6 Causes Of Writer’s Block And How To Destroy It

Have you ever had writer’s block? Have you ever wondered what causes it?

You know the feeling. It happens to me sometimes. I sit at the computer screen, staring at it, trying to type. I enter a sentence. No, that won’t work. Delete. Then another, and another. The words that normally flow so easily refuse to make the leap from brain to screen. For more, see Bird by Bird.

On a normal day, I write between 5,000 and 10,000 words, depending on other commitments. That’s 10,000 publishable words. Once in a while, my productivity crashes and I spend a whole day producing a thousand words. It’s frustrating. Since I make my living writing, if it continues it creates financial problems.

What Does Writer’s Block Feel Like?

Writer’s block shows up in different ways at different times. For me, it hits hardest when I have a tight deadline. That’s when I feel the familiar anxiety deep in my stomach.

1. You feel blank. You want to write, but nothing comes to mind.
2. You feel sad, anxious, tired, or depressed. The words won’t come.
3. There’s a crushing sense of frustration and uselessness.
4. Sometimes it feels like an itch you can’t scratch. You know you can write, but you can’t make it happen.
5. You feel self-doubt. Have you ever been able to write? Was it all luck?
6. It feels like emptiness.

What Causes Writer’s Block?

Writer’s block has many causes. Over the years, I’ve found several things that kill my writing productivity.

1. Idiots – Have you ever received a negative comment disguised as something positive? These passive-aggressive jabs can do real damage. A snide remark, unsolicited “help,” or a few rude comments can torpedo your momentum and stop the words cold.
2. Failures – A failure outside of writing can block the words. Anything that causes grief, fear, or terror seems to stop the creative flow. I write best when I’m enthusiastic about life or the subject. A recent failure can definitely cause writer’s block.
3. Information not understood – As a ghostwriter and technical writer, I often work with subjects I don’t fully understand. Not comprehending the material stops me dead.
4. Illness – Something about throwing up makes it hard to write.
5. Screen fatigue – Writing is introverting by nature. Sitting in front of a computer all day creates a hypnotic effect, headaches, stomach pain, and other problems. After a few hours at the screen, my writing jams up and the words refuse to flow.
6. Lack of interest – Have you tried to write about something you don’t care about? I’ve written over a hundred technical manuals. Some were exciting. Others were dry and technical. I’ve written large manuals I knew no one would ever read, produced only for legal reasons. There’s more in my interview with fantasy author Suzanna Linton. It’s hard to stay motivated when you’re writing a hundred thousand words destined to collect dust on a shelf.

How to Overcome Writer’s Block

How do I get past writer’s block? Are there techniques that actually work?

1. Set a quota – Setting a daily goal, say 5,000 words, motivates me to keep the words flowing. It becomes a game: can I hit the quota today despite all the interruptions?
2. Write every day – Sitting down to write every single day matters. Even when I only have an hour due to other plans, I squeeze in time to write a blog post, finish a letter to the editor, or reply to emails.
3. Protect your writing time – I set aside dedicated writing time every day. Other events get planned around it, not the other way around.
4. Handle confusion immediately – Not understanding the material is one of my biggest blocks. Google is invaluable for research. The online dictionary helps too. One caution: Wikipedia is often inaccurate. I’ve blocked it from my Google searches.
5. Get up and move – Every hour or so I get out of the chair and walk around. I check the mail, vacuum, dust, or just watch the bees buzzing on my deck.
6. Switch projects – I always have several writing projects going at once. When I’m blocked on one, I switch to another. Pick something completely different. This frees up brain cells and gets the words flowing again.

Beating Writer’s Block

No matter the cause, writer’s block can be handled. The best solution is the simplest: just start writing and keep writing, no matter what. Write your heart out. Before long, the words will flow again.

For more on writer’s block, see these articles:

• The 10 Types of Writer’s Block (and How to Overcome Them)
• How to Overcome Writer’s Block: 14 Tricks That Work
• How to Overcome Writer’s Block Once and for All

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