writer’s block? Nice try.

Authors live dangerously. This has to be said now.

Steaming coffee in your favorite cup on the desk, where the golden rays of sunshine settle on the laptop and the new Chinese notebook. Inspirational music is playing somewhere in the background. The anticipation of creative work is in the air.

And the disaster begins.

We, in our most comfortable favorite clothes, open the laptop and open the China folder. The blank page shines towards us. We’re starting. And the writing flow becomes a quagmire, making every step tough and exhausting.

Writer’s block.

As a writer’s soul, I have already encountered some writer’s blocks. Writer’s blocks have specialized in certain conditions experienced by authors. They patiently lurk in a corner of the creative process until the moment comes to strike.

Sometimes my thoughts are very long and tangled. Only the writing process tames them and helps me to bring logic into the plot. The clear picture develops as I live through each current version of the story. If I had to post my relationship status with my thoughts on Facebook, it would be: it’s complicated…

…at least at the beginning.

This phase is a bit risky. Organizing things mentally takes up time and concentration, a lot of things don’t feel right, the point is often missed, a lot of hesitation has to be overcome. Above all, there is the unpleasant fear of getting stuck, which is even physically noticeable. Faith then is out of my reach. The block is shamelessly exploiting this moment. She looks over my shoulder at the piece of paper.

“Save your energy,” she whispers in my ear.

“Yes, be realistic,” she continues, louder: “A thousand others have already written that before you. Even better!”

Blocks have no manners. What can be expected from someone who storms into a factory without asking, sabotageing the machinery? The fact that it’s a thought factory doesn’t excuse it either. So we have to do what any sensible company would do: mobilize security personnel and escort the troublemaker out.

Now, I’m not a psychologist or a precocious advice person. But so much for that: Blocks are loud, but also very gullible. Whatever you say, do it with the utmost authenticity, despite your mood, if you are brave or afraid. No matter what, the best weapon against them are exactly two words:

Nice. Try.