Goodreads asked Jonathan Vatner:

How do you deal with writer’s block?

Jonathan Vatner A good writer needs both a powerful inner creator and an razor-sharp inner critic. When writing the first draft, the creator needs to be fully present, and the critic should be kept at bay. When revising, those roles should be reversed. I think writer's block is the result of an oppressive inner critic, who has grown so strong that the inner creator cannot squeeze out a single sentence without being censored.
So how to fix this? One way is just to write aimlessly -- a diary, or a silly story that doesn't matter, or morning pages (a la The Artist's Way). That revs up the creative engine and is often enough to quiet the critic. Another is to examine the critical voice and figure out what lies it's telling you, in the hope of dismantling them.
I've noticed that if I haven't written for a few days, the first day back is torture. I give myself permission for the writing not to be good, but I force myself to put in an hour or two. The next day, my writing always flows.

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