As an experienced writer, I often get questioned by other, less experienced, writers about writer’s block.

To many it’s a mysterious condition that seems to threaten all writers as if it were a terminal disease—will I get Writer’s Block?  Can I avoid it?  After all, Ernest Hemingway killed himself because he couldn’t writer anymore.  (Among many other problems he had—)  With all the mystery (and fear) surrounding writer’s block, what is it really?

Broadly speaking, it’s the inability to write—anything.  Creating (anything) is one of the most difficult human activities—and then, at times, it can be so easy.  (Watch a group of young children making-up a game to play)  What happens to us when we become adults?  What are some of the causes behind writer’s block and what can we do about them?

1.  Procrastination.  We’re all so good at this.  “I’ll start tomorrow.”  I tell new writers the hardest part of writing a novel is—starting.  What to do about it:  Set yourself a small reward—candy, a latte, a glass of wine, a facial, etc.  Then, pick a time to sit at your desk and START.  You must also set a time limit.  You can take your reward after you’ve worked at writing for the time limit.
2. Perfectionism.  Here’s a tough one.  We read stories by our favorite, great writers and admire their skills.  Then, we sit down at the lap top and—  We know it’s impossible for us to create the same quality of writing, so we get writer’s block.  Stephen King once said: “Give yourself permission to write a really bad first sentence, then a really bad first paragraph.”  Every writer starts with a really bad first sentence.  You can too.
3. Self doubt.  “Who do I think I am to imagine anyone would be interested in reading this crap I’m writing?”  Sound familiar?  It leads to writer’s block.  We all have doubts about our writing every time we put something on the screen.  Here’s what helps me: I remember that I’m writing, primarily, for myself.  If family and friends want to read it, great.  If strangers want to read it, great.  But, in the end, it’s a compulsion that I must do.  I don’t think of any audience and I can get past writer’s block.
4. I have also found that for professional writers, there is no such thing as writer’s block.  Just like anyone else doing a job, a writer sits down every day and . . . writes!  Often, it’s not the best stuff, but that’s why we edit as much, if not more, than we write the first draft.
5. Here are two books that could be helpful for you:  “Around the Writer’s Block,” by Rosanne Bane.  https://www.amazon.com/s/ref=nb_sb_ss_fb_1_12?url=search-alias%3Daps&field-keywords=rosanne+bane&sprefix=rosanne+bane%2Cstripbooks%2C1443&crid=2JH4MSR3BZXHS  Also, “The War of Art,” by Steven Pressfield:  https://www.amazon.com/s/ref=nb_sb_ss_c_1_18?url=search-alias%3Daps&field-keywords=stephen+pressfield&sprefix=stephen+pressfield%2Caps%2C220&crid=LP7544VGTR2M&rh=i%3Aaps%2Ck%3Astephen+pressfield

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Some authors dive into a new book and “let it develop,” as they go.  Unless you’re someone like Stephen King or Patricia Cornwell, I think this is a tough way to go.  For one thing, it means lots and lots of rewriting.

Instead, I’ve learned with each book to spend more time in preparation.  I know it’s exciting to get writing with a great idea or a character you have in mind, but it’s critically important to plan out the book.

1.  Think about the characters.  Draw up sketches of each one, background, physical looks, likes, dislikes, fears, joys, etc.  Since I write mysteries, I used to start developing the plot.  Now, I recognize that characters are equally important and should actually drive the plot.  So whatever kind of book you’re writing, even nonfiction, characters are most important.
2. Plan how the characters relate to each other.  They should be different from one another but, at some point in the story, they will intersect in conflict.  Think about those relationships and what conflicts will arise from those connections.
3. To start writing a book, develop the plot.  In a mystery or suspense story, I know roughly what the ending will be so I work backwards from the climax to be able to plant clues and plot turns.  I don’t have every chapter outlined, but i do have a sense of the direction the story will take by dividing it into four to five stages.
4. Finally, I begin to start writing a book!  The key, for me, is to keep at it every day.  Even if you only get one page or one paragraph written, the discipline of writing as often as you can is important.  The pages start to add up, you edit as you go, and, suddenly, you’re at the end!
5. With fiction or nonfiction, there are rough formats that you’d be wise to follow.  Of course, we all want to be creative, but readers expect certain minimum things from a story.  A mystery, for instance, must hide who did it and offer clues that tease the reader into trying to figure it out before the end.  Without that, it’s not a mystery and readers will be disappointed.  Keep that in mind whatever genre you’re writing in.

