Goodreads asked Jon Wasik:

How do you deal with writer’s block?

Jon Wasik Perhaps the hardest part of overcoming writer's block for me was trying not to feel guilty about it. Whenever it would hit, I would feel like a failure and criticize myself, and that would start a downward spiral that would make the block last longer and make it harder to overcome.

As a writer, we're told (often by other writers) that to be a writer you must ALWAYS be writing. While it is true that the more you write, the better you become, the problem is that the more of a chore you make it, the harder it'll become to keep at it.

So start by acknowledging that it is OKAY not to write all of the time. If you have to take a break from writing for a while to recharge your batteries, do so, and don't feel guilty about it. Unless you have an impending deadline, it's okay.

Getting back to the direct question, how do I deal with it? I set my things aside, and do something to engage my mind elsewhere. Video games are my go-to, especially ones with story, as those could spark inspiration. But even if they don't, I'm doing something I enjoy, something that relaxes and recharges me. Same with going on a hike. Watching a movie or reading a book.

It feels like it has been ages since the last time I endured writer's block (knock on wood,) but I feel like part of that is because I've learned to be okay with bouts of inability to write. Accepting it and doing something else when it happens usually means I can get right back to writing a lot faster.

flag