Jumping Over Writer's Block!

As I promised, this week we'll talk about the dreaded "writer's block." I know about the inability to write because I was blocked for about 40 years!

No one can explain the exact cause of writer's block, problably because it has several origins. In my case, it was a depression I didn't even know I had!

To make a very long story short, my block ended when I took my very first SSRI (you guessed it, Prozac). Within two weeks of taking this medication, I knew - absolutely knew! - I could write fiction. All those years, depression had been supressing my innate creativity.

Of course, I had to work through three or four SSRIs before I found one with the fewest amount of side effects, but, in the end, all the agony was worth it. I could write!

But what if you don't have depression, and you still have writer's block? Well, then, there might be several causes.

One is simply the fact that you're on the wrong track with your material. Something inside your mind is telling you that it isn't working. What to do? Attack it from as many different angles as possible - change the point of view...change the voice...step back and ask yourself, "Whose story is this, really?"

Then, try writing it from a minor character's POV just to see what happens. You might be surprised at the results! Think of it in the business sense of "360 degree feedback." In other words, seeing the story from several different POVs can reveal new avenues for plot and action and allow you to get on with your "work."

Here's another solution to writer's block, but it's one you won't like - whatever you're writing, throw it out! Sound drastic? Well, I didn't learn to become a professional writer until I threw out 90,000 words of a novel. After reviewing the pages, I realized that 90,000 words of crap is just that....crap!

This realization was suddenly liberating! It gave me such flexibility and freedom. It also saved me from wasting precious hours on a piece that was going absolutely nowhere!

Another cause of writer's block is simple fatigue. If you're like me, you want to stay chained to your desk writing a story until it's finished. Bad idea for most of us! Here's why: You get into a mindset where the piece "absolutely, positively" has to be finished!

In other words, you're putting yourself under pressure....and all that does is lock you into a destructive feedback loop; e.g., "If I don't finish this, I'm a failure so I'd better keep going, but I'm not getting anywhere..." and on and on until your mind, very properly, says, "Stop it!" and shuts down creatively.

Fortunately, this is the easiest form of writer's block to get rid of - get away from your damned desk or laptop. Get out and have some fun! Do something that requires no thought whatsoever - ride a bike, do Yoga, take a walk or whatever "floats your boat." Your mind will love it and reward you with new ideas and new characters.

Another potential source of writer's block is a negative spouse or a jealous friend. Many times they don't realize it, but they're vested in your failure as a writer because they don't have the drive or creativity to write fiction or non-fiction.

Jealousy can be subtle or blunt. In any case, you need to separately yourself either physically or mentally from them and let them know again and again that you will not quit writing!

Well, there's not enough space in a blog to cover every potential cause of writer's block, so I'll just end by saying: You have a gift, the gift of writing. Serve it well and screw writer's block and every negative person in your life!

Next week...finding your "genre!" In the meantime, try one of my books listed below!


The First Misadventure of Fragger Sparks, A Ranger Finds the Way
The Second Misadventure of Fragger Sparks, A Ranger Loses His Way
The Third Misadventure of Fragger Sparks, A Ranger Paves the Way - now out in ebook and print!
American Job