In writer’s block, sometimes it’s the format that’s the problem

I’ve had writer’s block for many years. It came on like the end of youth, gradual and silent at first and then begrudgingly unavoidable. But, like aging out of youth, once I accepted it, I could work with it and look forward to molding it.

My writer’s block origins

In my twenties, I had grand ambitions of writing memoirs and novels and short stories. Writing was one of my greatest strengths, and at the very least I loved it. I used to spend hours writing whatever came to mind. I kept a notebook in my purse just in case. But soon, writing became a chore. Putting pen to paper felt like walking through drying cement. I had to get out before the cement hardened my pen forever.

So, I followed that paved path into a job in communications and put the author’s life on hold. This path wasn’t my first choice, but it was an avenue to flex my creativity and it lead me to working with some extraordinary organizations like a non-profit that helps girls reach their full potential, a research unit at UBC that studies health drivers and challenges for gender diverse youth, and a department at SFU that is innovating how we work together to solve society’s most pressing issues. I’ve been lucky on this path and I’ve learned a lot about communications, relationship building, EDI (equity, diversity, and inclusion), and office culture.

Plus, this path led me to this point (and many others) where I gained a new understanding about creative blocks: sometimes it’s the format that’s holding back creativity.

An opportunity at the right time

At a time when I was losing hope, an opportunity to work on an exciting knowledge mobilization project came my way. This project would let me use my creativity in multiple ways to create something for an initiative that I cared deeply for. (See the project launch here!)

Alongside this knowledge mobilization contract, I was brewing some personal creative project ideas. I saw a need in the market, but I was worried my writer’s block would rear its head again. With the encouragement of a side gig where someone put their confidence in my skills, I decided to take a chance on a new format.

To my surprise, I didn’t have any writer’s block working in this format. The ideas flowed, the writing felt natural, and the project came together intuitively.

Why was this so much easier than writing stories? Maybe it’s because the subject matter wasn’t so personal. Maybe it’s because I’ve grown as a writer. Maybe, it’s the format.

Have you had writer’s block? What do you do when writer’s block comes knocking?