The real reason you get Writer’s Block: the Psychology of Perfectionism

“There is nothing either good or bad, but thinking makes it so.” (Shakespeare, Hamlet)

“A writer's block is a non-medical condition, primarily associated with writing, in which an author is either unable to produce new work or experiences a creative slowdown” (Wikipedia)

Writer’s Block. Writer’s Bain, more like. Why do we get writer’s block, and how do we cast it back to the shadow from whence it came?

People tend to think of writer’s block as having ‘run out of ideas’. This is not true. Think about it. How often do people get Writer’s Block with their 9-5 job? “Sorry, boss. Can’t work today. Got me a case of the writer’s block.”

Please. Your boss wouldn’t stand for it. And neither should you with your writing.

So, what is writer’s block, really? It’s not a suddenly vacant brain from one that was teeming with ideas.

Writer’s Block is an inability to commit to new ideas due to their perceived insufficiency

Allow me to explain.

As a clinical psychologist, I learned that the core principle of Cognitive Behavioural Therapy (CBT) is that our thoughts shape our emotions and behaviours.

Thoughts—> Emotions—> Behaviours

As a writer, I know this to be true.

When my head tilts in a negative direction, my writing experiences go from a pleasurable pastime to a tedious torment. You know the days. When your beloved characters are one dimensional, your engrossing plot is weak, your rich world is too derivative, your exciting new scene sucks.

During these days, not only do I FEEL bad, but my performance suffers. I agonise over tiny details; I over-deliberate; I write and re-right and re-right again. And despite my enormous effort, I get very little done. It’s cognitive constipation.

Writer’s Block is this process on steroids. Where you go from producing little—to none. You deliberate unto death.

And it’s due to PERFECTIONISM.

In my experience, Writer’s Block occurs most often when high standards crash into perceived high stakes.

Writer’s Block = High Standards + High Stakes

High standards are fine. Good even. It will motivate you to give your best effort. However, if we dial them up too much. No idea will ever be good enough. Nothing will ever measure up. And you will stall in the doldrums of creative bankruptcy.

And what dials up standards more than high stakes? An important plot point, an important character intro, an important scene—anything that you perceive as important.

My advice?

1) Commit to an idea (no matter how crap you think it is) or

2) Move on to something else with ‘lower stakes’.

If you commit to an idea despite your misgivings, you’ll often find in hindsight that it works just fine, awesome even. Alternatively, if it doesn’t work, you’ll have broken free from your ‘analysis paralysis’ and have the confidence and perspective to deal with it effectively. 

If you move on to something else (another chapter or scene) with supposed lower stakes, your perfectionism will be dimmed, words will flow, and your chains will be broken. You’ll be free to dream once more.

If you forget everything—just keep writing!

C. S. Laundy

Clinical Psychologist & Fantasy Author