The Snowball Effect of Writer's Block

“Just write!” “Take a walk!” “Try some writing prompts!”

We’ve all seen those quick-fix articles promising to cure writer’s block in three easy steps, or the lists of ten generic “cures”. They pop up on our social media feeds, tempting us with their simple solutions.

But here’s the thing.

If writer’s block was that easy to fix, would we still be talking about it?

A few months ago, I hit a wall with my stream novel Only Dogs Left that felt insurmountable. What started as a worldbuilding issue (having only three mechanics for a crumbling city) cascaded into questioning my entire first chapter, my story structure, and eventually my ability to write at all… that sounds overdramatic but I was live at the time and had to pretend like the book I was working on shouldn’t just be thrown away.

One tiny crack in the foundation had turned into an avalanche of doubt.

Sound familiar?

The Myth of the Single Cause

Those “Top 10 Ways to Fix Writer’s Block” articles mean well but they often miss a crucial point. Writer’s block rarely stems from a single source; you shouldn’t be treating a headache with painkillers when the real problem is dehydration, stress, and poor sleep. But, as humans, we love simple solutions—those quick fixes that give us instant gratification and remove all our problems.

There are three root causes of writer’s block:

• External Factors: Life stress, work demands, family obligations
• Internal Barriers: Self-doubt, perfectionism, fear of failure
• Writing-Related Issues: Plot holes, character inconsistencies, technical problems

These factors can combine in a vicious way that can’t always be solved with a simple walk around the block or a new writing prompt.

The Snowball Effect

Writer’s block can be like a snowball rolling downhill. It starts small—maybe you notice a technical issue in your story. As you focus on fixing that, you start questioning other elements. Before you know it, you’re stuck in an avalanche of doubt and creative paralysis.

In my case, it started with something seemingly simple: Realizing I had an unrealistic system for my main character’s career. Three mechanics for an entire city? It didn’t make sense. So I started expanding the world-building, adding more characters, developing an education system to explain how these mechanics were trained. Logical, right? I felt so accomplished when it was done!

But then I went back to my first chapter, and suddenly nothing felt right. The additional world-building had changed the context of every scene. The starting point felt wrong. The pacing was off. What began as a simple technical fix had snowballed into a full-blown creative crisis.

It’s not just about being stuck – it’s about being stuck in multiple ways, each problem feeding into and amplifying the others.

But everyone is different. Whilst there are familiar symptoms in how writer’s block manifests, it might be due to different root causes:

1. “I missed my writing session (External) → Now I’m behind schedule and so rushing my work(Writing-Related) → I’m a failure (Internal)”

2. “I only have one hour to write (External) → I need to set up my excel spreadsheet, my writing document, my mind map, my maps… to even start (Internal) → It is too much effort to even begin (Internal)”

3. “Social media says I must write every day (External) → I’ve missed three days (Internal) → I’m clearly not dedicated enough (Internal)”

4. “This plot twist feels forced (Writing-Related) → I’m trying too hard (Internal) → Maybe I should take a break until inspiration strikes (Internal)”

5. “This writing software is confusing (External) → I can’t focus on the actual writing (Internal) → Technology is killing my creativity (External)”

One small doubt opens the door for bigger ones and, before you know it, you’re questioning everything from your writing schedule to your life choices.

Identifying Your Primary Snowball

So how do you identify your snowball – the initial trigger that started your creative avalanche? Start by asking yourself these questions:

1. What was the last thing that worked well in your writing before the block hit?
2. When did you first notice something felt ‘off’?
3. What changed between those two points?

Often, you’ll find that what you think is blocking you isn’t the real root cause. Maybe you’re telling yourself you’re stuck on dialogue but the real issue is that you’re not sure about your character’s motivations. Or you think you have writer’s block because you’re too busy but, actually, you’re avoiding the work because you’re afraid it’s not good enough.

Remember, recognizing you’re dealing with multiple issues is the first step. That plot hole might not be just a plot hole—it could be a sign that your story’s foundation needs strengthening or that you’re putting too much pressure on yourself to be perfect.

And, most importantly of all, treat yourself kindly. We’re only human after all <3