Goodreads asked Kaz Delaney:

How do you deal with writer’s block?

Kaz Delaney There's usually a reason for writers to suddenly feel unable to create. My take is that often that reason is just plain creative exhaustion - and the 'girls in the basement' who send up all those fabulous ideas are simply calling for time out.

So, first of all - do that. Give yourself permission to do other stuff. I baked, took up knitting again, walked on the beach - joined some groups that got me talking about different things.

One thing I still did though, was continue to hang out with my author friends. Was it difficult when they were babbling on about their works and word counts? Sure! Did I feel like a failure? Sure did.
And yes, there were tears; tears of sadness, of frustration.

But gradually, the girls in the basement started back. They worked slowly at first - and here's where still attending writer's group meetings helped - but then I found myself becoming more involved (again) in various writing discussions. I listened to their ideas and would mull over what I'd do if it was my story. And the girls downstairs gradually began to respond.

Slowly, slowly I could feel my creative energy returning until one day a story just screamed at me to be told. I was nervous, thought I'd run out of steam at the first hurdle - but I didn't.

What did I learn? To pace myself. To not push, push all the time. To make time for other people and other things. All in all it was a win win because I hadn't just rested the girls downstairs - I was now nurturing them again. And for a while I'd got into a habit of forgetting to do that... Good luck if you're suffering. It will pass if you just give it time.

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