A blinking cursor on a fresh blank page can feel like the most intimidating sight. That new page has the potential to be filled with greatness. Words of wisdom and advice, or a side-splittingly funny anecdote, or even something inspirational and moving can find themselves filling that page and spreading to readers. But a blank page without ideas becomes an overpowering burden. This thing that was once a place for something potentially great becomes a mocking presence in the face of someone who is lacking creativity or suffering from the worst defeat ever: writer’s block.

Writer’s block feels like a sickness, congesting the mind and creative flow of anyone trying to create something meaningful. Suddenly something that is usually cathartic and fun feels like trying to rip down a brick wall with nothing but a plastic spoon. To a writer, writer’s block feels like an injury. It is a twisted ankle or a broken wrist that leaves you sitting on the sidelines, icing your pain and also your bruised ego.

Writer’s block feels like the worst defeat in a fight against yourself and what you thought was your talent. Something that usually brings you pride and happiness instead comes with frustration. I find myself trying to search every corner of my mind and the world around me for some sort of inspiration. I think of every important event that has ever happened to me, every influential person in my life, and every relatable topic, yet still come up empty. I am left there with unmoving fingers, hovering over a keyboard that seems to laugh at me.

I am sure that every writer has found themselves slamming headfirst into the mental road block that is writer’s block. But for me, there is nothing worse.