Writer’s Block: Is It a Real Threat or an Imaginary Villain?

Is writer’s block real? Delve into the age-old debate of whether writer’s block exists, and learn how to kick your creative paralysis for good.

Is writer’s block real? Explore common causes behind this frustrating experience.

Alright, let’s talk about writer’s block.

Sometimes just hearing that phrase is enough to make some writers clamp their hands over their ears and crawl into a dark hole like it carries a vicious, soul-sucking curse that’ll leach the creativity from their brains. 😫

And then there are the brave souls who swear writer’s block isn’t real. That it’s just a poor excuse for not doing the work, and the only real threat is the writer themselves. But if this is true, how do you explain those moments when the words simply don’t want to come, even when you want them to?

I have a few tentative explanations. And honestly, they may offer more relief and hope than simply believing some imaginary force beyond your control is plaguing your brain. Let’s explore whether writer’s block is real, what causes it, and how to overcome it.

What Is Writer’s Block?

Writer’s block is, “a psychological inhibition preventing a writer from proceeding with a piece,” according to Merriam-Webster. Seems simple enough. Oftentimes, when a writer struggles to develop a new idea or scene, it’s because they feel like something’s standing in their way.

As frustrating and detrimental as this creative paralysis can be, it isn’t actually considered a medical condition. It doesn’t have any diagnosis criteria, common symptoms, or evidence-based cures. You can’t look it up on WebMD or ask a doctor for a psychological assessment to determine why your brain isn’t letting you write.

In other words, writer’s block is a very personal dilemma. If you want to understand why you can’t write, you need to search internally for answers.

Is Writer’s Block Real?

Here’s my personal stance on the legitimacy of writer’s block: it exists if you think it does. I can spend an entire blog telling you writer’s block doesn’t exist and why, but it won’t make a difference if you honestly believe, deep down, that something is preventing you from writing.

And if you don’t identify what that something is, you’ll never be able to change or fix it. It’s in the same vein as identifying underlying causes of mental health or addiction issues. Dig deep until you find the source of a problem, and yank it out by its roots.

Otherwise, you’ll fall into an endless trap of surface-level solutions that never address the real problem.

Common Causes of Writer’s Block

Author Colson Whitehead once wrote, “Writer’s block for me is a question I haven’t solved yet – Why is Martin doing this? What happens after they meet? What the hell is going on in this scene?”

And that’s just one writer’s insight into this infamous plight. The Merriam-Webster definition calling writer’s block a “psychological inhibition” leaves the term wide open for interpretation. If you believe writer’s block is real, your experience with it likely differs from other writers around you.

Nevertheless, check out these common causes of writer’s block, and see which one aligns closest with your situation:

Not knowing where to start: Knowing you want to write something and knowing what you want to write aren’t the same thing. Having an idea but not knowing how to execute it can make writing difficult.
Not feeling confident enough: Every writer lacks confidence at some point in their lives. Lacking confidence in your writing abilities or fearing failure may cause your creativity to shrivel up and hide.
Having a mental or physical illness: Research suggests 15% of working-age adults live with a mental health disorder. Conditions like anxiety and depression notoriously interfere with productivity and creativity. Physical illnesses also make it difficult to write, raising concerns about your health and well-being that take precedence.
Feeling financial pressure: Writing isn’t known for being the most lucrative endeavor. If you have bills to pay, that novel you’ve been painstakingly chipping away at may get pushed to the back burner until your bank account fills up.

How to Overcome Writer’s Block Like a Seasoned Pro

Frustrated woman sitting at a desk in front of her laptop.

There isn’t a right way to overcome writer’s block. It may take trial and error or a combination of methods. Consider these strategies to help you kick writer’s block to the curb, and embrace the literary mastermind you know is hiding inside.

Conduct Proper Planning and Research

That blank page can be extra intimidating when you don’t know what to fill it with. If you’re writing something involving historical facts, technical information, or a field of study you aren’t familiar with, trying to wing it will only result in frustration, anxiety, or the desire to toss the idea out the window and quit. Try developing an outline or doing research for a project before jumping headfirst into the writing phase.

Skip to a Different Scene

A wandering mind is a writer’s worst enemy. If you’re trying to work on a specific scene or idea, but your mind is much more interested in jumping ahead to a different scene or project, don’t fight it. Go where the productivity is, even if that means writing your ideas out of order. Once that’s out of your system, return to that former attempt, and try again.

Focus on Something Else

This advice also applies if your mind seems to be interested in anything except writing. Rolling up your sleeves and trying to power through the writing when it just isn’t happening may crush any inkling of creativity left. Instead, stop. Read a book. Go for a walk. Take a nap. Scream into your pillow. Do whatever you need to do to relax, clear your mind, and get the writing gears turning once again.

Start Writing – Yes, Really

And now I’m going to contradict everything I just said and tell you to start writing. Hear me out: sometimes mindless, distraction-free writing can trick your brain into creating meaningful prose. Maybe writing isn’t the problem. Maybe what you need is a change of surroundings.

So put your phone away, turn the TV off, go to a different section of your home, open a blank page, and start writing. It doesn’t have to be perfect. It doesn’t even have to be good. It just has to be borne into existence because having something on the page is better than nothing.

Don’t Let Writer’s Block Prevent You From Achieving Success

At the end of the day, don’t be too hard on yourself if the writer’s block persists for a few days. Take a deep breath, and remember, your life doesn’t depend on the words you write. Whether you believe writer’s block is real or not, every writer inevitably struggles with creative paralysis. We are only human, after all, and our brains can’t always function at optimal levels.

If the writer’s block seems to have settled into your brain with no signs of leaving, consider taking a break. Put your project down for a few days or a week, if you can. Hang out with friends, travel somewhere new, or pick up a comfort read.

The words will come eventually because being a writer isn’t just a job. For many of us, it’s a lifestyle. A passion. A borderline obsession. And the words never stay away for long.

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