If you’ve ever had to write something before like: an essay, a short story or an inappropriate limerick for your friend’s birthday card, you’ve undoubtedly experienced writer’s block. It’s those agonizing hours spent typing at random keys on your computer simply trying to find a string of words that sound reasonably coherent without any success whatsoever. Everything you write sounds like garbage and everything you want to write seems to be done a terrible injustice with your inadequate writing. It's an infuriating cycle of futility and despair, seemingly inescapable to those trapped in it. During these stress fueled moments, you might feel like talking to your friends or family about your agony and frustration. My advice? DON’T. But if you do, there are a few things you should expect to hear that drive me insane. WARNING: Angry rants of a writer with an extreme case of writer’s block to follow.
1. "Just write about... (fill in the blank with annoying irrelevant topic here)"
This is one of my absolute biggest pet peeves. You try to express your frustration to someone about your complete lack of inspiration to write about anything and for some reason they’re instantly compelled to blurt out the first random topic that comes to their mind. No, Grandma, I’m not going to write about how Walmart is taking over America or what’s “wrong” with my generation.
2. “But you’re such a good writer, whatever you write will be great.”
While this comment is well intended, it also multiplies my writer’s anxiety by 20. I stress myself out enough trying to meet the standards I set for myself, but now I’m being reminded that I have an entire audience of readers who have just as high of expectations. Cue the mental breakdown any second now.
3. "It’s not like it matters anyway."
Shout out to all my super pessimistic pals that use this as their go-to line for everything. It should be pretty obvious why telling me my entire existence as a writer means absolutely nothing to you, and if it’s not then let me clear it up: IT MATTERS! I might not write the next Pulitzer Prize winning spotlight piece that changes the world, but I’d like to think that my writing has the power to affect people. Telling me that it doesn’t matter makes me want to tear my hair out. Needless to say, your negativity isn't helping.
4. "It can’t be that hard!"
It seems to be so easy for people who aren’t writers to comment on the experiences of other writers. I’m not sure what they feel their accomplishing, but here’s my message to them: STOP IT. I didn’t ask for your opinion on my experience, I only asked for your empathy, or even a shrug of a shoulder. Either of those will do just fine, thanks.
5. "You’re just procrastinating."
I take back what I said earlier, this is my biggest pet peeve. Let’s be clear, there’s a difference between having the capability to do something but deciding not to do it, and lacking the capability to do something, therefore not doing it. Writer’s block is the second scenario; it is the feeling of lacking all ability to do the thing you are best at and the thing you love the most. It is NOT procrastinating.
6. "I’ll write it for you."
Despite everything I say during my writer’s block meltdowns, I love writing. Even at the most frustrating moments when I feel like throwing my laptop and breaking every pencil I own, I would never give away my writing assignments to someone else. Being a writer is who I am, it’s how I express myself to the world and how I cope with everything the universe throws at me. If I didn’t have my writing to give me that escape, I don’t know what I would do.
So there you have it-the life of a writer with writer’s block. Being a writer is a gift and a curse (heavy on the curse at the moment) but I’d choose this gift/curse combo over living without it any day of the week.
