At its simplest Writer’s Block is defined as “a phenomenon involving the temporary loss of ability to write.” Having battled Writer’s Block for 19 years I can tell you from personal experience that such a simple definition does not do the phenomenon any justice.
Writer’s block can have many causes and many symptoms. To mis-quote Leo Tolstoy all happy writers are happy in the same way; every blocked writer is blocked in their own unique way.
Some causes of block stem from creative problems within an author’s work itself. Or a writer may simply run out of inspiration. Other writers take on a project that is misconceived, or beyond the author’s experience or ability complete. with the result that they end up being totally out of their depth.
The symptoms of writers block vary from the stereotypical staring at a blank page unable to think of a single idea, to the opposite extreme where a writer has so many “good” ideas that they are unable to focus on just one for fear of losing all the others.
However if it means that you are not producing any finished, completed works then you are suffering from writer’s block. Regardless of how many words you are writing, how many story plots you are devising, or how many brilliant ideas you are having.
In my own case the root cause of stem from my own insecurities, self doubt and anxiety. Theses feelings have been the root of both extremes of writers blocks that I have wrestled with over the years.
Writer’s blocks may also be produced by the circumstances of a writer’s life or career: physical illness, depression, the end of a relationship, financial pressures or a sense of failure can all lead to writer developing block.
For professional, or would-be professional, writers the pressure to produce work may in itself contribute to a writer’s block, especially if they are compelled to work in ways that are against their natural inclination i.e. too fast or in some unsuitable style or genre.
And in other cases, writer’s block may also come from feeling overwhelmed by a previous big success, with the writer feeling unbearable pressure to find something to equal their previous success.
There are many solutions for writer’s block.
For writer’s block caused by pressure better work organisation and time management can be of enormous benefit. A good support group such as a critique group or writing workshop can help with writing exercises and motivational support. But for more difficult cases an individual consultation with an experienced writing coach can be invaluable.