Goodreads
Goodreads asked Darryl Donaghue:

How do you deal with writer’s block?

Darryl Donaghue 'Writer's block' is your mind's way of telling you to take a break.

Our minds like comfort. Old habits are like soft rugs and warm fires. Writing a book requires breaking old habits and forming new ones. It requires sitting down for hours at a time in a world with low attention spans and products designed to make us fidget, tap and swipe. Most importantly, it requires rummaging around deep inside parts of ourselves that we've neglected to explore for a long, long time and putting them on a page for strangers to read. Our minds aren't going to like that. But, they will get used to it, eventually. Eventually, we'll give them new, far cosier rugs and a warmer, more vibrant, roaring fires to sit beside. Until we do, 'Writer's block' is its way of asking you for a break. Its just in a sulk because you're making it throw out its old toys and the new ones won't be here for a little while yet.

There's a lot of advice out there telling writers to write everyday and produce crazy amounts of books a year. Next time someone tells you they've got Writer's block, or they're worried they won't hit their 'personal deadlines going forward,' take them out for a cup of tea, a slice of cake and a hug. I'm betting you'll get an email that evening telling you about the amazing idea that just popped into their head and thanking you for the respite.

About Goodreads Q&A

Ask and answer questions about books!

You can pose questions to the Goodreads community with Reader Q&A, or ask your favorite author a question with Ask the Author.

See Featured Authors Answering Questions

Learn more