Although I have known many people who have had it, I’ve always been happy about the fact that I have not suffered much from writer’s block. So it really surprised me yesterday when I realized I wanted to write about it.
At first, I couldn’t figure out why I’d choose to write about something with which I had so little experience. And then I realized I have vast experience with blocks of other kinds, just not writing blocks. And I’ve been working on my mental blocks for many years. Couldn’t what I’d learned through experts, books, and experience help others?
Then today, as I sat down to outline my ideas, I realized something else. There is a part of my writer-self that IS blocked. That has always been blocked. And that’s my pubic writer. One of the reasons I write is because I have a strong desire to connect with other people. Most of us have this desire for connection. Maybe not Buddhist monks, maybe not hermits, but just about everyone else.
For whatever reason, maybe a talent, maybe a passion for creating something from nothing, my default mode of communication is writing. Just ask anyone who tries to keep me on the phone for more than five minutes. Frankly, I’d rather be writing an email.
First thing this morning, I cranked out a very broad outline, four steps to recovery from writer’s block. Here they are: 1. Figure out why you are blocked. 2. Figure out why you want to write. 3. Rewire your brain to make writing a preferred habit. 4. Connect to other writers and the world.
My block is #4. I’ve been working on breaking through it for the last year or so. Publishing a book forced me to connect, and forced me to confront the fear. I don’t think getting over writer’s block, even if you are at the first stage where you absolutely cannot write a word, needs to take a year. But it does take time. And effort.
And, unless you want to take a year (or more) to research the literature as I have, it probably requires the help of someone who can guide you through the process, either through written instruction or in a workshop or individual setting. So I’m writing up an instruction manual to post here. And maybe in the future I’ll offer a real life workshop.
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