Welcome back to Graphically Minded, an entirely free publication about writing and storytelling, relating the lessons I’ve learned in a 20-plus-year career as a comic book writer and author.
When I started up this new newsletter, I set a goal of writing an edition every two weeks. And I did! For a month and a half. But now this one is way (WAY) late, which is all the more perfect, because it’s time to talk about the thing that most young writers ask me for help with—writer’s block.
So, I have to admit, this newsletter is so late because I came down with a terrible case of writer’s block myself. A real doozy. It’s been nothing but blank pages and thousand-yard stares around here. And this is coming off of one of the least productive stretches of my writing career. A couple of years just riddled with writer’s block.
But then, eureka!, I happened upon a secret cure for writer’s block. And because I’m such a generous soul, I’m going to share it with you.
What is writer’s block?
Any time I’m at a convention or book signing or other event, invariably some aspiring writers come to me for advice. And the most frequent question I get is this: How do you cure writer’s block?
Which, for those lucky souls who haven’t experienced it, let’s offer a quick definition. Writer’s block is when you want to write except you can’t. You have a great story in your head, but you just. can’t. get. it. on. the. damn. page.
It’s also good to define what IS NOT writer’s block: a virus, a genetic condition, a physical ailment, a witch’s curse, or any other curse from any other magical entity. So, then, if it isn’t a malady accepted by the medical community, how could there be a cure?
Here’s the part where I admit that I lied
These past couple of months, I did not in fact have writer’s block. I was just busy. Some of it I was writing other projects. Some of it I was taking care of one of my kids who was home sick. Some of it I was sick. Some of it I was busy sharing that big announcement from last week. Some of it we were on vacation.
But what about the past couple of years? That terrible lack of productivity I so sensitively admitted to the world?
More lies. Yes, it is true that I’ve been unproductive (by my standards). But I was taking care of two children during a freaking pandemic! Of course I was unproductive. So, then, you’re asking, what the hell does any of this have to do with writer’s block? And where is that cure I promised?
The biggest lie of all
There is no cure for writer’s block. *sad trombone*
That’s because writer’s block does not exist.
Let’s all say that part of it together. Writer’s block does not exist.
What is writer’s block *really*?
If you are someone who has experienced or maybe is experiencing what you call “writer’s block,” I want you to try something first. Stop using the phrase “writer’s block.” Never again. Never ever.
Instead, say this (or internal monologue it): “I’m not writing” or “I’m not as productive as I’d like right now” or “I can’t figure out where this story should go.” Writer’s block is just not writing. That’s it.
When you blame writer’s block, you’re blaming a bogus excuse that is—even worse—one you cannot solve. Just like it’s impossible to kill a unicorn, you can’t cure writer’s block.
So, you are not writing. And what you want to do is be more productive.
There are a ton of reasons that you could be not writing. But let’s look at the big ones, and some of the tactics you could use to gain more productivity.
1. You’re stuck in a story
Every writer has moments of feeling lost, not knowing where the story wants to go next. And this usually stems from a lack of process.
First, remember the lesson from the last newsletter. Writing and storytelling are separate skills. You have to figure out the story before you can write.
Since you’re stuck anyway, spend some time stepping away from this sticking point and step back to look at the way you write. Do you create a strong enough roadmap—outline—at the beginning? Then, how do you take that map and chart it onto the page?
I use a method for all my writing in which I outline first (and, again, I’ll dig more deeply into outlining another time), and then I create a document for the script or novel or screenplay, and then I paste bits of the outline over, usually one scene at a time. Then I spend some time breaking that apart into story beats (this happens, then this happens, then this…) all while refining it as I go. Once that’s done, I have a very clear breakdown of every big movement of the story. All I have to do is execute.
If you’re at a point where you outlined but now things aren’t making sense, instead of invoking writer’s block, instead step back and spend some time focused on storytelling. Why isn’t this working? Is it just a matter of connecting dots? Or is there something emotionally missing? You aren’t going to answer those questions staring at a blank page. Which leads us to…
2. You’re staring at a blank page
This is literally the worst thing you can do when you’re feeling uncertain of what to do next. Don’t do it.
Instead, go take a walk. Or exercise. Do some yard work.
The point is, be physically active and allow your subconscious mind the space to unlock this particular puzzle.
Seriously, long walks are my writing super power. Any time I’m stuck, I lace up my shoes and head out for an hour or so. And every single time, my brain somehow figures out the problem. (Literally, there’s a thing I need to figure out for some rewrites, and I am going on a walk as soon as I’m done with this post.)
3. You don’t have enough time
Here’s what you need to do: Get a notebook, and tomorrow morning start logging what you do all day by half hour increments.
Eating. Cooking. Errands. Day job. Tending to children. Exercising. Watching TV. Playing video games. Scrolling through Instagram or Tik Tok. Warring with the trolls on Twitter.
Log all of it.
Then, when you’ve done that for a handful of days, maybe a week, look at that log. How many hours or minutes do you want to spend writing each day? And what do you need to cut to make it happen?
A quick story: In college, I was an honors student and became editor in chief of the college newspaper (at the time, it was published five days a week and had a 100+ person staff). I also played intramural basketball fairly seriously. And I realized I wasn’t getting things done the way I needed to. So I looked at how I spent my hours, and…
I had to quit playing video games. I wasn’t an avid gamer or anything, but I NEEDED to free up another hour or two a day. And that was the cost. I didn’t play a game again until getting the kids a Switch for Christmas, and I still pretty much never play. (Even though I love games and would love to play them more.)
Here’s the question you have to ask yourself: Is my desire to be a writer greater than my desire to play video games/scroll social media/binge watch Love is Blind? Be honest, because maybe the answer is no.
4. You really don’t have enough time
Some periods of life don’t afford a break. You might have to tend to a sick loved one. You might have a demanding day job. You might have young children at home.
If you log your hours and see that nothing can give, just know that this is not the end. It’s a fallow season, a time for you to focus your energies on other things. But remember that your mind is still working, and that a more bountiful time will come.
5. You aren’t feeling it
There are those days when you sit down at your computer and open up the document and you just want to do anything else other than sit there and write.
Well, guess what, friends, writing is work. No shit it’s tough.
I’ve gotten to be a professional writer and work on some of my favorite characters, and it is still pretty much always a slog. Like, every single day. Some days, I think I might hate writing.
But I just sit in the chair and do it anyway. (Why? WHY?! I dunno.)
My first job out of college was as a newspaper crime reporter. I’d have to run to a crime scene, interview the cops and witnesses, hurry back to the office, and write a thousand or so words (all factually fucking accurate, no less) in an hour. And I always hit my deadlines.
Do you think this is because I loved writing about murders? (Don’t answer that.) No! It was hard damn work. I did it because if I didn’t, I would lose my job.
This isn’t to say that writing is harder than other jobs, like, say, digging ditches. (Can you imagine a ditch digger feeling unmotivated and claiming to have “digger’s block”?)
You were the cure all along
Writing is hard in its own way. But you say you want to do it. You’re compelled to share your stories and visions with the world.
Well, OK then. Get to it.
And stop making excuses.
As always, I hope this is helpful to you as you write and tell stories. If you’d like to learn more about me and my writing, please visit vanjensen.com. Comments or questions? Please share them below. See you in a couple of weeks.