Writer's Block

Let me just get this out there: I don't believe in writer's block.
That's right, well, at least not in the conventional sense in which most people think of it. I would venture to guess that most people think that writer's block is when you sit down to write, but you just cant because you don't know what to write next. This is false, and the first step to overcoming "writers block" is to identify it for what it really is.

The only reason you are having trouble figuring out what to write next is because you are scared. Deep down you are scared that whatever you write isn't going to be good enough for either your own standards, or your audience. This is why, I believe, that "writers block" is so much more prevalent in amateur writers than in accomplished, published writers. In order to stop this, the only thing you can do is to just start writing. Keep in mind that whatever you write doesn't have to be perfect. It doesn't even have to be good. That's what revision is for.

Think about it this way, It is a lot easier to paint the walls than it is to build the whole house. You know what I mean? Build the house first, it won't look pretty until it's finished anyway so don't bother trying to make it look pretty.

There is another thing that many people chalk up as writer's block. This is when you have been writing a lot for many days, or even just more than usual, and then you hit a wall and can't write another word. I attribute this to being sick of writing. The same thing happens at a regular job. Have you ever had a day at work where you just could not stand it any longer. You were certain that you were going to quit then and there, but you never did. I've had days like that. And you know what happened? The next day I went right back to work.

So what do you do when it happens to you with writing? Wait a day, then go right back to work. Possibly use your day off to go over your story notes or an outline to sort out any fuzzy details that may be stopping you from writing in the first place. If you have been writing a lot(too much) then maybe take 2 days off and use one as just a personal day. Everyone needs a day off or else you'll go crazy. You may also notice that your writing improves a lot by the time you get back into it. This is because your mind has had a hard reset, and is clear and free.

Now that you know what writers block really is, I hope you can beat it and turn it into, oh i don't know, writer's legos.