Stephen R. Burns
I don't actually believe in writer's block. Bestselling author Ted Dekker says that writer's block is rooted in fear, and I tend to agree with him. I think writers can suffer fatigue, particularly when the emotional parts of their life are pulling them in different directions. Writing fiction requires empathy, which requires emotion. If your personal life is bleeding you dry, than it can be difficult to create.
Otherwise, I'd suggest it's a fear of writing badly. The blank page can be intimidating. We want to write well, right away. This is natural. It is also impossible. Writing is re-writing. The best way to avoid writer's block is to write quickly. Get the story out as fast as you can. Once you've laid the foundation, you can go back and edit it more slowly. There's a chance that the story may not pan out, for a variety of reasons. In that case, cut it off and start again. Give yourself permission to write crap, and instead of being intimidated by the blank page, be encouraged by the possibilities. :)
Otherwise, I'd suggest it's a fear of writing badly. The blank page can be intimidating. We want to write well, right away. This is natural. It is also impossible. Writing is re-writing. The best way to avoid writer's block is to write quickly. Get the story out as fast as you can. Once you've laid the foundation, you can go back and edit it more slowly. There's a chance that the story may not pan out, for a variety of reasons. In that case, cut it off and start again. Give yourself permission to write crap, and instead of being intimidated by the blank page, be encouraged by the possibilities. :)
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