Do You Experience Writer's Block, And How Do You Overcome It? Include Gender, And Age Please.

[dpcheek]

1. How often do you get writer's block?
2. Has an event(s) in your life effected how you write/view writing?
3. What kinds of writings do you do?
4. What do you do when you experience writer's block?
5. How long does your writer's block usually last?
6. How does writer's block affect your writing?

[Old_Geezer]

I do little writing. Composition was not a favourite subject of mine in primary school. But if I wanted to write and couldn't think of a suitable subject I think I'd simply brainstorm a list of stuff then evaluate to see if there was anything of value in there.

[kvalidir]

I'm writing a few things at the moment (2 novels and a screenplay) and I found because I was very busy for the last few months doing other things that my writing came easily. what causes me to 'block' if you could describe it as that is actually sitting down for whole weeks at a time and writing. Because I write quite quickly I find the thought process behind writing is the longer of the two parts and that is served well for me by subliminally going on in the background whilst I do something else and then having a really solid sit down and write up the movie I have created in my head. If I try to just sit down and write 'cold' so to speak I'm stuffed. To answer your questions concisely:-
1. Not very often
2.I view writing as very necessary, I was brought up with storytelling and books everywhere and wrote from as long a I could hold a pencil.
3. Historical and fantasy novels and a screenplay of the same genre. Horror short nagging as well.
4.Ignore it and go and do something else, otherwise it becomes a huge thing.
5. A few days.
6. I don't bother writing when I feel there is nothing meaningful or worthy to put down.
I am female and 16.

[Peter Pedant]

the usual reluctant teenage reader and writer
which never seems to have worn off
now aged 65

[woofgang]

Here's what two published writers have to say on the subject
Fergus Mcneill
https://www.goodreads.com/questions/36750-how-do-you-deal-with-writer-s-block

Robert Jordan, when asked where his inspiration came from said this.
"I don't know where it comes from but i know where it goes to. It goes to my desk. And if I am not there writing, it goes away again."

[atalanta]

1) never 2) no 3) non-fiction, polemic, humour, 4) n.a. 5) n.a. 6 ) n.a.
I have the opposite problem - get me started on writing and you'll have a job getting me to stop

[jourdain2]

1 If I'm not forced by a deadline.
2 Of course.
3 Short stories, trying to piece together a novel.
4 Stop writing and try to forget about it, occupy myself usefully, let my brain sort things out gently.
5 Normally a few months, this one I am still in and it's nearly a year (life is pretty busy/demanding).
6 Frightens me to H**l about putting fingers to keypad, whilst simultaneously making me want to get going.

Female, 65 (2 short stories published).

[DTCwordfan]

I write all sorts of things from naughty to major seriousness, I also proof technical articles/papers and that sort of thing. 8 books published under a pseudonym. One very serious book is just under way at the moment and that concerns my experiences as a carer of someone with Alzheimer's, the base of it being practical tips but co-mingled with the humour that comes along, not laughing at the person but at the condition.

I don't get it that often - I have a discipline that when I do write, I like to get 1500 words a day down and through first proofing. I'm lucky in that my Eds say I write reasonably clean.

To counter it, I step away and usually the brain works the know through, one of the tricks being to use my think tank, aka the bath, nice hot water and a submerge and just let the brain wander wherever. That has worked a number of times.

As to creative block, well, I jot down notes in Word on ideas or keep photographs that help inspire scenarios.

Male and old enough.