The Artistic Lie: Writers' Block

How to Overcome Your Fear and Achieve Your Goals

Once again I sit down in front of my computer, coffee cup at my elbow, a glaringly empty wordprocessing file open, and then… Writers’ block. The writer takes a sip of coffee, looks out the window, fiddles with a pencil, waiting for an idea to magically pop into his head.

Almost every writer has experienced periods of a blank mind, no ideas, painful creating. It is true that we can’t always spew forth the next perfect line onto our computer screen.

But, is it writers’ block? Or something else? And…this might be the most important question of all… is there a cure for it?

When a writer is trying to start that next article or short story, they begin with nothing more than an idea. Then, the words are supposed to form sentences and paragraphs that back up and explain that idea in an entertaining fashion. That is how it is supposed to work. That is how it usually does not, however.

Writer’s block is not some mental breakdown or lack of creativity. It is fear. Most writers fear that their writing will not be good enough, will not get their point across, or will not impress others. Also, they often fear that the writing will be published and that they will become a success! It is largely self doubt that keeps a writer from writing.

I was once told an anecdote about a brick-layer who was building a patio behind a house. He tried to lay a brick here, shook his head and took it up again. Then he tried it in another spot, again shook his head, and put it back on the pile. Eventually he gave up trying to lay the first brick, got himself a coffee and laid down on the couch. His excuse? Brick-layers’ block.

The idea is ridiculous, right? Well, if writing is your profession, or what you want to be your profession in the future, you must treat it so.