News – March 2025
Writer’s Block?
Writer’s block can be frustrating. When it happens, walk away and do a menial task, whether you are a plotter or a pantser. I know you want to finish your work. You’ve set yourself a deadline, or maybe you just want it over and done with.
But if your brain is saying, “I’ve had enough,” and has shut down, listen to it! Step away for an hour or two, and if there’s no external deadline pressing on you, give it a day or two.
It’s better to have a well-crafted piece of writing than a rushed one. Not only will the quality be better, but you’ll also remember what you truly wanted to say, letting it come naturally instead of forcing it.
Dreaded Deadlines
Of course, I’m not talking about a typical 9-to-5 job. When you have an external deadline to meet, you just have to get it done. When I was a practicing social worker, we had unrealistic deadlines all the time. Do it or else! Reports had to be completed in a rush, even though the information was critical. If we’d been given more time, the quality would have been far better. But that’s just how things were, and most likely still are.
However, if you’re not under external pressure from work, you have the freedom to be creative and produce your best work. Take a break, refresh your mind, and return with renewed energy. It’s all about quality, not quantity.
Writer’s Block Solutions for Plotters and Pantsers
Plotters have a structured plan, so they can push through writer’s block by following their outline. If they get stuck on one scene, they can skip ahead to another part of the story and come back later.
Unfortunately, if a plotter loses inspiration, their detailed plan might feel restrictive, making it difficult to adjust when something isn’t working. They might feel paralysed trying to stick to the outline instead of letting the story flow naturally.
Pantsers, on the other hand, thrive on spontaneity, giving them more flexibility if they get stuck. They can shift focus, invent new characters, or look at things from a totally different perspective.
However, because pantsers often don’t know where their story is going, creating it as they write without an outline, they may struggle when writer’s block strikes. Not knowing what comes next can be frustrating, making it difficult to move forward.
Stay Solution-Focused
It’s true that plotters can fall back on their plan if writer’s block hits them, just as pantsers can rely on their flexibility to find a creative solution. But no matter your approach, writer’s block can affect us all at some point.
The solution? Stop, take a breath, and walk away.
Return refreshed! But never, never quit!
You have a story in you that needs to be told!
Delece Ford March 2025
