Writer’s Block or Writer’s Lethargy?

I’d like to start this blog post by stating that I do not believe in writer’s block. But, then, what are we even calling writer’s block? Wikipedia defines writer’s block as:

…a condition, associated with writing as a profession, in which an author loses the ability to produce new work. – Wikipedia page on Writer’s Block

So it has to do with new work? That’s a significant difference from how I see many people using the phrase “writer’s block”. Generally, writer’s block refers to the inability to write. You stare at your manuscript, your blank page, your notebook and just can’t get the words out of you. It will not go. Sure, I’ve experienced this like the rest of the writers I know, so why don’t I believe in writer’s block?

Generally, when my writing won’t work the way I want it to, when it won’t come out, I step back for a moment and realize there is something wrong with what I’m working on. I, likely, don’t know what I’m actually trying to write about. What is the focal point of my scene? What is the conflict, the purpose? What happens in this scene? If I don’t know these things, it’s going to make it awfully hard to write. But that’s not a block; that’s just not knowing enough information about the scene to actually write it. Makes sense, right?

But I am finding myself incapable of writing right now. I can’t do it. I open the word processor and nothing wants to work. I have ideas, but they don’t spill out of my brain and onto the page. I stare at the typewriter, wonder if I’ll get some words done today… but I inevitably don’t. So, is this writer’s block?

Nope. I don’t think so anyway.  I think a better term for it is writer’s lethargy.

Lethargy is defined as:

1. A state of sluggishness, inactivity, and apathy.

2. A state of unconsciousness resembling deep sleep.

- The Free Dictionary

Basically: I don’t care about writing. I have no desire to write. I mean I want to write. But why? Because it’s what I do. Because I feel like I should. Because I haven’t written in so long. But do I really want to write? No. Otherwise I would be writing! It’s this strange mixture of wanting to write (because I should be) and not wanting to write (because I’ve lost interest in the action).

So what am I supposed to do? How do I fix this? I have no idea, to be honest. I wish I could end this post with some witty fix-it-all but I can’t. All I can do is wait and hope that in time I feel more enthusiastic about writing again. And maybe, just maybe, once I’ve gotten rid of the pressure to write, I’ll come back to it.

I can only hope.

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