Writer’s Block
As I start to write this piece, on February 4 2023, appears I am experiencing a clear battle with writer’s block. I have been struggling to focus on writing books in recent months. The problem is not a lack of ideas. It may be a surfeit of ideas, combined with indecision about which of them to concentrate on. Running (or dawdling) alongside this there is a lack of confidence in my writing, driven by the reality that relatively few of my ideas for books have been completed, and published. Once one of my books is published, anxiety leads to an inability to successfully promote it, which in turn leaves me with few reviews, and limited sales. I also struggle with depression, and wonder whether this might be part of the cause of writer’s block, for myself and other people?
I suppose attempting to write about writer’s block is illogical, but here is an attempt to convey the feeling. Day after day, I feel overwhelmed at the thought of writing anything that flows, or makes sense to anybody else – or even makes sense to myself as something I can potentially complete, and successfully publish. On most days, I do not even attempt to write anything until late evening, by which time I lack the time and energy to get much done. Enjoyment at visiting bookshops is offset by a feeling of inadequacy. How did thousands of authors, whose books fill the shelves surrounding me, complete the writing of works that publishers and readers agree are worth buying? How did they arrive at ideas far more obviously interesting, and worthwhile, than mine?
Sometimes I wonder whether it is time to give up writing, or at least abandon the writing of full-length books, aimed at commercial success. Should I just settle for putting together short Blog posts, or just put book and record reviews on Amazon? Does my daily sharing of thoughts on Twitter, to an audience of nearly 32,000 followers, count as a form of writing? Perhaps I can take a step back, and just think of writing as a hobby, rather than a potential career alongside my day job. Will this reduce the pressure, and bring relaxation? On the other hand, after 37 years as a writer, should I just plough on, seeking to rekindle the occasional success of the past? Is this a positive approach, rather than just feeling I am accepting the effort has ended on a note of failure? Well, after a bit of work on three successive days, think I should conclude this piece has gone as far as it is worth taking it.
andrewgodsell 