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The Cure for Writer’s Block
A creed for writers
People toss around the term writer’s block like a hot potato. Many catch hold of it and use it as their reason for not writing, but no one wants to be stuck with it.
A problem I see with the term is that it has never been adequately defined and the existence of such a blockage has never been substantiated. It serves as a label for many conditions and situations. The DSM-5 does not recognize writer’s block as a psychological disorder, and no neurological cause has been pinpointed. No decisive set of symptoms has been identified. The term might refer to writing anxiety, or boredom with a writing task, or it might be offered by a student as an excuse for being late with a writing assignment.
In his book , proposes a definition of the term that upholds my point. He defines writer’s block as an inability to begin or continue writing for reasons other than a lack of skill or commitment, including feelings of anxiety, frustration, anger, or confusion. As the definition suggests, the term encompasses a variety of problems that impede a writer’s progress.
In my own experience and from what I have observed in others, the potential impediments to a regular writing practice are many. First, like…
