Writer's Block Definition, Causes, and How to Overcome it

Writer's Block - Writer's block is an unpleasant experience faced by both novice and professional writers. Many writers experience writer's block but they are still wondering questions like what is writer's block? Is writer's block real? What causes writer's block? And finally, they question how to overcome writer's block. This article is about the meaning, causes, and how to overcome writer's block.

Writer’s block definition

According to Wikipedia, writer’s block is a condition, primarily associated with writing, in which an author is unable to produce new work or experiences a creative slowdown. Moreover, it says that writer’s block ranges from difficulty in coming up with original ideas to being unable to produce a work for years.

Writer’s block, according to Writing and Blogging, is a condition, in which a writer experiences difficulties in processing, producing, and transferring his or her ideas into text. Simply, when a writer does not know what to write, he is experiencing writer’s block and in need of help. Wikipedia’s definition of writer’s block above is clear that writer’s block can lead a writer into stagnation for years. However, writer’s block is not always about the difficulty in starting a new writing project; writer’s block can “attack” a writer in the middle of his ongoing writing project.

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Writer’s block is a real condition and we will see the real factors that cause writer’s block. As a psychological condition, writer's block makes a writer almost cannot think further. The difficulties to think about a topic further eventually makes the writer stop writing the topic, either temporarily or permanently. Most writers, who experienced writer’s block, stopped writing for a while and then continued when their writing drive returned.

What causes writer’s block?

There are no universal factors that cause writer's block; different writers experience writer's block for a different reasons. When a writer is attacked by writer's block, he usually feels like facing an empty paper and there is no idea to pour on the paper. The writer may also lose his writing mood. It can happen at the beginning stage of writing or in the middle of writing.

Two main factors cause writer's block: (1) idea stagnation and (2) psychological instability. While idea stagnation and psychological instability are two different factors that cause writer's block, psychological instability can be a reason for idea stagnation.

Idea stagnation happens when a writer faces a "dead-end" in his writing process and cannot continue writing for reasons like running out of ideas, running out of material to be written, or even not having an idea at all. It happens more to novice writers who try to write a topic they have not mastered yet. Another reason is that novice writers rarely planned their writing activity while professional writers normally plan their writing in three stages (prewriting, writing, and revision).

Psychological instability that ruins the writer's mood is also a factor that causes writer's block. Emotional experiences like grief or anger usually stop a writer from writing although there are many fresh ideas in his head. Most writers also experienced idea stagnation because of psychological instability. Sometimes, the ideas are there but inaccessible by the writer because of the unconducive mental state.

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Perfectionism is also a good reason for experiencing writer’s block. A writer who does not know that there is no perfect article tends to go back and forth in his writing so that he not only runs out of ideas but also time and energy. He eventually stops writing because he does not know when to stop.

A writer can stop writing because of another reason. Assume that a topic that a writer is writing goes against the law and for some reason, he must stop his writing and trying to write another topic. This is excluded from writer's block except he accepts certain terrors that affect his mental state and result in psychological instability in him.

Writer's block is a long-term condition. When a writer finds it difficult to continue his writing because he runs out of ideas, it can be writer's block, or it cannot be. If the problem he is facing can be overcome by browsing information on the internet or reading books or discussing with knowledgeable people, it is excluded from writer's block; it is just a common writing difficulty. Writer’s block is a mental condition that can jeopardize the writing process; it can make someone stop writing for years or forever.

How to avoid and overcome writer’s block

It is better and easier to avoid writer's block than overcoming it. Here is the list of strategies to avoid and overcome writer's block.

How to avoid writer’s block

• Write only topics that you master
• Plan your writing well
• Prepare your references
• Read as much as possible
• Make use of collaborative writing
• Have your writing scheduled
• Eliminate any distractions
• Listen to music during writing

How to overcome writer’s block

• Refreshing your mind before start writing
• Leave your writing project for a moment until your mind refreshed
• Make a new outline
• Read related books
• Find a good place for writing
• Find a good time for writing
• Discuss with people about the topic even through social media
• Don't be drowned in a negative emotional situation
• Take a rest, not quit
• Know that there is nothing called perfect text

Those are what I can share with you about the definition, the causes, and how to avoid and overcome writer’s block. Do you have any experience in writing and writer’s block? Would you share with us how you avoid and overcome writer’s block?

*Photo by Ryan Snaadt on Unsplash