Goodreads
Goodreads asked William R. Herr:

How do you deal with writer’s block?

William R. Herr Generally, writer's block happens because I do not know what has to happen next. There is a hole in my outline that I overlooked, and I have to find a way to bridge the gap between one point and the next.

Dialogue is good for this. I can write the conversations, with only brief description of the action, and the scene will come alive. Then, upon rewrites, I can fill in the action and refine the dialogue. Then the gap is bridged, and I can continue writing.

Otherwise, writer's block is caused by a change in my routine, and that is harder to break. If I am stuck away from my normal writing environment (that is a constant hazard for me), the words flow slowly. Only force of will can break that particular obstacle.

About Goodreads Q&A

Ask and answer questions about books!

You can pose questions to the Goodreads community with Reader Q&A, or ask your favorite author a question with Ask the Author.

See Featured Authors Answering Questions

Learn more