Writer's block

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For other uses, see Writer's block (disambiguation).

Writer's block is a phenomenon involving temporary loss of ability to continue writing, usually due to lack of inspiration or creativity.

1 Origins of writer's block
2 Writer's block as a chronic problem
3 Various strategies for overcoming writer's block
4 Dramatic depictions of writer's block
5 See also
6 External links

[edit] Origins of writer's block

Writer's block can be closely related to depression and anxiety, two disorders that reflect environmentally-caused or spontaneous changes in the brain's frontal lobe. This is in contrast to hypergraphia, more closely linked to mania, in which the changes occur primarily in the temporal lobe. These processes, and their implications for treatment, are described in neurologist Alice Flaherty's book The Midnight Disease. However, another interpretation of writer's block, sometimes confused with scant output, is given in the book Silences, by Tillie Olsen, who argues that historically many women and working-class writers have been unable to devote themselves to, or concentrate on, their writing because their social and economic circumstances prevent them from doing so. It is widely thought that writer's block is part of a natural ebb and flow in the creative process. Author Justina Headley explains in keynote speeches that for her it comes from losing touch with the characters about whom she is writing; and that by discovering who they are again, the block disintegrates.

[edit] Writer's block as a chronic problem

There have been cases where writer's block has lasted for years or decades. The most notable example of this in modern literary history was Henry Roth's writer's block which persisted for sixty years and was caused by a combination of depression, political problems, and an unwillingness to confront past problems. This kind of writer's block seems to be quite rare, and most writer's block lasts between an hour and a week.^{[citation needed]} Writer's block has caused problems for writers using the serial form, such as Stephen King's The Green Mile or Bag of Bones.

[edit] Various strategies for overcoming writer's block

Some authorities^{[citation needed]}have recommended the following to those suffering from writer's block:

Setting a time and write whatever comes to mind, without stopping, for that time.
Using writers' exercises such as "chunking". They use many websites that contain numerous creative writing exercises. Writers read an exercise, and do it.
Taking a break, meditating, or doing relaxation exercises to relieve any pressure on oneself and on the writing.
Doing something out of the ordinary. If writer's block comes from a lack of new ideas, attempts to spark creativity by going somewhere new or doing something different can be useful.
Returning to the writing after a lapse of a day or two.
Write a basic plot outline of the story, if having problems keeping the story on the rails.
Write or type out a complete short story by one's favorite author. By the end of ten to twenty pages, the mind is properly engaged to again be creative.
Brainstorming at the beginning of the writing can help the writer by relating every point to another.
Reading, watching movies or plays, or similar activities that might bring inspiration.
If suffering from writer's block, write about an experience of your own or of a person you know. It's not the best strategy, but it will work if all else fails.