By Kimberly N. Kottman
No
matter the level of experience, beginner or master, all writers know the
frustration of writer’s block. The ink stops flowing, keys are silent, and the
mind struggles to move forward. What is the solution? Sadly, there is no simple
answer, and no case is the same. However, there are ways to work through and
overcome writer’s block, the first step of which is to identify the problem.
Dennis
Cass, in his article "How to Get Unstuck: The Psychology of Writer’s
Block," states that "…There are two basic types of fixation: mental
set and functional fixedness...If you've ever been cruising along with a
dramatic scene and then try changing gears and writing description, you've
experienced mechanized thought. You might be better off simply continuing to
write scenes for that session.” A mental set, or “mechanized thought”, is what
a writer can experience simply from repetition without rest. This is the kind
of writer’s block that is easier to work through; simply taking a break or
reading inspiring works may be enough to break free from that stagnant pattern.
However, functional fixedness takes a bit more effort than merely getting some
fresh air.
Often
writer’s block is associated with writing style – perhaps one is trying
something new and doesn’t know how to progress or, contrarily, using the same
pattern/style is getting them nowhere with the new material. Cass continues,
"Mechanized thought is of the moment, whereas functional fixedness speaks
to a writer's personal style." With functional fixedness, Cass suggests to
approach the problem piece from a new angle, such as writing in experimental
styles with tense, point of view, perspective, etc. Many times, writer’s block
can stem from the pressure to be creative. "When I was first starting out,
I used to think every transition had to be a work of art. The day I became a
real writer was the day I just wrote, 'Two weeks later...' and got on with
it." I find this line of his article to be particularly poignant. Many
writers feel the need to be more creative than the next, and focusing on making
the small details into something overly-outstanding or meaningful could be
holding an author back. Sticking with simple lines can, in some cases, be the
answer.
There is no one way to work through
writer’s block – it is different for every individual. When the cause is
identified, however, the solution becomes clear. . Cass also speaks of creative
processes: "...at its heart, the
writing process is about metacognition, a psychological term that means
'thinking about thinking,'" and continues with the idea that every author
is capable of those grand ideas that will be life-altering for someone, growing
to our full potential as writers. Though there are no easy answers or
step-by-step guides through the complex writer’s block, the best we can do is
learn to trust our abilities, accept help from friends and mentors, and try to
learn from the overall experience.
Source
Cass,
Dennis. "How to Get Unstuck: The Psychology of Writer’s Block." Poets & Writers. Web. 26 February, 2016.
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