For the First Time in My Life, I’m Suffering From Writer’s Block
How I got here and my plan to find my way out
I don’t tend to suffer from writer’s block. I know I shouldn’t lead with that because it might come off as annoying or even arrogant, but none of what follows will make sense if I don’t make this clear from the start.
I’ve had a regular writing practice since I was 16 (that’s 32 years for those who are counting) and I’ve almost never faced a blank page and found myself unable to fill it. When I did, it was typically confined to academic assignments — writing projects attached to someone else’s deadlines and predetermined-outcomes. But my own creative drive remained relatively accessible.
Having befriended many fellow writers over the years, I know this isn’t necessarily typical. But if you asked me what my secret is, I wouldn’t know how to answer.
Many might assume that serious writers have methods, rituals, and habits that keep them churning out good stories, essays, and poetry. But I have to admit, that’s not me. I sometimes wonder, in fact, if other writers might consider me quite chaotic.
Though I’ve experimented with many different approaches to writing — and indeed, some of my projects demanded very different approaches — I generally come to the page…
