Is Writer’s Block an Excuse for Procrastination?
October 2, 2009 by Deb
Filed under Thoughts and Stuff
Everyone who owns a writing blog talks about writer’s block at one time or another. We all offer the same tips:
- Take a walk
- Keep an idea notebook
- Talk to other writers
- Make an outline
- Make a list
- etc.etc.
Lately I’ve been wondering if writer’s block is an excuse for procrastination. Is it that we truly can’t think of anything to write, or are there are other distractions preventing us from doing what we want to do? It seems every time I have writer’s block, it’s actually something else.
- My current project doesn’t excite me. I’m not blocked as much as I’m bored. I don’t want to write it so I’m looking for excuses to do other things.
- My current project isn’t something I know much about. It’s not that I have writer’s block, it’s that I don’t know what to write.
- I’d much rather be doing something else. I want to read my book or raid the fridge. I don’t want to write.
- I have too much stuff on my mind. Perhaps I’m said, or there’s a family issue keeping me from my work.
Nowadays when I can’t think of anything to write about, I think about the reasons behind the block. It’s not that I absolute can’t write or that there isn’t anything coming to mind, it’s that I don’t want to write at that time.
Next time you find yourself with writer’s block, consider the reasons behind it. Chances are, you’re not blocked. You just have other things on your mind.
I’ve never actually had writer’s blog. When I have trouble sitting down to write, it’s really just procrastination.
With my fiction, it seems that I have on and off spurts. I don’t know if I would call the ‘off’ times writer’s block, but it can feel like it.
Non-fiction? More procrastination than anything else. We have a house full of little kids, so that takes time and drains my inner resources. When I’m drained, it can seem like writer’s block is completely physical, a block of granite sitting on my whole body. Those times I don’t want to do anything but surf or hide in a room with a book.
I’ve had the same experience as you, JulieF. When it comes to creative pursuits, I do get genuine writer’s block from time to time. No matter how much I want to write, the words and ideas just don’t come.
When it comes to article writing/grant writing/topics where I know what I need to write, it’s usually exhaustion or boredom that keeps me from getting my work done.
Regardless of the source of my blocks, I find that “scheduled procrastination” helps. Allowing myself time to read a book, surf the Internet, or take a nap in the middle of my workday is often all I need to get my motivation (or inspiration) back.
I like the idea of “scheduled procrastination”. Recently I went through a time of extreme stress and I tried to press forward, but my work was suffering. My client kept requesting tweaks and revisions to what I submitted, so it was then I decided I needed to take a break and regroup. I finished the deadline for the project and took a week off.
While I realise this is not exactly what you were implying, this experience reiterated to me the necessity of scheduled procrastination. Sometimes we cannot afford not to.; however, I could have lost my relationship with this client.
One week did it for me, and while I had not budgeted it, in the long run it paid off.
I can’t afford to procrastinate anymore.
Not even scheduled. There’s bills to pay and even one day of play can take away much needed income.
I try to plod through, even when I’m not feeling inspired. One of my favorite quotes is by Stephen King and I live by it.
“Sometimes you have to go on when you don’t feel like it, and sometimes you’re doing good work when it feels like all you’re managing is to shovel sh* from a sitting position.”
I’ve followed the links from commenter’s here on FWJ and I know that the group as a whole contains amazingly talented writers. If we’re all suffering from block at times, but still writing, you know we’re good!
I’ll be very blunt here. I used to be a reporter at a daily newspaper, and I had a daily deadline most days that was non-negotiable. If I didn’t have inspiration to get me going on that story about the spelling bee/planning commission meeting/school board controversy/car accident, well, too bad. The story had to be filed by 5 p.m. My mantra became, “Just start writing.” And I would. I’d write, even if it was crap. And then I’d go back and fix and improve it. Was every story a masterpiece? Lord, no. But the story had to be written, and so I wrote it. As a result, I have little to no patience with anyone who whines about having writer’s block. Like Becky writes, it’s not really writer’s block. It’s procrastination. Or boredom.
Okay, let me clarify that. I’ll let fiction writers off the hook. I can totally understand a fiction writer sitting in front of a blank screen and feeling…nothing. (Of course, they could always go work on their outlines or character sketches, but I’ll give them this point). But not article or non-fiction writers.
So what do I do know when I am totally uninspired by an assignment, and I can’t think of a punchy way to get the story rolling? I start writing in the middle instead. Or I make an outline. Or I pick out the best quotes from my notes. I get started SOMEWHERE. And often, that’s all it takes.
Moral of the story: think you have writer’s block? Just get started somehow! Start writing! You can always go back later and delete or rewrite. Just start.
Great tips.
I, too, worked for a daily newspaper – part of the reason I freelance today. For me there came a time to choose – deadline stress to the max or deadline stress I choose.
I wouldn’t say I have writers block but I have so many topic ideas for my blog and website that it’s almost overwhelming trying to figure out ‘who’ I should write them for (website, blog, submissions, etc.). When I’m writing and get stuck I have to take a step back and time away or I get too frustrated and never go back to it.
Writer’s block is a tricky beast. I’ve heard some say that it doesn’t exist, period, and others say they struggle constantly with it.
I’ve found that the most effective way to beat writer’s block is to:
A) Apply yourself
Don’t let yourself say, “Oh, I’m blocked, I’m giving up for the day.” Instead, force yourself to write. Make deadlines for yourself, give yourself rewards, whatever it takes. Just git ‘er done.
B) Take a short break
If you’ve been overwhelmed with work lately, maybe your brain needs a break. So go for a half hour, take a bath, take a walk, do whatever it takes. Just refuse to think about writing unless a brilliant idea pops into your mind — and you’ll be surprised how often it happens.
C) Concentrate
Once your break is over, get back to work. No procrastinating, no “I’ll do it in a little while”, no “I’ll just watch the rest of this TV show”. You’ve had your break, now you have to work.
Once you’ve disciplined yourself to do things when you say to yourself that you’ll do them, it’ll become a habit and you won’t have to make yourself do them anymore.
Now to step off my soapbox and skulk back to my Word document that’s jeering at me in the background…
Good question here! So you are actually asking whether lack of motivation can be masked as a writer’s block. I’d say, many a time, it is and this is what confuses things for writers. Take me for example. I started my first novel in early 2004 and it stopped at 15 chapters in less than a year; still waiting to be taken up for completion. But the many problems and lack of ideal environment won’t allow me to get back to you. This doesn’t mean that I have a writer’s block; I’ve a ‘life block’. Once I get the desirable state of things, I’ll get back to it.
Personally, I find it better not to force oneself in writing but leave it to the inner urge. However, keep thinking of what and when do you want to write next; this engagement in thinking about writing also works in replenishing motivation to write.
I agree with Jennifer L. Working at a newspaper, I sometimes find it hard to write the lead of the story … because I want it to be awesome – but you have to meet the deadline.
I find that if I start in the middle, or work on my putting all of my quotes together in the order I want them in, eventually I will come up with the lead. And then it all seems to fall into place.
In freelance writing, I don’t really have writer’s block – it’s more of trying to find the time to write between all of the interruptions of life.
I also write fiction in my “free time” and yes, I do get writer’s block. It’s not as easy when you have to make up everything.
I don’t think I’ve had writer’s block. Procrastinated a lot? Absolutely, and for all the reasons you name in your post.
I rarely ever have to deal with writer’s block. When it happens, I know it’s genuine.
On the other hand, I do procrastinate from time to time. Mainly because of this:
Unfortunately, this happens just too often. Then again, one must pay their bills, so in the end I always force myself to go and write.