Photo credit: P. Wright 2026
Ouch! I could almost feel the physical pain as I hit the proverbial brick wall.
I doubt if there's a single writer in the universe who hasn't at one time or another gotten stuck. Certainly, the level of stuck might vary depending on the circumstance. For instance, I recently sat down to write a piece that was to be focused on a particular monthly prompt. I can honestly say that over my entire writing career, my backspace key and delete buttons have never had the workouts they've experienced in these last couple of weeks. I'm sure I heard one of them scream, "Uncle!".
Sitting in front of the blank screen with just the topic written at the top, I began to go bleary-eyed. Over, and over, and over I read that blurb. Waiting for the "pop" of the light bulb. Crickets.
As I do each time I sit down to write, I say a quick prayer asking for direction, guidance, and purpose. Maybe I didn't focus the words correctly. Maybe God was busy just then. Maybe my heart wasn't in the right space. Maybe .... there were no words in my head!
Generally, I'm a pretty wordy person when I write. But wow, it's like the tap was turned off and the watermain completely dried up. Nothing.
Each attempt I made, I'd tell myself, "leave it for now" believing that, as my English teacher once said, "Inspiration will hit at the most unreasonable times so be ready." Ha, still a blank.
As I sat and stared at my four-legged colleagues, all casually lounging in their "work spaces", I'd wait, hoping for words or phrases to pop into my head. Oh...maybe this sentence. Nope, delete.
A quick glance at the internet. What to do for writer's block. Really? Change your font. Seriously? Still nothing.
My conclusion. There will be times when we simply cannot find the words to write. And, when that time comes, write the words that do flow. It may not be the piece you can submit to your group or publisher, but you've still written something.
While I have long held the belief that writing to a hard prompt is a learning experience, I have now realized that when we acknowledge that we may not be equipped to write on every topic, we'll now understand and accept the crickets.
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Peggianne Wright is a published author and is the founder of the pet parent ministry Paws To Pray, blending her passion for the Lord and all-things-K9 to form this unique, faith-based community. Peggianne is an ardent Bible study student, devoted dog mom, wife of 44 years, and lover of music. Her blogs Spiritual Scribbles and Fur-Kid Fanatics can be found on her website www.PawsToPray.ca and you can follow her on Facebook at www.Facebook.com/PawsToPray/ and on IG @Sister_In_Prayer.
I doubt if there's a single writer in the universe who hasn't at one time or another gotten stuck. Certainly, the level of stuck might vary depending on the circumstance. For instance, I recently sat down to write a piece that was to be focused on a particular monthly prompt. I can honestly say that over my entire writing career, my backspace key and delete buttons have never had the workouts they've experienced in these last couple of weeks. I'm sure I heard one of them scream, "Uncle!".
Sitting in front of the blank screen with just the topic written at the top, I began to go bleary-eyed. Over, and over, and over I read that blurb. Waiting for the "pop" of the light bulb. Crickets.
As I do each time I sit down to write, I say a quick prayer asking for direction, guidance, and purpose. Maybe I didn't focus the words correctly. Maybe God was busy just then. Maybe my heart wasn't in the right space. Maybe .... there were no words in my head!
Generally, I'm a pretty wordy person when I write. But wow, it's like the tap was turned off and the watermain completely dried up. Nothing.
Each attempt I made, I'd tell myself, "leave it for now" believing that, as my English teacher once said, "Inspiration will hit at the most unreasonable times so be ready." Ha, still a blank.
As I sat and stared at my four-legged colleagues, all casually lounging in their "work spaces", I'd wait, hoping for words or phrases to pop into my head. Oh...maybe this sentence. Nope, delete.
A quick glance at the internet. What to do for writer's block. Really? Change your font. Seriously? Still nothing.
My conclusion. There will be times when we simply cannot find the words to write. And, when that time comes, write the words that do flow. It may not be the piece you can submit to your group or publisher, but you've still written something.
While I have long held the belief that writing to a hard prompt is a learning experience, I have now realized that when we acknowledge that we may not be equipped to write on every topic, we'll now understand and accept the crickets.
.png)
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