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Writer's Block: Scary, But Preventable
Writer's block is a little like male sexual dysfunction. Once you get stuck in the cycle, your anxiety goes up, making it more and more difficult to...well, perform, or in the case of writing a book, actually writing. I suppose we can talk about writing as a performance.
So, I figure that it's better to prevent writer's block, because it's easier to catch it's approach than it is to dig out of it once you are into it full on.
Essentially, writer's block is a result of frustration building up to such a point that it creates a "stuck" mindset. So, one of the keys to preventing it is to be mindful of what's happening inside of you as a writer, and in particular paying attention to:
- Your level of frustration
- Your levels of self-judgment and criticism
A Tip For Preventing Writer's Block
Since I write non-fiction (eventually I'll do more fictional stuff), I can skip and hop around, in terms of which section or chapter I work on. Some chapters write themselves, and don't create a whole lot of frustration while providing some positive success, while others, particularly more complex chapters, cause more self-criticism and frustration. When I get "a little stuck" with something I'm writing, rather than try to PUSH THROUGH the temporary barrier, I move to working on another chapter where I have a better handle on the organization and content. So, it's typical that I'll have 4-8 chapters "on the go". The purpose is so I won't get so frustrated with one area of the book that I'll start blocking totally. And, it helps one be productive, and feel productive since you are still working on the book, and getting SOMETHING accomplished.