Figuring out root of writer’s block frustrating

She had gotten her children off to school, her husband had gone to work, and the house was very quiet and peaceful. Her computer and software were state of the art and the room that she worked in was very comfortable, had all the supplies and resources she needed, and lacked nothing to prevent her from being a productive writer. Nothing, except her ability to sit down and write. Having produced several successful novels and a couple of dozen short stories, she certainly wasn’t considered an untested and unpublished beginner. Until now she had been afraid to share her “problem” with anyone, including her husband. Her family, friends and professional colleagues (including her editor at a large publishing house) did not know that she had not completed a single page for the past three months. Knowing that creativity can be impaired by other things besides writer’s block, she consulted a mental health professional to help her rule out such things as stress, depression, overcommitment, and pressure.

Most writers develop a natural rhythm with periods of time where writing seems to come relatively easy and “creative juices flow”. During other times they sense a need pursue other activities besides writing, but not because of blocking. Some writers are comfortable getting up every day and writing from a few hours to a whole day. Others find that their natural rhythm is to write in blocks of time which may include all day and into the night. They don’t want to quit because they describe themselves as “being on a roll”. Still others may feel comfortable writing steadily for a few days and then taking off for a week or more. However, when the writer experiences periods of time when the inability to write falls outside her natural cycle, then perhaps, she has writer’s block.

When this frustrating or even panic stricken period occurs, explanations are elusive and often undiscoverable. The writer may have all the tools and time necessary to write, be very successful in her career, and is handling life’s problems quite well. Yet on sitting down at the computer or typewriter one day, her mind becomes a tabula rasa where inspiration is absent and ideas are things of the past. It seems to her like there is an inverse relationship between her determination to write and the words that end up on the computer screen. The harder she tries the less capable she feels. Some days, the very thought of sitting down at the keyboard produces anxiety and the fear that all of her past successes must have been flukes, beginner’s luck. Or, she considers the possibility that her current dilemma stems from symptoms of dementia and early senility.

Next week I will continue this topic of writer’s block.

Harold H. LeCrone, Jr., Ph.D. Copyright 2001