Mike Pickard joins Miranda and Bonnie today to talk about the ever-dreaded writer’s block, whether or not it exists, and how to combat it.

This week’s questions: Do you believe writer’s block exists? How do you deal with writer’s block? Have you ever experienced it? How long has it lasted? What finally got you out of it? Let us know on our socials.

Tips and tricks:

• Generally, “writer’s block” is a term used to describe a problem you have that is preventing you from writing. The best way to cure writer’s block is to diagnose what the problem actually is. Fear? Indecision? Mischaracterization? Not having a viable idea to begin with?
• Depending on what the problem is, your solution will be born out of that.
• Having something on the page is generally better than having nothing at all. Don’t be afraid to write poorly or take the wrong direction; you can always go back and edit it later.
• Stories can run into problems with mischaracterization. A plot point may be necessary to the story but is not something the character would do and this can lead to a stall in writing.
• Not knowing what kind of writer you are can also lead to writer’s block. If you find discovery writing isn’t working, try plotting, or vice versa—you might find that another method actually works better for you.
• When finishing a writing session, try stopping at a point when you know what the next half of the page is going to be. This can help kickstart the next writing session.
• Sometimes writer’s block can actually be depression. If that's the case, it's better to take a step back and work on healing yourself than trying to force your creativity.

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Cover art by Maggie Walker

Links:

Shut Up and Write

“Sometimes Writer’s Block is Really Depression,” by Mary Robinette Kowal