Writer's Block: How to Understand it and Move Past It

We've all experienced it. It happens without warning. It can be frustrating and stifling. What is it?

Writer's block.

Why does it happen? What causes it and what can we do to get past it?

Wikipedia defines it as "a phenomenon involving temporary loss of ability to begin or continue writing, usually due to lack of inspiration or creativity. Writer's block can also be a hindrance even when the writer feels that they already have a story in mind but can get no further than part of that story."

Like a river, flowing ramped, unobstructed, and racing to meet the ocean, a writer's creativity flows filling pages with thoughts and ideas that take form into wonderful stories. One carries a reader away to far away lands. Others are enchanted fairytales where the prince rescues a damsel in distress. Each is a place where the reader can escape from reality. Or perhaps through a memoir or poetry, the writer captures the heart of their readers through kindred experiences. Wherever the journey might take the reader or the writer, there is always an ending.

But what happens when the writer loses touch with his or her creative energy and experience writer's block?

Just like a river when a sneaky beaver builds a dam, ideas can back up and become stagnant. The harder one presses to pass through the blockage, the mounting pressure builds turmoil inside the writer's mind. But unlike the dam with which a stick of dynamite can release the water so it is free to flow naturally, a writer must find another way to get past it.

So where do we begin?

By understanding that our creative energy can be suppressed by events in our lives, it is important not to dwell on the negative aspect, but to encourage ourselves through a thoughtful process to create opportunities which open the doors to expand our minds.

Try jotting down thoughts or ideas as simple questions: "Why does the sound of traffic remind me of the ocean?" or "Why does a child's laughter make us laugh?"

These questions are only examples of the endless possibilities. Use this exercise as a brain-storming session, not to create a concrete answer, but to generate thought-provoking statements to build from. This exercise will provide a path back to the creative self, unlocking creative energy and allowing the freedom of expression to take over.

Remember that "writer's block" is only a temporary state. Don't become consumed by it. Find a way to overcome it!