Andre the BFG
Writer's block is best dealt with by identifying and avoiding the main thing that blocks you. In my case it is usually the expectations of other people. For a couple of years my main avoidance strategy was to write an anonymous blog under the pseudonym of "André the BFG" which allowed me to open my bombdoors without reference to anyone else's expectations. Once I'd splattered out a page or two of inconsequential verbiage I found the real stuff flowed more easily.
The trouble with this strategy is that it has a limited lifetime. André the BFG gradually gained a readership. He received comments. He replied to comments. My alter ego took on a life of its own, and began to suffer writer's block himself. Although André struggled mightily to stay detached, he began to make friends with his readers, and to realise that they deserved only the best. He started to care about the expectations of others. Which kind of negated his whole purpose. So he fell on his pen.
But he did uncork my blockage during the time he was alive, and the effect stayed with me for another two or three years after that.
The trouble with this strategy is that it has a limited lifetime. André the BFG gradually gained a readership. He received comments. He replied to comments. My alter ego took on a life of its own, and began to suffer writer's block himself. Although André struggled mightily to stay detached, he began to make friends with his readers, and to realise that they deserved only the best. He started to care about the expectations of others. Which kind of negated his whole purpose. So he fell on his pen.
But he did uncork my blockage during the time he was alive, and the effect stayed with me for another two or three years after that.
More Answered Questions
About ŷ Q&A
Ask and answer questions about books!
You can pose questions to the ŷ community with Reader Q&A, or ask your favorite author a question with Ask the Author.
