It was suggested that we start up a topic on this, and I thought the suggestion was good.
Writer's block is an affliction at least as old as the written word. I've personally heard close to a dozen definitions of exactly what it is, ranging from 'it doesn't exist' to 'a literal inability to put words on paper.'
I think we can all agree that the latter is a bit far out...
What do you think it is? Do you get it? Do you have methods for beating it, or do you just have to wait it out? How often do your remedies work?
Myself, I don't really believe in writer's block as a separate problem, just as a nickname for when a bunch of other problems crowd together. It exists at the confluence of lack of motivation, standards that are too high, a wealth of distractions, etc.
My only cure for beating these things is to WRITE. Anything. It doesn't have to be good, because all I'm really doing is trying to force myself into the groove, just like I might go jogging even if I don't really feel energetic - eventually that runner's high takes over and it's all
Maybe I won't get into the groove, maybe I'll erase everything I wrote the next day, but that's okay. The worst thing is giving in to the phantom of a problem that you've made up in your head.
Writer's block is an affliction at least as old as the written word. I've personally heard close to a dozen definitions of exactly what it is, ranging from 'it doesn't exist' to 'a literal inability to put words on paper.'
I think we can all agree that the latter is a bit far out...
What do you think it is? Do you get it? Do you have methods for beating it, or do you just have to wait it out? How often do your remedies work?
Myself, I don't really believe in writer's block as a separate problem, just as a nickname for when a bunch of other problems crowd together. It exists at the confluence of lack of motivation, standards that are too high, a wealth of distractions, etc.
My only cure for beating these things is to WRITE. Anything. It doesn't have to be good, because all I'm really doing is trying to force myself into the groove, just like I might go jogging even if I don't really feel energetic - eventually that runner's high takes over and it's all
Maybe I won't get into the groove, maybe I'll erase everything I wrote the next day, but that's okay. The worst thing is giving in to the phantom of a problem that you've made up in your head.