Writer’s block is a sick, sad feeling. Some people believe whole-heartedly in muses — inspiration either speaks or it doesn’t, que sera sera. Others say writing is always hard work and writer’s block is a highfalutin term for laziness.
I tend toward the toward the latter option, which doesn’t cure me of writer’s block/laziness — it just makes the stale moments that much worse for guilt. 😉
Every writer is different. Some love the planning stage, some love revisions. Not just a few hate actually writing, but love “having written.” Me, I live for the charge and energy and passion of a first draft. That blissful feeling of having a head full of words pouring out is my favorite part. Too much planning makes me tired of the story before I start it, and revisions (at least this year) give me fits. I’ll take the wild gallop of inspiration whenever possible.
Unfortunately, the wild galloping isn’t always… or even usually… very good. It feels great, of course, much better than the peculiar mix of boredom and stress than accompanies a block. The wild galloping moments are how this writer’s “darlings” are born. You know what happens to the “darlings,” right?
Muscling through a writer’s block is part of being a disciplined writer, but the fact the block is there at all usually signals that something is wrong. The range of “something” is very broad. It can be simple physical needs (hunger, tiredness) diminishing my ability to focus. It can be the knowledge that something in the piece isn’t working combined with a lack of willingness to fix it. It can be a lot of things.
In writing and life, a block is a pause.
Cones mean, “Don’t drive here!”
Fences mean, “Private property! Keep out!”
Encryption means, “Access denied!”
Nothing and no one can frustrate God’s plans nor turn back His outstretched hand (see Isaiah 14:27), and “The mind of a man plans his way, but the Lord directs his steps” (Proverbs 16:9). When I’m seeking Him first and encounter a block, a snag, a delay, I find those to be good moments to pause and figure out what’s wrong.
The greatest block of all is Jesus Himself, as Paul writes. “For indeed Jews ask for signs and Greeks search for wisdom; but we preach Christ crucified, to Jews a stumbling block and to Gentiles foolishness, but to those who are called, both Jews and Greeks, Christ the power of God and the wisdom of God” (1 Corinthians 1:22-24). The Gospel of Christ should give us pause. Conviction of sin is a sick, sad feeling — but Jesus died and rose again, conquering death and removing the sins blocking our reconciliation with God.
