Do you believe in "writer's block"?

Is there or is there not really such a thing? How do you define it?

I don't believe in it as a psychological condition that could be diagnosed. I do find it a handy term for describing those moments when every idea seems worthless or uninteresting; or else when I've written myself into a fine mess of a corner I can't see a means of extricating myself from, but I'm too stubborn to scrap several pages of work to get around it.

To me, and a lot of this is personal opinion, Writer's Block is a form of fear.

Fear of rejection
Fear of completion
Fear of failure.
Fear of the unknown (especially for seat of the pants type writers)
(I'm sure there's more but I'm drawing a small blank.)

And fear is a very good psychological indicator, easily diagnosed, should someone actually want to acknowledge that aspect of the problem.

Being written into a corner can trigger a fear of failure, because of having to backtrack.

A lot of how I see writer's block is the reaction that Marty McFly has in Back to the Future I when Jennifer tells him to send in the demo tape:

"What if they don't like it? What if I'm not good enough? I don't think I can take that type of rejection."

I've never had "Writer's Block". I have been stricken with "Terminal Lazy" a few times, however.

Writing yourself in a corner can be challenging, but look at it as an opportunity to grow. I sometimes write myself into a corner on purpose...for the fun of it.

It happens, especially to those who are contracted to produce on a deadline rather than at our leisure. Two bits of wisdom have clung to me over 20+ years of freelancing experience:

a) Write something, even if it's stupid. You can always edit stupid. (Second comma optional.)

b) Creativity is like a casserole. You only have so many ingredients in the cupboard, but you can always mix it up differently.

I don't believe in "Writer's Block". Having a half-dozen writing projects on the go at any one time means that I can always switch gears to work on something else.

However, "Writer's Fatigue" is very real, especially when writing is all you're doing. That's one of the many reasons why writers always need to be reading.

I can get stuck. Usually because I'm writing too fast. It's usually gone by the next morning.

I also get "too tired/sick/stressed to write" rather a lot, unfortunately. I used to worry that it was "Terminal Lazy" but I eventually concluded that it wasn't. I've learned to just accept that sometimes I need to rest more than I need to write.

But resting isn't nearly as fun. :(

LS - (resting isn't nearly as fun.)

You sure got that right. hehe

I definitely have experienced writer's block. For me, it usually happens when I have a million other things going on and end up stressed about finishing stories. Once I relax, words flow.....

i don't think that "writer's block" is a real thing.
i'm not supper professional writer, i'm a beginner but for me every time i feel like not to write cause of lazy or stress or fear.
i always try to motivate my self by doing a challenge with other writers or set a time/date to finish a page ...etc.
one you know what motivate you, you won't ever think about "writer's block" ever again.

On Goodreads authors can answer short standard interview questions on their author pages (in addition to responding to reader questions). One was about writer's block and how to deal with it. I wrote:

"I probably look at writer's block a little bit differently than most writers. I tend to look at such periods as times when God is looking for me to be using my time elsewhere. I also look at times that are especially productive as moments when the Holy Spirit is really using me for that purpose at that time. In both cases, I try to go with that flow and turn it to best use, as I am inspired to do.

When looked at this way, a Christian perspective on how God wants to work in me and through me, writer's block is not such a negative period of time. Instead, writer's block is an opportunity to focus and pray about what I am supposed to be doing, and then to go and do that.

Having said that, neither is quite so easy. Sometimes God is not very direct. And sometimes, even when it seems clear, one does not always want to submit to His will. But that is part of the journey of getting closer to God: learning and doing His will and not your own."

Yes, I believe it's real. It's a symptom of perfectionism, which is intertwined with a fear of failure. I think writer's block can happen in all types of circumstances -- for example, if you think you've just created a masterpiece. You may then fear writing something lousy, which would screw things up immeasurably. Think stage fright. You're facing hundreds of people, and you fear what you say next may be stupid or awkward. So you freeze up. Joseph Conrad once wrote in his novel "Victory" that thought is the enemy of perfection. I think that's ever so true. I also think there's truth to the old stereotype of a writer who drinks as s(he)'s writing. It's to prohibit any negative thoughts that could sabotage them in their effort to create that magnum opus.

So, writer's block? Yeah, it's real.