Point Counterpoint offers differing opinions on literary topics.  This one is on Writers Block.

Point

S.L.  Kotar

If you ask any writer what’s the most common (and annoying) thing people ever say to them when they discover they’re an author is, “I like to write, too,” which is first cousin to, “I have lots of ideas; I just have to find the time to sit down and write them out.” Meaning, of course, “What you do isn’t very special. Anyone can be a writer.”

OK, now that I’ve gotten that off my chest, it brings me to the question of Writer’s Block (or, “bloc” if you prefer). What is it, if it’s anything at all? Does it mean someone doesn’t have the gumption to sit down and actually commit pen to paper; is it a dearth of ideas; or worst case scenario, does it imply a writer simply draws a blank when they sit down to work?

Dismissing the first two as not honestly pertaining to a writer, I will address the last scenario: what amounts to the fear of writing. My point is that writing requires discipline. Discipline means sitting down (preferably at a place of work, as opposed to relaxing under the apple tree or picking up the laptop/pad and paper on the sofa) and committing oneself to creation. Granted, it (may) help if you already have an idea where you’re going, but that isn’t a prerequisite. All that’s really necessary is the gumption to connect imagination to the transcription of words. (Jackson Pollack made a name for himself splattering paint on canvas, but that’s a discussion for another blog.)

Making the stipulation that perhaps you shouldn’t write if you don’t feel creative, I will draw the line in the sand for you by saying if you don’t write, then you’re not a writer. Period, end of story before it ever gets started.

Being a writer takes dedication. It’s hard work. Yes, work. Hopefully, it’s enjoyable, inspiring and mysterious, and your characters lead you on a quest filled with awe and wonder, but if you’re too hung up on fear of failure, fear of going in the wrong direction, or fear of staring at a blank page, you’re already a failure. No one fails who tries. That’s the bottom line. Start typing. Anything. A word, a sentence, a paragraph. See where it takes you. You might be surprised. In a good way. Being surprised in a bad way means the blank page won.

Set aside a specific time to write. Don’t try and fit it in between coming home from work and turning on the television; or that one hour you reserve for yourself on Saturday that somehow never seems to materialize. Be firm: you owe yourself that much. Nothing can force you to write but the plot ruminating in your brain, or the character you left hanging on that hairpin mountain curve. Open your mind. If you listen, they will speak. If they don’t, then write a poem or compose a limerick. Once you’ve done that, fit it into a story. You’ll be amazed what’s really going on in the back of your mind. That’s where it wanted you to go in the first place.

Be true to your art and it will be faithful to you. “Writer’s block” is a lazy excuse. Don’t let it beat you. Don’t find yourself on the wrong end of, “I could be a writer, too, if only I could just find the words to start.”

 

A Chip off the Ol’ Writer’s Block

    Counter Point:

by: Betsy J. Bennett

 

While I agree with most of what was said above, there is one statement I must address. Specifically: Writer’s Block is a lazy excuse.

It must be nice to sit in front of a computer and have the words flow, the characters develop, the plot have twists and turns, but it doesn’t happen for everyone. Sometimes we who are writers, stare at a blank screen for hours, days, weeks, months. And we’re still writers. Blocked, but writers.

However it is possible to get out of writer’s block before collecting Social Security. And that does take work. And it depends on what’s blocking you.

Excuses and Escape clauses.

  1. The Bad Review:

If you’ve just received a horrendous review it might take a long time to harden your skin and write again. I wish reviewers knew how painful their words are, especially if they’re not true.

In this case, you’ve got to keep writing. You have to send your work out again, and you have to realize many famous successful writers have horrible reviews and their work is still valued. Work on something else if you have to, then come back to the original work with a more objective eye. Yes, your reviewer was cruel, but there might be a nugget of gold in the spew that you can use to tighten your writing, make your ideas clearer or polish to a more professional glow. A painful lesson for all is: not everything is ready to be published the first time it is sent out.

  1. The Blank Screen:

This form of writer’s block takes some cleverness on your part because there are many causes.

  • You could not know your characters well enough. If this is the case, try interviewing your characters. This will never make it to your WIP in this form, but it will give you insight into how they will react, their backgrounds, their inner child.
  • Your character may have the wrong name. Laugh if you want to, but it’s impossible for me (and other successful writers I know) to continue writing when the name given to the character doesn’t fit. Work to change it.
  • You don’t know what you’re doing. So, research is an ugly word for many authors, but dive into the archives somewhere. Look up New England whaling or snuff boxes or microeconomies. This will give you ideas to proceed.
  • Take a course in writing. Even if this is your fifth book you’re stuck on, not your first, go back to basics. Course work has the benefit of making you accountable. You have to have assignments completed, you must read the opening chapter next week in front of the class. Or force yourself to bring something every time your writing group meets. Trust their feedback.
  • Put it away and work on something else. This is not a sign of failure. Sometimes writers bite off more than they can chew, and it’s impossible to go on. Find something else to work on. Eventually you’ll see a way around the block.
  • Change your point of view character. Even if you do this just as a writing exercise, it will help you see things from a different prospective. Write from the antagonist’s POV. Change to First Person so see if you can get insight into your protagonist.
  • Make your main character do something he/she would never do. Yes, you know the guy in the yellow pick-up is an axe murderer. Have her accept a ride from him. When she doesn’t, and you can’t make her, write the scene the way it should be written.
  • This isn’t an ugly word. Sit down with graph paper and work out what happens in Chapter 2, Chapter 3 all the way to Chapter 32. Do write this in blood. The most exciting parts of writing come when you’re writing and you deviate from this work. The book will know where it needs to go. Don’t worry that you’ve wasted your time. It got you back to writing, didn’t it?
  1. Call yourself a writer. :
    • If that becomes your identity, you’ll write, and hopefully your wife/husband will respect that, and give you time with your characters. If you think you’re a hobbyist who occasionally sends something out, you’ll likely never publish, because you won’t have the discipline, the self-identity to work. If an editor is interested in your book but would like major changes before he/she buys it, maybe you need to realize that writers sometimes have to write to another’s wishes. Not always, but sometimes. Maybe it would be a better book if you made the changes suggested.
  2. No ideas.
    • I keep a list, of about 500 random things I keep adding to. First snowfall, a broken nose, Easter lilies, black nail polish, etc. When I’m stuck with a scene, I frequently go over the list and see if anything will strike lightning for me so I can return back to my book.

Writer’s Block is real. And it takes real work to get through. There’s more to writing than sitting at the computer writing. There’s a lot of up-front research and plotting, a lot of work after The End, looking for the best agent/publisher/reviewer. But writers work through blocks and you can too.