When you start writing a book, be sure to take time to celebrate your accomplishment as you go.  Don’t forget the reasons why you are doing it and—have fun!

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1.  Observation.  I first learned of this skill when I was 10 years old and read the Sherlock Holmes stories.  For you other fans, remember how Holmes would surprise people with his knowledge of their backgrounds and circumstances.  It was all based on his careful observation of clues about the person.  This careful attentive type of observation is also critical to becoming a good writer.

Today, this activity is particularly difficult.  Observation means turning off all the electronic stuff in order to pay attention to what’s going             on around you.  Try it; it might be easier than you think.  This is one of the three activities to become a writer.  And if you practice it I               assure you that it will be fun, fascinating and even, at times, astounding!

2.  Listen.  I write fiction of which a big part includes dialogue.  How does a writer communicate dialogue that is realistic and interesting to               the reader?  My wife always accuses me of being rude—or even weird—when I listen to other people’s conversations in public.  “You’re             so snoopy,” she says.

She’s correct.  But this teaches me how people talk with one another and how I can present dialogue in my stories.  You have to be                   snoopy.  It’s one of three activities to become a writer.  Like observation, if you practice this, you’ll be entertained at how interesting                 humans can be.  Just don’t get caught eves-dropping on their conversations!

3.  Question.  This activity is the most fun for me.  It gives me an excuse to ask people about fascinating and quirky things in their lives.               Most people are anxious to share their interests and passions.  If you find your own life dull, start to ask other people about their jobs,               hobbies, and what they love to do the most.  I guarantee your own life will be enlivened and enriched.

These are three activities to become a writer.  I practice all of these and they’ve been critical to my improvement as a writer.  Besides that, they’re so fun to do!

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I’m not sure what that means to each writer because it’s different for different people.  Are they unable to write anything?  Is it hard for them to write regularly?  Or do they have to wait for inspiration before they can write anything?

Any of these could be called writer’s block.  How to overcome writer’s block is possible.  Here are some ideas:

1.  Read an excellent book by a long-time professional writer, Steven Pressfield.  It’s called, “The War of Art” at http://www.amazon.com/War-Art-Through-Creative-Battles/dp/1936891026/ref=sr_1_1?s=books&ie=UTF8&qid=1459703906&sr=1-1&keywords=the+war+of+art+steven+pressfield  He says that the creation of art is a war—against our human nature to be lazy, scared, and to put things off.  He recommends (and so so I) to sit down at your laptop and write.  Think about your present day job.  Many days you hate going to it, but you have to or you don’t get paid.  (Funny how that works . . .)  You just do it and, surprisingly, you actually create work—some of it very good, by the way.
2. How to force yourself will also answer how to overcome writer’s block.  Try to establish a habit of writing sometime, some place, every day.  (or week)  Psychologists researched this and found if we make something a habit, soon it becomes our normal behavior and it becomes easier the more we practice that behavior.
3. How do you get started on the first line?  Stephen King in his great book, “On Writing” also talks about how to overcome writer’s block.  He has an easy solution: give yourself permission to write a really crappy first sentence, first paragraph, and first chapter.  Getting started is the toughest part.  Editing the crap into something worthwhile is much easier.  So—just put fear aside and remember you don’t (and won’t) create something lasting on that first sentence.  But you will create something worthwhile as you edit it later.

And I promise you that you don’t have to show any of this to anyone else!!  That’s how to overcome writer’s block for me.

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1.  Write what you know—WRONG!  I was told this a million times and it’s misleading.  Of course, it would be difficult for me to write, realistically, about being an astronaut.  Instead, I’d recommend writing about something that fascinates you.  Because if you’re excited about something you can do the necessary research to learn about it.  Your excitement will carry-over to the reader and make writing your book come alive.
2. Read as much as you an!  Read, especially, in the genre you want to write or the kind of books you love to read.  You’ll see and be able to study how other writers tell their stories.  Don’t copy them, but you’ll get an idea of how to handle the characters and plots.  Then, writing your book with your “own voice”—will make your writing stand out as unique.
3. Write.  So many potentially great writers don’t become authors because they’re waiting for inspiration, energy, great ideas, or some muse to give them motivation.  I hate to discourage you, but writing is a lot like factory work: you just sit down every day and force yourself to write.  Like anything else in life, writing gets better with practice.  As Stephen King advised in his great book, On Writing, “give yourself permission to write a really bad first paragraph.”  Good advice.  Don’t worry about trying to create the best novel in the 21st century—just start writing your book.

Good luck!

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