TBoT+-+The+Pain+of+Writer's+Block

=Toolbox of Thought: The Pain of Writer's Block=

(Alternate Title: "//Sorry, I Can't Think of a Witty Title, My Writer's Block is Acting Up Again//")

Presumably, most of you guys reading this are writers or would like to become writers. Many of you will probably still be in the early stages of writing when you just keep on coming up with new ideas for stories or whatever your preferred medium is. A time when, for the most part, the writing just seems to flow from your fingers/toes to the page/keyboard/watermelon. You may not have even experienced proper writer's block yet. Well, I have experienced it and it sucks.

In fact, I am currently in the middle of the longest writer's block I have ever experienced. My urge and ability to write stories is no longer there. I can write the occasional poem. I can write for this column. (And thank goodness for that) But I cannot write anything involving characterisation, plot or the building of continuity. And that is a major problem for me.

The big question is: Why?

I can see a few answers to this question:

1. My writer's block is caused by the recent upheaval and stresses in my life.

In case you didn't know this, the February Earthquake effectively made my house unlivable. I spent the best part of the past year in Nelson (where I went through periods of writer's block as well) and only recently moved back. This constant moving has been stressful and has impacted many aspects of my life.

This theory is based on my own observations of what happened when I moved to Nelson. For a while I could only write poetry. Then I began a re-write of an old story once I had fully settled in, but it's only half-finished because I was struck by writer's block in the middle of it.

If this is right, then all I need to do is get comfortable again and the writing should flow... I hope.

2. I've lost my storytelling skills for the time being because deep down I want to explore other forms of self-expression.

Oddly enough, when I was first struck by my current bought of writer's block, I was looking to work on an Alternate Reality Game which never panned out. (I may write about ARG's in the future, but not for a while) From there I decided that I wanted to do a Let's Play (another potential future topic) and then a column. I can't help but notice a pattern here.

I keep getting caught up in new ideas and not actually getting anywhere with them. Perhaps if I make this column last for a while I'll finally be able to write some fiction again. Also, I already like writing for this column.

3. I've changed so much as a person that I am no longer interested in writing fiction, but I just haven't realised it yet.

I'll be honest here. I was a very different person when I first started writing. For one thing, I was shorter. Also, I hadn't been through an earthquake, watched Firefly or started playing NetHack. (Each of which may be a future topic) Since then I'd like to think that I've grown as a person and maybe writing stories was simply a way of understanding the world around me. Perhaps this column is my new way of doing so.

This makes sense because another major difference is that I'm more analytical. I can still create worlds and craft ideas, but my mind seems more suited to analysing things.

As much as I don't like to think about the possibility of never writing fiction again, I wouldn't mind if column writing turns out to be my new specialty.

4. Aliens took the part of my brain that makes me able to tell a good story back to their home planet for research purposes.

I'm sorry, but I can't even pretend to take this one seriously. I choose to blame writer's block. Also, I've met aliens, and they are far more creative than I am.

Author's Note
(This is because I couldn't stretch the main topic out far enough to reach the word count I wanted. If this happens too often I may lower the bar just a little) There, my first proper topic. So, what did you think of it? I'd love to hear any suggestions. Also, if any of the potential future topics I mentioned seem particularly interesting to you, just mention it and I'll try to get around to that topic sooner. If you've got any stories to share about writer's block or any ideas on how to help those suffering from it (I'll try almost anything) why don't you post them in the discussion section?