Goodreads asked Peter A. Flannery:

How do you deal with writer’s block?

Peter A. Flannery Writer's block can happen for all kinds of reasons. For me, it most commonly happens when I haven't thought through a scene properly. It's as if I'm trying to produce a play with an unfinished set and characters who don't yet know their words and motivations. This can normally be overcome by a little planning and preparation. Once I have clarified things in my mind then the story can flow more easily.

There are also times when I am intimidated by a scene or chapter. Maybe a chapter holds particular significance and I'm anxious to do it justice. Or maybe it's just a very complicated scene and I haven't yet got the choreography worked out in my mind.

Sometimes these issues need time to resolve themselves. Like many writers, I find that the answer comes after a good nights sleep or simply after pondering it for a while.

I believe that even when we aren't writing, our subconscious minds are working on our stories, ironing out problems and making sense of the logical and emotional Rubik's cube that is writing a book.

In the end, I just just try to work the problem and have confidence that it will sort itself out. And if I am still struggling then I try to identify exactly what it is that is causing the problem.

And sometimes I'm just a lazy old sod!

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