a more positive spin?
Respond in whatever way you like. In your head for a fleeting moment or in the comments below. I respond to all of you!
You can even make these into quick journal prompts and write off them - with whatever comes to mind and without any editing or judgement - for 5 minutes! This is just for you writing so go for it big and bold and true!
Be well. Believe you are a writer.
