Is Writer's Block a Genuine Phenomenon?
In the world of literature, acclaimed author Lois Lowry is no stranger to challenges. Recently, she faced a creative block while writing her novel, The Seventh Seed. This phenomenon, known as Writer's Block, is a well-documented hurdle that affects many writers, but Lowry also encountered its less commonly discussed cousins—Painter's Block and Quilter's Block.
Writer's Block, Painter's Block, and Quilter's Block are creative phenomena that share a common thread: they are temporary pauses or difficulties in artistic productivity and idea generation within their specific mediums. These blocks, much like the more widely known Writer's Block, are psychological and creative hurdles that can disrupt the flow of creativity, causing an individual to struggle to decide what to create or feel dissatisfied with their initial attempts.
Lowry, who had initially focused on another book, Drake and the Fliers, found herself struggling to get back to The Seventh Seed. To break through this creative impasse, she turned to her manuscript, revisiting old chapters and cleaning them up. She had already written about a third of The Seventh Seed and even put chapters in a critique group.
However, one chapter proved particularly challenging. Lowry found herself unable to decide whether to fix the broken chapter or continue writing new material. Eventually, she made a decision and focused her efforts on mending the broken piece. The chapter, once revised, found its place back in the narrative, and Lowry's novel began to take shape once more.
Lowry's journey with The Seventh Seed was not without its twists and turns. She had 30,000 words written for the novel, but her goal was to make it a completed book, not an unfinished manuscript. To achieve this, she removed the pressure to finish the novel quickly and instead focused solely on The Seventh Seed. This approach seemed to work, as she wrote the remaining 50,000 words in about three months.
One of the keys to Lowry's success was her determination to overcome her creative block. She found inspiration in quotes and even suggested that "The Block" might be reserved for creative pursuits. Lowry's characters were also a driving force, as they were left hanging, prompting her to finish the novel.
Lowry's perseverance paid off, as she was able to complete The Seventh Seed and publish it. Meanwhile, she also got the rights back for the Project Renovatio trilogy and spent a year publishing those books.
In the end, Lowry's experience serves as a testament to the resilience of creative individuals. Despite facing creative blocks, she was able to push through and bring her novel to life. For other creatives facing similar challenges, Lowry's journey offers hope and encouragement to keep pushing forward and to never give up on their artistic endeavours.
