Wikipedia, the ghod of information, has an entry for Writer’s Block.
Word Web (an excellent thesaurus/dictionary program) defines Writer’s Block as:
n. An inability to write
That definition can be loosely translated to refer to someone who is not a writer by trade or hobby. A “type of” that Word Web lists was “mental block”.
n. An inability to remember or think of something you normally can do; often caused by emotional tension
So merge the two together and it’s a definition I can live with.
I do wonder, however, how much stress has to do with writer’s block. It seems like such a cop-out. I’ve experienced writer’s block, per my merged definition, and it’s not been because of stress. Mine was just pure apathy (aka give-a-shit-itis). Writer’s block also has a lot to do with the book being worked on. Sometimes, truly, it just stinks and you don’t want to admit it. Saying you have writer’s block is easier–and carries less stigma–than saying your book stinks. Fellow writers will flock to your side and give you chocolate, fully understanding how you feel.
We all react to stress differently. Some get all hyped up. Others freeze in place. Others, like myself, shut down. Any of these will effect our writing. Apathy, brain-freeze (seize?) is a big hindrance to creativity. So how to counteract that?
I feel it depends on how long the block has been in place. If I catch it soon enough, I can get around it by skipping that section of the book and going to another. But if I pay too much attention to it, or don’t catch it in time, then skipping ahead doesn’t often work. Sometimes I do little bits at a time. Or I freewrite. Or I move to another project altogether. But I have to want to deal with it.
And that’s when the trouble really begins.
How do you deal with writer’s block? What do you think it is; meaning, what is your definition of it? Does it really exist or is it a pretty term used by writers to get chocolate?
As you say in your later post, writing is like a full-time job for those that make their living by it, and I don’t see why writers can’t have the equivalent of “a bad day at the office” where we’re tired, uncomfortable, grumpy, hot or cold, but still need to get the work done. Plus, we also have to be our own boss – managing time, scheduling and enforcing breaks and arranging holidays. It’s two modes of thinking to keep going and we don’t usually have colleagues to quickly turn to for a bit of mental relief sometimes. Non-writers don’t think of it as work and unless we’re commercially successful (and likely even then), will usually treat our individual woes with scorn. I think writers need to be mentally tough to stick with it every day, and I don’t think that many of us can keep that toughness up without whatever our equivalent of chocolate is. (end ramble)
So writer’s block is akin to a bad day at the office? The difference being, one has witnesses and the other doesn’t.