Goodreads asked Cynthia Bond:

How do you deal with writer’s block?

Cynthia Bond It's funny that you would ask that now! I'm in the middle of writing the screenplay of Ruby for Harpo films and I have had to really buckle down and work. I don't call it writer's block...I call it "Writer's Anxiety." When I sit down to write, I often feel fear and anxiety. Sometimes it is so strong that I want to jump out of the chair, run out of my office and hop on a plane to Maui! Sadly, as a single mom, not an option!!! (A last minute flight would also be pretty pricey!:) What do I do? I set the alarm on my phone for 15 minutes and tell myself that that is all I have to write. I am gentle and loving to myself, because screaming that I'd better DO IT just adds to the stress and fear. Instead, I just make a commitment to not get out of my chair and to write SOMETHING during that time. I let go of the compulsion to be BRILLIANT! Any good writing comes from copious rewrites. The most important thing?--Getting the words on the page. Perfectionism can arrest a writing project and put it in jail with no bond. We have to let go of that...That's not to say that it doesn't matter what you put on the page...But if you are sweating over a word or a phrase, do the very best you can and move on. I promise, the answer will come to you later. If it doesn't, go back and put energy towards it in the rewrite. Good Luck!

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