| At its simplest Writer's Block is defined as "a | | | | my own insecurities, self doubt and anxiety. |
| phenomenon involving the temporary loss of | | | | Theses feelings have been the root of both |
| ability to write." Having battled Writer's Block for | | | | extremes of writers blocks that I have wrestled |
| 19 years I can tell you from personal experience | | | | with over the years. |
| that such a simple definition does not do the | | | | Writer's blocks may also be produced by the |
| phenomenon any justice. | | | | circumstances of a writer's life or career: physical |
| Writer's block can have many causes and many | | | | illness, depression, the end of a relationship, |
| symptoms. To mis-quote Leo Tolstoy all happy | | | | financial pressures or a sense of failure can all lead |
| writers are happy in the same way; every | | | | to writer developing block. |
| blocked writer is blocked in their own unique way. | | | | For professional, or would-be professional, writers |
| Some causes of block stem from creative | | | | the pressure to produce work may in itself |
| problems within an author's work itself. Or a | | | | contribute to a writer's block, especially if they are |
| writer may simply run out of inspiration. Other | | | | compelled to work in ways that are against their |
| writers take on a project that is misconceived, or | | | | natural inclination i.e. too fast or in some unsuitable |
| beyond the author's experience or ability | | | | style or genre. |
| complete. with the result that they end up being | | | | And in other cases, writer's block may also come |
| totally out of their depth. | | | | from feeling overwhelmed by a previous big |
| The symptoms of writers block vary from the | | | | success, with the writer feeling unbearable |
| stereotypical staring at a blank page unable to | | | | pressure to find something to equal their previous |
| think of a single idea, to the opposite extreme | | | | success. |
| where a writer has so many "good" ideas that | | | | There are many solutions for writer's block. |
| they are unable to focus on just one for fear of | | | | For writer's block caused by pressure better |
| losing all the others. | | | | work organisation and time management can be |
| However if it means that you are not producing | | | | of enormous benefit. A good support group such |
| any finished, completed works then you are | | | | as a critique group or writing workshop can help |
| suffering from writer's block. Regardless of how | | | | with writing exercises and motivational support. |
| many words you are writing, how many story | | | | But for more difficult cases an individual |
| plots you are devising, or how many brilliant ideas | | | | consultation with an experienced writing coach can |
| you are having. | | | | be invaluable. |
| In my own case the root cause of stem from | | | | |