Janice,
I think you’re right about the way we label our productivity. Telling yourself you have writer’s block is not going to be helpful.

I can identify with what you say about many of us not having uninterrupted writing time. I go through periods where I have that luxury, and others where I have to squeeze in half an hour. I suppose the key is to keep writing something, anything, to maintain the habit.

Thanks!

No matter what phase I’m going through in my life, I have never used the phrase writer’s block. I’m passionately interested in the way our language shapes our reality. To even think in terms of the phrase “I have writer’s block” makes it seem like an illness, something that happens to us, something we catch, instead of something we have control over.

“I’m not writing much at the moment.” has a more neutral emotional charge; it also elicits a lot of good questions. But what can you say in response to “I have writer’s block.” It’s more likely to provoke an “Oh, dear…” followed by a sigh or a sad silence.

If you can rename it, you can reframe it.

I always ask the folk I coach to step back and investigate the old stories they’re telling themselves.

I always ask if elements of a writing life have become a ‘should’ instead of a ‘want’.

If you ask good what questions, you can focus on developing solutions. Questions like…

~What does a ‘good’ writing day look like, feel like?
~What’s really stopping me from writing?
~What inspires me?
~What do I need more of?
~What do I need less of?
~What am I saying no to?
~What am I saying yes to?

Life has its ebbs and flows; so does our creativity and responsiveness to life. Everything is fuel for writers. Everything we see, smell, taste, hear and experience is a necessary part of what we do. If we’re not writing, it’s the perfect chance to catch up on some intense reading, to observe, do other things, refresh ourselves and hone our editing skills on anything we are still producing. Fields need to lie fallow sometimes to support a variety of crops and an improved yield. The soul has its seasons.

Many of us don’t have – can’t have – regular hours available for uninterrupted writing, but we can always be writers and live with the kind of engaged presence, appreciation and mindset it requires.

Nice guest post. Thanks to both of you.

I stumbled upon this article at a time when I’ve been full of excuses. Recently I joined a writing group and that helps. But nothing helps more than a swift kick in the butt.

Thanks!

Marie,
Don’t feel too bad. I came home from work the other day and tried to write a post for my blog. I really could not think of anything to write, no matter how hard I thought.
So, I went to sleep instead. The next morning I got up at 6 am and wrote the whole post in an hour. It got some really good feedback, too. Sometimes we just need a short break to refuel.

Thanks