Persevere Through Writer's Block - A Guest Blog for Rocky Mountain Fiction Writers

 

Just Write It!

Persevere Through Writer’s Block

I was thrilled to be given the honor and privilege of writing an article as a guest blogger for Rocky Mountain Fiction Writers (RMFW).* This organization serves writers in the Rocky Mountain front range and reaches members in Colorado, Idaho, Montana, New Mexico, Oklahoma, Utah, and Wyoming. The following appeared on their website May 30, 2025. I hope you enjoy.   

 

Recently, I’ve been thinking a lot about blocks. Not the LEGO blocks, city blocks, television news blocks, concrete blocks, etc. Those “blocks” never affected me much until it came to writing. This particular block was puzzling. The frustration over how to move forward with my latest writing endeavor had me tied in knots. The lack of sleep it induced was maddening. No wonder blocks obsessed me!

Writer’s Block is the definition given to this temporary psychological state, and it is nothing to sneeze at. It’s defined as a slowdown of the creative thought, sometimes immediate, a lack of motivation, or feeling stuck in the writing process.

I had it. I’d rather have had the flu instead—just kidding.

All jokes aside, this experience was not my first; I thank my lucky stars that there haven’t been more. I consider it just another part of the writing process. A curse of the creative that tests the will to persevere.

As writers, there will come a time when we might have difficulty choosing a path forward with a storyline, a narrative, or a character’s development and voice. For instance, how do we seamlessly combine two narratives to make a compelling story? It takes skill, of course. A supportive writing community, such as critique partners, writing groups, or editors, helps. However, without these writing avenues, how does one become unstuck?  

Or keep writing?

How do we persevere when the writing process fails us? Good question. Of course, there are many resources to help with Writer’s Block. A quick Google search will provide a plethora of ‘how to’s, ’ which is nice. But the why of it is something to ponder.

Sometimes, a writer never knows where the story will lead until the words appear on the page. At that time, the story takes off as if writing itself. There is no struggle, worry over grammar, POV, or split infinitives, just the vision of the narrative. The words of our story are at our command, just waiting to be shared. It breathes, and each character comes to life as if we are watching a movie.

That’s magic!  

We write and move along at a good pace. The words seemingly fly from our fingers to the computer screen, drafting a narrative of wonder, and then—it suddenly stops. Why? When this magic stops or slows down, it stymies the process. We bemoan the loss of that which is now elusive at best.

The process of writing a story takes the writer on an immersive journey. The end result can be gratifying not only for the author but also for the reader. So, why do we feel at a loss for words when it counts?

Take, for instance, the many challenges we face when communicating in everyday life. The ability to say what we mean and mean what we say is a lost art. Life throws us many curveballs. Is it any wonder that it can also happen when we place pen to paper? Is it fear, doubt, rejection, judgment, or shame for even having the courage to write that stops us?

Sadly, there are no easy answers. The most important question is how we view our writing from our own perspectives. What do we do when the old adage of ‘fake it until you make it’ doesn’t help? The self-doubt can be excruciatingly painful. We ask ourselves, who are we to write in the first place? Do we say to ourselves, “Hold on! Wait a minute. What am I doing?”

Maybe.

What made the difference for me was remembering the gift I had, and that was to try. It’s a gift we all have. The gift to try is necessary if we believe in the process, the story’s message, and ourselves. When we speak through writing, be it fiction or non-fiction, we are the ones who write the words. Here, we can reflect on our beliefs, experiences, or a fabrication of what or who we’d like to be, become, or conquer. A fantasy of exploration through a medium we have called our own.

When stuck, try to write. Even if it’s just one word.

It is a lonely, isolating process, to be sure—but one worth trying. This post is for anyone who feels stuck, has lost the drive to finish, or lacks the courage to try. This is for those of us who doubt ourselves and our abilities. My advice is, believe in yourself—don’t give up.

Perseverance is a heavy word, I admit. However, the gains we make when we see something through to completion are tremendous achievements. When writing, we bare our souls, and that takes courage.

Just write!

~DaMarie

 

Photo Courtesy of Jithin Vijayamohanan

https://unsplash.com/@jithinvijayamohanan

* You can read more about this article by clicking: here

To learn more about Rocky Mountain Fiction Writers (RMFW), please click here: RMFW