by Liz Johnson, @lizjohnsonbooks
I don’t believe in writer’s block. I know this may be an unpopular opinion, but I’ve stood by it for years.
I used to say I don’t believe in writer’s block. I believe in writer’s fear. And I do. I’ve experienced it enough times to know that the fear of failure (or even the fear of success) can cause a writer (me) to lock up, unable to write anything.
But lately, I’ve come to think about writing in terms of a well of words. Every writer has a well that they draw from to tell their stories. But sometimes the well is empty, and the words seem to have vanished. New creative content is merely a dream.
If you’re going through a dry spell (even if you call it writer’s block), I’d like to offer a piece of encouragement—you’re not alone. And I’ll offer a suggestion.
Figure out why. I know. It seems so simple. If I knew why I couldn’t write, I’d fix it. But the truth is, you can’t fix the problem if you don’t know what it is. If you don’t know why your writing tank feels empty, do the work of digging into your life. (Confession: This isn’t always easy or fun.)
When I hit the dangerously low level where finding new words is too hard, I generally begin by asking myself a series of questions. And I address any that apply in my life.
Am I tired? I mean, more than, I-could-take-a-nap tired. More than I-didn’t-sleep-well-last-night tired. I mean that bone-weary, soul-weary exhaustion that comes with running at a hundred miles an hour for too long. I mean that everyone-leaning-on-you-when-you’re-crumbling feeling. You know what I mean. For me, that recently looked like starting and learning a new job and scrambling to finish a book on deadline while promoting another book’s release while still maintaining relationships and trying to keep my sanity. I was tired. I am tired.
And the only solution I know to exhaustion is rest. Yep. It’s sitting in a quiet place. It’s being purposeful about letting some things go. It’s asking for help and accepting when someone offers. It might even mean taking a break from writing for a little while. Give yourself grace to get refreshed. I love the scripture where Jesus said, “Come to me, all you who are weary and burdened, and I will give you rest” (Matt. 11:28). Could there be a better offer?
Are my relationships in good shape? Let’s face it, writing is often a solitary venture, and it can be easy to neglect friends and loved ones for the sake of another page, another chapter. That can put a strain on our most important relationships. And that strain is not conducive to writing.
Be intentional about investing in important relationships. Who knows? Your friends and family might give you great story ideas too.
Am I scared or discouraged? Did a painful review, critique, or rejection make me feel less than worthy? Am I afraid of getting more bad news? This is the quintessential writer’s fear. I don’t know a single writer who doesn’t struggle with discouragement or sometimes feel like a fraud. Here’s what I know: Writer’s write.
When I feel discouraged, I remind myself that I write because I’m a writer. I write because I love stories. I write because I love kissing scenes, and it makes me happy when my characters finally get there. I write because it’s a talent that God has given me, and I believe I need to use it. And when anything tries to tell me I’m not enough, I repeat the truth until I can’t hear the lies. Why do you write?
Am I not dealing with an emotional issue? Y’all, I am not a therapist, but I know their value. I’ve seen too many people try to carry the weight of not dealing with soul-deep hurt. It doesn’t end very well. Sometimes when we haven’t dealt a hurt or pain, it festers inside us, closing off our writing wells. Writers often process pain through writing, but sometimes it’s too much to handle alone.
Talk with someone you trust. Maybe it’s a close friend, pastor, or a therapist. Whoever you choose, know that you’re not alone, and you don’t have to deal with this issue by yourself.
If working through these questions doesn’t begin to refill your writing well, invite a spouse or trusted friend into your struggle for words. Ask them to help identify changes in your life or situations that may be causing your well to be low.
You may feel stuck, but you can fix writer’s block. But first, figure out what’s causing it.
Ninety years ago, Millie Sullivan’s great-grandmother was a guest at banker Howard Dawkins’ palatial estate on the shore of St. Simons Island, Georgia. Now, Millie plays a 1920s-era guest during tours of the same manor. But when her grandmother suggests that there is a lost diary containing the location of a hidden treasure on the estate, along with the true identity of Millie’s great-grandfather, Millie sets out to find the truth of her heritage–and the fortune that might be hers.
When security guard Ben Thornton discovers her snooping in the estate’s private library, he threatens to have her fired. But her story seems almost too ludicrous to be fiction, and her offer to split the treasure is too tempting to pass up . . .
By day Liz Johnson is a marketing manager. She makes time to write late at night—that’s when she thinks best anyway. Liz is the author of more than a dozen novels, a New York Times bestselling novella, and a handful of short stories. She’s a Christy Award finalist and a two-time ACFW Carol Award finalist. She makes her home in Phoenix, Arizona, where she enjoys exploring local music, theater, and doting on her nieces and nephews. She writes stories of true love filled with heart, humor, and happily ever afters.