The Reality of My Writer’s Block
I have told myself and others that I am fortunate never to suffer from writer’s block. As though I am uniquely fortunate and possibly gifted in that sense, I seem to always be able to put words to paper when I sit down to write.
And therein lies the unearthing of my truth – when I sit down to write.
I have just gone through a period that has lasted at least since the beginning of the year,, during which my writing output has been terrible. Compared to last years, 2022 and 2023, when I managed to write a 400-page novel in three months, I have been struggling with my latest book, ON OPPOSITE SIDES, for the past six months.
I’ve had all sorts of legitimate distractions – we’re building a home in Hawaii, medical issues, and plenty of travel. But what if I had a real job? Would I have taken three of the last nine months off? Or is there something in my process that doesn’t work when I’m distracted?
And therein lies my truth, my writing block.
It’s true. When I sit down to write, I’m able to let it flow. The ideas come to me like a river, the style is locked in, the characters come to life, and I can easily push out two thousand words in a four-hour session.
But I’ve realized that when I’m not in the correct frame of mind when I have other things going on, I suppose I don’t even attempt to indulge in my passion, writing.
Writing is my highest art form. I have a gift for telling a good story, developing compelling characters, spinning multiple plot lines, and bringing them all together to create maximum suspense. But if my head isn’t in the right space, I’ve learned to shield myself from the agony of distraction.
If you’re a writer, how would you describe your form of writer’s block? I doubt it takes the form of an unwilling mind if you’re free of outside distractions. But if so, how do you clear your head and lock into that beautiful storytelling experience?
So, to those to whom I have bragged that “I never experience writer’s block,” I’m here to tell you I was full of it. Mine might only include vacations, minor surgeries, and hours spent choosing flooring and tile. But it’s writer’s block, nonetheless.