You know that feeling when you wake up brimming with the intention to write? All fired up because a brilliant idea struck while grocery shopping the day before? You buggy over to one of those quiet, overlooked aisles—maybe the specialty kitchenware section where the overpriced china gathers dust. You pull up your notes app and let the words flow. In those moments, it feels like your writing is offering you a secret, unraveling word after word until you’ve sketched out a scene, a plot twist, or cracked the code on a pivotal moment in your story.
The next morning, you’re ready. Coffee in your favorite mug, you sit down, laptop open, and…nothing. You stare at the screen, re-reading what felt brilliant just a day ago. A sip, then another, and soon you’re making excuses to leave the desk.
The dishes in the sink? Sure, they need attention. Folding laundry becomes oddly appealing. By the time you return to your desk, the spark is gone, replaced by a dull ache in your head.
Reframing Writer’s Block as a Message, Not a Barrier
I’ve been there—tension crawling over my scalp, down my neck. It reminded me of my classroom days, guiding students through their own moments of frustration with writing. I’d tell them, “You’re doing good. Your brain is a muscle, and you’re working it right now. Keep at it. Lean into it. You got this.”
In the midst of one of my own struggles, a thought surfaced: What if writer’s block isn’t a wall but a guide?
Previously, I treated writer’s block like an unavoidable cold—something to endure each writing season until it passed. But what if it’s more than that? That question shifted my perspective entirely. It opened a door to viewing blocks not as dreadful barriers but as signals.
I invite you to explore this concept with me. If you’ve been battling writer’s block or feeling like giving up on your writer’s journey, this could offer a fresh lens that might help you see your creative process in a fresh light.
A New Perspective: Writer’s Block as a Pause
I’m currently reading On Being Stuck: Tapping Into The Creative Power of Writer’s Block by Laraine Herring. She writes, “I don’t see writer’s block as the wolf at the door…I see it as a [natural] pause. A signal to pay attention to something.”
This resonated deeply. Viewing writer’s block as a message has transformed my writing journey. Sometimes, it asks me to slow down. Other times, it nudges me to question my approach or simply check in with myself. It’s no longer an indictment of my abilities but an invitation to explore.
There’s a subtle shift that happens when you stop fighting the block. It starts as a quiet presence, hovering at the edge of your mind. Instead of forcing it away, I’ve learned to observe, listen, and allow space—like meditation. Often, the words return, gently spilling back into my hands. At other times, the block invites deeper questions, asking me to rethink or uncover what I might have missed.
An Invitation to Curiosity
Consider this: what is your writer’s block trying to tell you?
Instead of frustration, approach it with curiosity. Laraine Herring suggests grounding techniques and meditation as tools to engage with the block mindfully.
Next Tuesday, I’ll share practical strategies for diving deeper into these messages, exploring ways to slow down, reflect, and integrate meditative practices into your writing routine. Together, we’ll learn how to listen to our creative instincts and transform those blocks into stepping stones.
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