Three Main Causes of Writer's Block

In the days before computers, writers would tap their pens on blank pieces of paper hoping for the next word to come. No matter how many times writers are told that "it's all in their heads", writer's block is a very real phenomenon that can leave one feeling desperate.

Why bother learning the causes of writer's block? It's a bit like naming a demon. There are many old legends like "Rumplestiltskin" which teach that if you can discover the name of what is bothering you, then you can control over it. So, think of the causes of writer's block as naming your personal demons - Fear, Frustration and Freedom.

Fear

Writers are a sensitive lot. They like to be liked and therefore avoid being disliked at all costs. However, the greatest writers are those that know what they have to say is going to offend some people and yet write anyway. Some writers may fear how their client is going to react or if their editor is going to hit the roof. Writers that have gone through altercations about their writing with others may have good reason to want to avoid getting into more arguments.

There are many other causes of fear in writers which can lead to writer's block. The fear may be of getting ridiculed. The fear could be that no matter what you write, it will never be considered any good. Some writers that have achieved success may find they get writer's block because they fear that what they write will never be as good as their previous works. This is apparently what happened to Harper Lee, author of the widely acclaimed "To Kill a Mockingbird" (1960.)

Frustration

Frustration eventually works itself out, but is a far trickier demon to tame than Fear. Frustration can arise from a variety of sources, and not frustration over writer's block. Frustration can be from stressful events such as a family member becoming extremely ill or money worries. Traumatic events can totally rob a writer from even looking at a blank computer screen or a keyboard. For example, after my home burnt down in 2005 with my manuscript inside of it, I could barely put two words together for over a year.

Even professional writers can burn out and become extremely frustrated at their continual lost wrestling matches with words. This frustration is increased when many bills are due. Professional writers need to schedule and stick to time off from writing in order to recharge.

Freedom

Ironically, the more freedom a writer has when working on a project, the more likely they are to experience writer's block. The number of choices available for the writer become overwhelming. British singer-songwriter Peter Gabriel (known for taking many years between albums) notes that total freedom "castrates" any artist. Because artists are a cantankerous lot, Gabriel argues, they need to be presented with strict limitations so that they immediately try to figure out how to get around them.

For writers, these limitations could be word count, sticking to a subject or writing prompt provided by somebody else or using third person instead of first person. Freelance writers may write using the style of a client's specifications instead of their own personal style. Anything that gets the words out is a good thing when it comes to dealng with writer's block.

References:

"On Writing." Stephen King. Shribner; 2000.

The Independent.co.uk: "A writer's story: The mockingbird mystery." http://www.independent.co.uk/arts-entertainment/books/features/a-writers-story-the-mockingbird-mystery-480965.html

Peter Gabriel.com: "Scratch My Back." http://www.petergabriel.com/features/Scratch_My_Back/