A writer I greatly admire complained recently on Facebook of writer’s block.  She asked for her writer friends to help, and I read most of their comments.  Most were encouraging, saying that they knew she’d be back writing soon.  Some facetious comments concerned taking turns nagging her to get with it.  No one asked why she was having so much trouble.  Was she missing a fact? a way of approaching a critical scene?  What was it?

But that was the practical approach:  What is the writing problem?  OK, how do we solve it?  Insert answer here.  Problem solved.

Then there’s another approach to writer’s block that has nothing to do with writing:  identifying the cause behind it.  If it’s not the actual writing problem, then what is it?  Perhaps you’re just tired.  Perhaps you think that there might be a better use of your time.  Perhaps others are suggesting that you might put your talents to better use.  Perhaps you’re discouraged, or worse, depressed.

Depression is ugly and a time-robber.  There are innumerable causes for it other than chemical imbalance or mental illness.  But I’m not here to diagnose it, I’m here to talk about getting around it, if there is no medical reason for it.

I’m quite good at talking myself out of anything (and into anything, if I’m not careful), and it’s part of my ability to write.  Imagination, for good or ill, can be a powerful tool.  When I think of depression or writer’s block and the practical approach is not working, I imagine a force who is willfully attempting to keep me from writing, to keep me from doing what I actually love doing by convincing me of all the negatives I most fear (fear is also a diabolical force which robs and cheats).  It is an entity trying to convince me that I can’t, I’m not good enough, I can’t write as well as…(fill in the blank), etc.  But that’s the impetus I need to get off my couch and fight.  It is not within me; it’s a force outside me trying to hinder my progress, my work–a force willing me to fail.  So I won’t.  (I’m contrary that way, and it’s been a saving grace too many times to count.)  That’s the fighter in me.

The other tool I have in my box of writer’s block fixes is this:  I follow my mentor, Jack Bickham’s advice.  He used to say that imagination (writing problem solving) is a muscle.  And like the other muscles in our bodies, it dislikes being used.  However, the more you exercise it, the easier it becomes to access.

He suggested sitting down with whatever writing tool and in whatever place you most like to write, preferably at the same time each day, and start putting anything down on paper or computer screen.  It doesn’t have to make sense; it doesn’t have to be good; it just has to be written, and your bottom has to be in that chair for a specific time before you stop (longer than 30 minutes, less than 24 hours).

Eventually, you find that instead of drivel, you’re actually writing some things that aren’t too bad.  Do this on a regular basis and the moment you sit down, the brain kicks in–the sooner it kicks in, the sooner you’ll be finished for the day.  I know it sounds too easy, but it works.  You’ll never have writer’s block if you follow Jack’s advice.  I know.

If that fails, try the Nike slogan:  Just do it!