Writer's block is a glorified temper tantrum on a grown-up scale. Your muse is acting out against what it perceives to be unrealistic demands.
Granted, your muse's tantrum will in no way be as impressive-looking as a meltdown from the resident two-year-old, but the result is the same. You're prevented from accomplishing what you set out to do.
Temper tantrums in children can be impressive, to say the least. You're running late and all you want is to get your toddler dressed and out the door. Of course, that's the exact minute the little darling has a meltdown, which can range from a relatively mild stomping of the foot, crossed arms and a pout and progress all the way to Junior throwing himself on the ground, kicking and screaming at the top of his lungs.
At some point in his or her career, every writer will experience the literary version of this experience.
The good thing is at least writer's block is quiet and it doesn't happen in the aisle of your crowded neighborhood Wal-Mart.
New writers who are already unsure of their talents and abilities may find themselves hopelessly blocked as soon as they sit down at the computer. The result is a blank screen and that infernal blinking cursor. It's enough to make someone give up on writing altogether.
Experienced writers, on the other hand, may be cursed by a blank page while all sorts of ideas frolic, unapproachable, in his or her head. All the while, the writer feels the swooshing of his or her deadline as it rushes past.
The result is the same. Your muse, the inner child that is usually so full of life and fun, shuts down and takes your ability to write with it.
Toddlers eventually outgrow their temper tantrums as they become more mature. Likewise, writer's block will also eventually come to an end. The question is how long are you willing to wait?
It's possible to lessen both the frequency and the severity of your blocks by taking a lesson from parents who have emerged relatively unscathed from battling toddlers during the Terrible Twos.
Identify the problem
No two tantrums are alike. Likewise, no two cases of writer's blocks are the same. Once you figure out what the trigger is, you're in good shape to prevent another occurrence in the future.
Mom may realize that her screaming banshee is acting out because he or she is tired and over-stimulated. It just might be time for a nap.
For writers, the block could be telling you that your muse doesn't have the information or skills it needs to complete the your project.
Just as your toddler lacks the verbal skills to express his or her frustrations, so, too, writer's block is a traffic sign designed to let you know something is wrong. Your muse is communicating in the only way it can. Don't fight it. Take a step back and re-evaluate.
Provide a distraction
When your kids is screaming at the top of her lungs, that is not the time to try to instill any lessons. Instead, most parents will excuse themselves and their child from the area.
This is good advice when your muse is misbehaving.
Remove yourself from the situation. Continuing to sit there and trying to force matters will only make it worse.
There are a number of things you can try instead.
Take a break. Go for a walk. Try a different approach. When you return to the problem with fresh eyes, breakthroughs can happen.
If one way doesn't work, try something different. If you compose at the computer, try writing longhand. If you have a portable tape recorder, dictate your project to be transcribed, and edited, later.
If none of these help, it might be time to re-evaluate your direction.
Whatever you do, don't turn your frustrations inward or punish yourself. Writer's block is a symptom. It's not the source of the problem.
Start over
Parents don't avoid public situations with their children until the child grows up and leaves home. Writers should not use writer's block as an excuse to stop trying to write. If you're a writer, you have to write.
The reality is that no matter how problematic children can be as toddlers, they eventually grow up. If you find out why you're blocked and work your way through it, you'll be on your way to becoming the writer you were meant to be.
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