The reason for writer's block nobody talks about

Did you know that there are three types of writer's block? One of them is rarely talked about, even though it's probably the most common (at least it is among us authors here at Scribe Forge).

Let's explore why you can't write and how to get the words flowing again.

Type #1: Black Page Paralysis 

The first version is the most familiar, the one that everyone tries to address--it's also the easiest one to fix. This is what I call Blank Page Paralysis.

You experience it when you want to start a new story, but you don't know what to write about.

Or you know what you want to write but you're nervous to start, worried that what you write will never be good enough.

You can solve  Blank Page Paralysis through tactics that help you generate ideas and through techniques that help you just start writing despite anxiety, such as timed sprints, internet blockers, and Write or Die.

Type #2: Writer Burnout

You're tired from pushing yourself to meet deadlines.

You're overworked from writing full-time or juggling writing with other jobs.

Or you simply just burned out in general and it's affecting your writing as well.

This is the hardest one to solve. The only thing that works is rest and time.

Type #3: Story Stalemate

The final type of writer's block is the one that is most often ignored because it's confused for  Blank Page Paralysis, but it has a different cause and a different solution.

A Story Stalemate happens when you're deep in a project, but one day, the words stop coming.

You wrote yourself into a corner, you have no idea what happens next, and your characters have stopped talking to you.

Most people assume this means you're out of ideas and it's time to brainstorm.

But a Story Stalemate has a much deeper cause: Something is wrong with your book.

Your plot isn't working, you missed a step in a character arc, and you forced your characters to act out of...well, character.

Your subconscious brain knows something is off, so it seizes up and prevents you from writing, like a slow GPS trying to reroute when you take a wrong turn.

You can't move forward until you know what exactly what's broken with your story. Your subconscious has noticed the problem, but it's not very talkative or direct.

(Shakes fist at my own brain).

Even though it sucks to experience, a Story Stalemate is a good thing! I know, I know, that sounds like bullshit. But hear me out.

Your brain has flagged there's a problem, so you can now fix it and make your book even stronger and more compelling than before.

To do this, you need to dig into your characters, their arcs, and their motivations to discover if your story is true to them or not.

You need to examine your plot and its world to discover if a key part is missing or simply not right for this particular story.

You need to reread and think hard about your book so far.

You need to talk to other writers to get a fresh perspective on what might be wrong.

You don't have to figure it out alone!

The Smash Writer's Block books address a Story Stalemate. They encourage you to delve deeper into your existing characters and plot to uncover the reasons why you’re stuck.

They're based on the decades of experience between our team of authors and include the questions and tactics we use when we get stuck.

Click here to smash writer's block for good.

Remember...

Writer's block isn't always your fault--it exists to let you know that you need a rest or that something in your story needs changing.

From there, you can find the perfect solution and finish that great book of yours!