Dealing with writer’s block is essentially problem solving. The problem is simple: I’m not writing. The solution seems difficult, but I don’t think it has to be. Dennis Cass wrote an article in Poets & Writers about fixation in relation to writer’s block.  He says that we become fixated on our solution to not being able to write.  We try over and over to get into writing the same way. Somebody once told me that the definition of insanity is doing the same thing over and over expecting different results. So, let’s avoid insanity.

I’m trying to convince myself that there’s no such thing as writer’s block, and it’s a tough sell because I’ve stared at the blinking cursor on a blank page as much as the next guy.

And when I say, “stare at the cursor,” I mean, worry.

1. I worry about what the product will be.
2. I worry about being brilliant.
3. I worry about writing the poem after the poem I’m trying to write.
4. I worry about all the other random crap in my life.
5. I worry my poems into extinction before they really exist.

The next time you have writer’s block, try this: Stop worrying. Don’t worry, just write.