WRITER'S BLOCK AND MORE WARRIOR-WRITER

Let me first say that I do not believe in writer's block. Yes, I have sat at my desk, staring at the computer for hours and have nothing but a headache to show for it. That is not writer's block. Sure, I have had days, maybe even weeks when my production level stooped way below the norm or to nothing at all. Not writer's block. Currently, I'm struggling with story idea and protagonists goals/motivation as well as the antagonists goals/motivation to the point where I haven't done much productive writing in a few days. Actually, I think I have driven myself a bit crazy with this one, but that is not writer's block.

I've heard writers say they can only write when the "creative" mood strikes. If I waited for my creative mood to strike, I'd be waiting a very long time. I've heard writers say they can only write in the daytime, or morning, or evening, or when it's perfectly quiet and the stars are.... OK. I write best early in the morning. I know this, so I'm not saying these things don't work, or are not true. What I am saying, is that if you want to write, you will.

When you are struggling with writing. The words are not flowing. You're characters are not talking to you. Or plot doesn't make sense. You have no words on the page and your head is about to explode is not writer's block. It's the writer in you telling you that something isn't working. So, dig and figure it out. Take a couple of steps backwards. Maybe go back to the beginning and follow the path you took. Could be simply you created a fork in the road that doesn't exist. Maybe you are pushing your character to do something that doesn't work for them. Maybe you just needed to rethink something.

Writer's block is a state of mind which brings me to Warrior-Writer. Writing is work. It's hard. It's stressful. Some days you feel like doing it, other days you don't. Some days the words flow like Niagara Falls, other days it's like watching paint dry. It's like any other job in the world. Sometimes you're great, sometimes you suck. Today, I suck. Just one of those days. Tomorrow, I'll probably be great, and so goes the roller coaster ride we call life....

Now, I don't want to upset anyone. I have been told I'm wrong about this and that writer's block does exist. I respectfully disagree. If you change your mindset, change the way you think, how you do things, you can work through whatever writing problem you have. Following @Iwhodareswins (Bob Mayer) with regard to Warrior-Writer and really digging deep to apply this to myself (not just the craft) has forced me to understand some simple basic truths. Everything I ask of my characters, I need to ask of myself and I need to put those answers on paper. By doing so, my mind set changes, issues are resolved, writing will flow.

Where am I right now? I've gone back to idea. What is it about this idea that excited me to begin with? What is that I hope to gain from writing this book? Why am I writing it? Why is this important? Because it is helping me understand why I'm having a problem with story idea. It will come to me. I have faith, but I have to sit down and do the work. If I don't do the work, then I will come up with an excuse --- writer's block.

I am standing in my own way. Not some mental thing (though that could be argued). Not some cosmic power. Me. Only me.

However, I am a Warrior-Writer. I will do this. I will cut open artery and bleed onto the page. I will.