The way my writing day is structured I get two, sometimes three, opportunities to drop 1000 words on various projects. I like writing different projects every day. It makes my brain purr. I feel like I’m accomplishing a lot and even though the progress on each project is smaller than if I wrote two or three thousand words in a single session, there is progress. That’s what’s important to me.
My writing tracker spreadsheet (by week and by project. I’m multi-dimensional that way.) tells me when I write more and when I write less. For the last few months, it’s been less. And I’m not talking about a bit less. I’m talking about a lot less. There’s an evening project I work on and my goal is 2000 words a week. I’ve been lucky to manage 1000 and it’s often taken me multiple days to get there.
I knew something was wrong.
I also knew this wasn’t writer’s block, not in the traditional sense.
I’m going to do a series of blogs basically showing the flip side of what is traditionally called “writer’s block” and how while that does exist, it is to use a medical term, a diagnosis of exclusion. In other words, let’s take a look at what it could be before we chalk it up to not being able to produce words. Because there’s so much more that goes into writing besides just typing in words on the keyboard, and in my case my blogging schedule had suffered as well, and since I work on multiple projects I knew it wasn’t a case of writing myself into a corner and needing time to figure out the solution. That happens. But that’s not what I’m dealing with.
A doctor’s visit at the end of July shed a tiny sliver of light on the subject, much like a flashlight whose batteries are dying so it’s dim, but it is giving off light. I had a direction. I had an answer. But no help. I was diagnosed with a tick-borne allergy. I’ve talked a lot about it over on my Bluesky account and in other blogs on other sites (See the recent episodes of the Feathermane Soul Wisdom Show) so while I’ve tagged it in the tags for this blog, I won’t talk about it more here. I do plan on talking more about how it’s affected me as an author in future blogs and podcasts.
Last week I had the appointment that I was referred to, and though it was an appointment I was dreading because honestly I wasn’t expecting any help (my PCP had flat out told me inaccurate things about two of my diagnoses), that doctor looked at me and said “of course this is what you’re dealing with. I’d be exhausted too if I were in your shoes.”
Now, I don’t want to make this blog all about me. I do, however, think that my situation is very similar to what a lot of people are having to deal with.
Before you chalk up your lack of desire to write to “writer’s block”, please make sure that you are checking in on your health, even those chronic conditions that you think you know how to deal with or what the symptoms are.
In my case I had extreme fatigue to the point where I had to take naps in the afternoon. My brain fog was off the charts where I was forgetting things on the grocery list and unable to focus on tasks at hand, let alone writing blogs or working on my projects. And the pain levels…I mean let’s get real. I’ve dealt with chronic pain since the early 2000s, and doctors have pretty much handwaved it ,and me, away, for multiple reasons. So I know how to work with a pain level of 6 or 7. That’s probably my baseline. Not even my spouse knows just how much I’m in pain on any given day. But what I was dealing with, especially in oddly specific places like my right knee, was excruciating. I have to make some tough decisions for a beloved animal companion because arthritis is taking its toll, and honestly, I was wishing someone would do the same for me. If you know, well, you know, and I’m so sorry that you do.
But during all of this, because of the alpha gal, I had changed my vitamins to a vegan multi-vitamin and mineral with a full 100% of iron supplementation. I may have four conditions all with fatigue as a symptom/issue, but it generally takes about two or three weeks for iron supplementation to begin to work. And last Friday I started feeling better.
My writing schedule ramps up on the first of each month as I work on the serials for my reader group (If you like fantasy, come join! It’s free!), and I’m working on the final novelette for a collection I’m putting together (Follow the campaign here. It will launch in October, and I’m super excited about it.) Add to that I just signed on to do a new podcast that I’m super excited to share with y’all, and let’s just say I’m going to need all the energy I can get.
The answer came when the supplementation kicked in and I also finally started getting a handle on my alpha gal. I’ll be honest, if it means I keep writing the way I have been, then I’ll gladly give up cheese and bacon. I know, but if those are the sacrifices that need to be made so I feel good, I willingly do so.
Which brings me to the heart of this article. Before you call it “writer’s block” and start beating yourself up for not being able to produce any words, please check everything. Do you need to add or change supplements like a good vitamin or some extra iron or vitamins? Do you need to adjust your diet?
I do know that for me it took about three months of tracking symptoms and food (happy to talk about how I do so) in order to put the pieces together. And even now, I’m still often puzzling over things. But at least I’m writing and I feel like I’m on the right track, and I’d like to help you write easier for you, too.