Goodreads
Goodreads asked Geoffrey Thorne:

How do you deal with writer’s block?

Geoffrey Thorne apologies for not seeing this.

The short answer, for me, is "Writer's Block" is a luxury item that is used as a crutch by people who aren't yet serious. I've yet to meet a writer (who pays their bills via their writing) who indulges in the affectation of "block."

However. Getting stuck is another matter. If you find yourself in the middle of a work and unable to move forward, the odds are high that you aren't "blocked" but rather, have failed to map out your story/characters in sufficient detail prior to digging in.

When you fail to adequately set everything up, trusting yourself to wing it when you get to a crux point, SOMETIMES you'll find yourself stuck. Not always. Some writers can improv their way through a crux. In general, i've found it's best to have a plan.

The solution is to go back to the beginning and take a look at any holes you left there. There will be some. Holes usually take the form of unanswered questions.

Once you've answered them, you'll find you aren't stuck anymore. I promise.

More Answered Questions

Geoffrey Thorne
72 followers

About Goodreads Q&A

Ask and answer questions about books!

You can pose questions to the Goodreads community with Reader Q&A, or ask your favorite author a question with Ask the Author.

See Featured Authors Answering Questions

Learn more