I’ve been meaning to write about this one for a while. It’s been scratching at me, like an uncut tag in a new shirt. Maybe you’ve seen some version of it. Writer is asked how she deals with writer’s block in an interview. Or maybe he is writing a book about how to write, he has some insight to share. How to sound original? Why not say something bold, something unexpected, something no one has ever said before?
I find that the discussion around writer's block often comes down to semantics. People decide what other people mean when they use it, or call the phenomenon something else, but of course it does exist as a thing that people experience.
I love this for a number of reasons, but what intrigues me most is your question at the end about why some people feel a need to question someone else’s experience of the creative process. If feels like a version of the “you’re not *really* a writer” pissing match that happens among people who treat creative work as a competition, a contest to determine who has it and who doesn’t. Otherwise, it makes no sense to me. What does how or when or whether I write, or what it feels like have to do with anyone else? Why the need to judge that? All to say, as always I appreciate your writing very much.
This is a great column. I think maybe the avoidance of acknowledging writer's block may have to do with US capitalism, the need to "always be producing" no matter what, when (for me at least), the internal silences are also a crucial part of the creative process...
This is eerily similar to my struggle with depression and trying to explain to people that there are times I want to do things but I just can't physically get myself to do them. And it's like oh you need some motivation, or oh here's a better pov to look at it from and so on and so forth. Genuinely maddening.
This is perfect and very wise, thank you. I was really struck by the mention of memoirs - I've had similar experiences recently (I wonder, even, if they're the same books...). Sometimes, even, I think this process of concealing a truth from yourself just *what a memoir is*. But if it was, you would think there would be more awareness/discussion. And I'm always struck by just how many memoirs are being published these days. The ones I'm thinking of were huge hits and highly lauded - but there was complete silence over the central stories. Perhaps it it is a very difficult thing to put in a review.
My main issue with the term "writer's block" is that it's just so vague. As you touch on, you can feel stuck on something for so many reasons and they all get lumped under this amorphous thing.
Like, am I blocked because I can't think of an idea? Or a good way to express an idea? Or because I've had a lot of ideas and none have panned out? Is my sentence wonky? Or off? Or weird? Can I just plain not remember the word I want to use? Do I actually want to write this? Or do I just feel as though I have to?
They're all different things. And lumping them all together as writer's block is risky: it lets me avoid interrogating the "why". It's undeniably real but, from a certain perspective, it's also convenient.
I'm fortunate enough that, professionally, I've largely worked in fields where I needed to write a lot of stuff and come up with a mountain of ideas every day. It's taught me to just throw out a lot of stuff and see what sticks – whenever I'm feeling blocked, I remind myself of some advice a creative director once gave me: if you can't come up with one idea, come up with 20.
It doesn't necessarily help with the psychological reasons I might be stuck but it certainly helps with the mechanical side of things. (Thankfully, I'm married to a fantastic editor – and person – who helps me out with the former.)
Even though I’m not a writer I think your perception/view on writer’s block could be extrapolated to any other form of art (visual, audiovisual). Whatever triggers this particular phenomenon, thanks goodness is only temporary; we, the non-artists, would have a hard time enjoying life without the beauty and emotional richness art is offering. Love your deeply thought,exquisite writing Irinus. This is art. A pleasure to read. Thank you!
I find that the discussion around writer's block often comes down to semantics. People decide what other people mean when they use it, or call the phenomenon something else, but of course it does exist as a thing that people experience.
I love this for a number of reasons, but what intrigues me most is your question at the end about why some people feel a need to question someone else’s experience of the creative process. If feels like a version of the “you’re not *really* a writer” pissing match that happens among people who treat creative work as a competition, a contest to determine who has it and who doesn’t. Otherwise, it makes no sense to me. What does how or when or whether I write, or what it feels like have to do with anyone else? Why the need to judge that? All to say, as always I appreciate your writing very much.
This is a great column. I think maybe the avoidance of acknowledging writer's block may have to do with US capitalism, the need to "always be producing" no matter what, when (for me at least), the internal silences are also a crucial part of the creative process...
This is eerily similar to my struggle with depression and trying to explain to people that there are times I want to do things but I just can't physically get myself to do them. And it's like oh you need some motivation, or oh here's a better pov to look at it from and so on and so forth. Genuinely maddening.
This is perfect and very wise, thank you. I was really struck by the mention of memoirs - I've had similar experiences recently (I wonder, even, if they're the same books...). Sometimes, even, I think this process of concealing a truth from yourself just *what a memoir is*. But if it was, you would think there would be more awareness/discussion. And I'm always struck by just how many memoirs are being published these days. The ones I'm thinking of were huge hits and highly lauded - but there was complete silence over the central stories. Perhaps it it is a very difficult thing to put in a review.
Thanks for the lovely essay
My main issue with the term "writer's block" is that it's just so vague. As you touch on, you can feel stuck on something for so many reasons and they all get lumped under this amorphous thing.
Like, am I blocked because I can't think of an idea? Or a good way to express an idea? Or because I've had a lot of ideas and none have panned out? Is my sentence wonky? Or off? Or weird? Can I just plain not remember the word I want to use? Do I actually want to write this? Or do I just feel as though I have to?
They're all different things. And lumping them all together as writer's block is risky: it lets me avoid interrogating the "why". It's undeniably real but, from a certain perspective, it's also convenient.
I'm fortunate enough that, professionally, I've largely worked in fields where I needed to write a lot of stuff and come up with a mountain of ideas every day. It's taught me to just throw out a lot of stuff and see what sticks – whenever I'm feeling blocked, I remind myself of some advice a creative director once gave me: if you can't come up with one idea, come up with 20.
It doesn't necessarily help with the psychological reasons I might be stuck but it certainly helps with the mechanical side of things. (Thankfully, I'm married to a fantastic editor – and person – who helps me out with the former.)
Even though I’m not a writer I think your perception/view on writer’s block could be extrapolated to any other form of art (visual, audiovisual). Whatever triggers this particular phenomenon, thanks goodness is only temporary; we, the non-artists, would have a hard time enjoying life without the beauty and emotional richness art is offering. Love your deeply thought,exquisite writing Irinus. This is art. A pleasure to read. Thank you!
I wonder which memoirs you’re thinking of? I’ve read a few where I thought something similar.
Inspiration always strikes at 9 AM yunno. 😂😂😂