maybe it's not writer's block

uh oh

Maybe it’s not writer’s block

As someone who dares to jinx myself, I often proclaim I never have writer’s block. And this is true. Mostly.

Writer’s Block is what happens when a person thinks too much. I am not a person who thinks too much. I do let myself feel and analyze and scrutinize my writing, but not too much. Not to the point where it feels like my brain is caving in and a scarf is being pulled over my eyes. I used to. It’s not worth it. What is worth it is starting a project early so you have time to walk away and come back to it when you are of sound mind instead of feeling the impending doom of a deadline. But I’m already getting off topic.

At this point I have structure engrained in my bones and I trust my voice. I’ve given myself the gift of amble proof; proof that I will get through this and a decent product will emerge. When it becomes nearly impossible for me to figure out what I’m trying to say, I either suffer through it, call a friend and talk it out, or close my laptop and walk away. Again, I think hard about my writing, I just don’t think too much. I’m not blocked, my brain is tired. When I get stuck at a certain point in a draft, or I’m painstakingly working through a rewrite, I absolutely can feel major discomfort and discouragement, but I wouldn’t call that Writer’s Block. I’d call that writing.

Currently I’ve been a little stuck when it comes to writing. Take this blog for example. I’m way off schedule and have about 11 half written drafts that say “for blog.” It’s been difficult to sit down and write one out. But it’s not Writer’s Block that I have.

Sometimes I think it’s easiest to fit our stuff into these broader categories because it feels good to have a diagnosis, even if it’s self-declared.

It’s harder to call it what it actually might be, because then you know how to manage it, and you have to take responsibility for what’s in your control.