Writers Block???

[Dale King]

According to the dictionary, writers block is usually a temporary psychological inability to begin or continue work on a piece of writing.

I've personally never had writers block, but I know several people who have.

I just don't understand how it's possible for someone to get writers block.

Ideas are all around us - on television...on the radio... in the newspaper...at the park...driving in our cars...in our triumphs... in our tragedies...etc., etc., etc.

Ideas are everywhere.

All you have to do is keep your mind open and be receptive to those ideas.

Please don't think I'm making light of writers block, I'm not.

I'm just trying to figure out how it's possible for someone to have it, that's all.

I know it's a temporary, psychological issue.

Can someone help me understand how writers get it?

Have any of you ever had writers block?

How did you overcome it?

What are your thoughts about writers block?

Dale King

[Logan]

My own experiences with writers block are correlated to a lack of interest. For example I have experienced writers block in college when assigned writing that was not of interest. Motivation can be a factor in my opinion, but that applies to just about anything.

[St0n3y]

My college writing professor told us not to wait to be inspired to write, but to write anyway. If you always waited for inspiration very little would ever get written. I know that doesn't have anything to do with writers block but it does lend to always trying to keep the creative part of the brain primed and working, so when inspiration does come you're ready for it.

I think for some, writers block doesn't have anything to do with the availability of ideas but the availability of ideas that one has enough interest in to put pen to paper and/or to be able to adequately put down good words on that topic. There is plenty to say but sometimes we feel as if we've said it all. There are plenty of good ideas but no passion behind them when it comes time to write.

Most of all, I think writers block is simply a bit of creative burnout. Most people, when they write, they want to give something a unique perspective. If they can't then they are effectively creatively blocked from writing.

Must my $0.02.

[mysterygirl]

I think that a writers block can stem from various reasons. OF course, motivation is one of them, an important condition. Without motivation to write something, you're nowhere.
Furthermore, I think that your expectations are an essential part. If you expect to much of yourself and are unable to deliver on that expectation, it may result in a writers block...

[DougWrite]

I've had writers block and it stems from the fact that it's hard to get all of my ideas in an organized and logical fashion. I know what the objective of the article I have to write, but where to start is a different story... I guess with experience it helps to find tips and tricks to overcome. I found that writing an outline and brainstorming a bunch of ideas together helps put a logical sense to it all.

[arena_buzz]

writers block - for me - is more of an absolute fear of a blank or unoriginal page

There are many many times i find myself not in a creative mindset and i have to work on techniques that i know get me thinking

it's hard! some people just have the gift of ideas, i guess.

glad to hear you're one of them

[reemshuks]

I've experienced writers' block before too. I think it helps when you're writing about a subject you are passionate about.

[twitchy]

it's true, if the topic doesn't interest you'll end up with nothing to write. usually i find it hard to start a topic. one more thing, when i write i like my surrounding to be very quiet, no music or any sound at all. just the sound of my fingers tapping the keyboard, or else i'll have a writers block

[vangogh]

Dale I envy you since I have had writer's block from several of the reasons mentioned above. I think a lack of focus for me is probably the biggest reason I may be blocked over a particular piece of writing.

St0n3y nailed the solution though which is not to wait for inspiration, but just to write. The inspiration will come once you're writing. I've seen the advice several times before and it's good.

I've had days where I needed to get something written and the last thing I wanted to do was write. I just wrote anyway and in the beginning the words weren't all that inspired, but eventually they became so. And even those uninspriing words were able to generate ideas for later writing.

[ffaust]

I feel hard to start a topic too. But after it's simple to write on the topic. All current events could be considered from different points of view.