Writer’s Block- Myth or Reality?

August 21, 2009 in writer
Tags: block, tips, write, writer

I’ve written about writer’s block having several causes, like a disease, but here of late, I’ve encountered a number of blogging authors who make the claim that writer’s block is a myth- it doesn’t exist!

My first response was “Is that so? Well then why do so many authors complain about it then?”.  This author wrote an interesting piece that points out other professions do not get blocks. Fireman do not get blocks, (I asked my husband and he agreed) nor do secretaries. To be fair, however, those professions lack the demand for creativity. They’re not required to delve into the recesses of that creative part of the brain. The point, however, really struck a chord in me.

The author of The Voice of Your Muse also suggests you keep writing, ignoring the inner editor, and makes the strong argument that writers ‘allow writer’s block’ to get the better of them. I agree. If I don’t write, I have only myself to blame for it. Writer’s block is inherently ‘us’, not an outside force.

I find my writing ebbs and flows. Some days are better than others. In fact, some days are fantastic when the words just come on their own accord and chapter upon chapters pours out of me. Other days, not so much. I can barely form a coherent sentence, despite the ideas. That, to me, is writer’s block. I know the words are there, but for whatever reason, they’re not easily coming to me.

But I can’t expect writing to be easy- where would the challenge be if that were the case?