Writer’s block, writer’s block. Always got writer’s block!

Writer’s block is a funny thing. I think when we hear that short phrase we immediately think, creativity block. Writer’s block is more than that. Writer’s block is when you’ve written, then gotten occupied with life, so now when you return to your project you’re wondering how it all fits together again. Writer’s block is when you’re not quite sure how the story is meant to move forward. Writer’s block is when you realize your grammar is terrible and you feel like you’ll never create something tangible to anyone but yourself.

This blog is part of overcoming the last stumbling block. I’m not afraid to admit that although I struggle with grammar and often find myself correcting my your’s, there’s, and even too’s, that doesn’t have to stop me. If you’re reading this and you find mistakes, awesome! When you see them and mention them suddenly I learn what mistakes I make quite often. By putting work on the table for others to see it helps improve writing.

I can’t tell you how many times I’ve looked at my story and said to myself, “Why would my characters make that decision”. I see it in other books too. That’s a big part of character-building understanding why a character would make certain choices within the story. For me, this often brings up a rewrite. I find myself changing the story to match up with my character’s expectations or with a more logical line of thinking.

For example; In my story there is an injury that occurs the brings my characters to a certain village. Initially, they chose this village because it was the only one with the proper medicine to mend the wound. I spend much time thinking through this and why it had to be so, even creating an entire backstory to the village as to make it look more probable they would have this necessary medicine. Then, like a flash of light, I realized it was common sense for them to head to this village. First off, they are fleeing an enemy, this village is the closest with a healing facility outside their enemies’ jurisdiction. There doesn’t even need to be a second off, it just makes that much sense. Built my own writer’s block for something simple.

The last type of writer’s block I fall into all the time. I’ll be working hard on a chapter, inspiration pouring like a waterfall onto the pages. Then, like a sudden damn has been placed up the river, life hit’s and normal obligations pull me from my chapter. It can’t be helped and most of the time I’m being pulled away by my family who I’m happy to turn away from my computer for any time. Needless to say, my chapter is left unfinished. When I finally return, whether it be a few days or even a few weeks, I’m looking at the story longing for a reminder of what wonderful inspiration I had for it before. This can stop me from writing for weeks. Every time I get to the chapter I worry I’m going to ruin it. Destroy the beautiful picture I had painted in my mind when I had written before.

The good thing is writer’s block never lasts. Sometimes mindless writing, that messes up the story a little, leads into the inspired writing you’re looking for. It breaks that wall and lets the water pour back down onto the pages. If you’re stuck, move forward. I think that’s applicable to almost all things in life, don’t let feeling stuck stop you from moving, because each step helps break away the stiffness in your legs.