Writer’s Block (not to be confused with procrastination, which has its useful side) is one of those things you either believe in or you don’t.

I’ve heard of cases lasting years–Laura Kinsale is one such case, SF writer, Elizabeth A. Lynn, another. Personally I think that rather than writer’s ”block” this is probably something more like…do I really want to spend my life doing this?  Always a question worth asking oneself–although it’s helpful to ask yourself that particular question BEFORE you sign any contracts.  Then again, in the case of these two excellent writers, it might be writer’s burn out, which is due to having to pump out too many books in too short a time–especially painful if you care deeply about the writing.

My own theory is that to be a true case of Writer’s Block, you must be unable to write anything at all. Okay, maybe an email or two–you might even be able to blog–but you’d be unable to create anything in fiction. So this is my test for people who think they are suffering Writer’s Block–go write something totally different. Start a brand new project just for fun. Write something you’ve been dying to work on but have never had the time. Try a different genre. Try writing from a different POV. Try something you’ve never done before.

If you can do it, chances are you’re not suffering WB, you’re just bored with the current project OR you’ve gone off track with it. Usually the latter. Proof positive is if you get a sickish nervous feeling in the pit of your stomach when you think about where you left off. Always a sure sign you’ve written yourself into a corner. And the way to fix that–drastic but effective–is get rid of everything that follows the last point in your manuscript where you were feeling confident and pleased with it. DELETE IT ALL.

(If you can’t bear to truly delete it, just save it in a different file somewhere.)

Boredom is a little harder to deal with. I always get bored with my projects. I’ve learned (the hard way) that there’s nothing wrong with the projects–when I go back and glance over them weeks, months even years later, I’m startled to see that they’re still as fun and fresh as when I first devised them. I was the one who grew tired and dull, not the work. The problem is I’m always wanting to start something new, something different. And when I get one hundred pages into that new and different something, I start to weary of it and dream about something newer and differenter.  

I’ve often heard this phenomenon likened to marriage and courtship. In the initial fliratious stage, the project almost writes itself. You dream of it all the time, you’re burning with inspiration. But once you’re…ahem…married, as it were, it seems complicated and a lot of work. You start to take it for granted–what was so exciting about that idea, anyway? You start checking out the other ideas in their tight jeans with their bare rock-hard chests. And they look right back at you and give you that certain smile….

Anyway, I’ve learned enough about myself and my writing to know that if it’s worth starting, it’s probably worth finishing. And once the commitment is made, one cannot be seduced by every every attractive idea that wanders one’s way.

Sometimes Writer’s Block arises from external pressures–I’m being serious. If you’re sick or stressed (beyond the normal crazy levels we all live with) and the writing isn’t working as a blessed outlet, then give yourself permission to stop. No need adding to the stress. That’s rarely good for creativity. Sometimes giving yourself permission to quit is all it takes to decide you really do want to move forward. Not always. Sometimes you really do want and need to quit.

Here are some things that help with the milder forms of Writer’s Block, which generally just means you need a little prodding in the inspiration department.

1) Rent a stack of movies in the genre you’re writing in. Kick back and relax–jot down any notes that occur to you but don’t worry if nothing does.

2) Read a stack of other books in the genre you’re writing in. Take notes or don’t, but read analytically. Critically. What do you think? Generally what you’ll think is you can’t wait to get back to your own stuff.

3) Dive into that TBR pile and read whatever you want. It helps to remember why you wanted to write in the first place.

4) Read the worst books you can find in your own genre. Come on, we all know they’re out there. If you’re too lovely of spirit to find them for yourself, ask a few writer friends to rec you a couple. Believe me, it will comfort and reassure you.

5) Write ahead in your current work to a scene you’re really looking forward to. Just skip on to the juicy fun part. It’s okay. It’s still writing and it still counts.

6)  Rough out some of the details on a project you’ve been longing to work on but don’t have time to start yet.

These are things that work for me. Your mileage may vary.

I’d love to hear from other writers on their own tips and tricks for beating Writer’s Block.