Many very intelligent people disagree about whether writer’s block exists. What is clear is that many aspiring authors often feel “blocked”—the sense of being incapable of continuing to compose new work, or the distinct feeling that one’s creativity has ground to a halt. In this virtual workshop, we will operationalize writer’s block from a cognitive-behavioral perspective based on what the research has shown about differences between people who experience writer’s block (i.e., “blockers”) and people who don’t (i.e., “nonblockers”). We will list the basic elements of writer’s block and go over how each interferes with the composition process. Finally, we will talk about how to address writer’s block in real life, that is, how to get rid of it for good: a discussion that you will find especially useful if you can identify yourself as a “blocker.”

Jack Burgos is a 36-year-old, Hispanic, pansexual, cismale (he/him/his pronouns) author of transgressive, speculative fiction living in Tulsa, Oklahoma. He was born in Miami, Florida, the son of Colombian and Cuban immigrants. He graduated cum laude from Tulane University in New Orleans, Louisiana, in 2007, with a B.A. in English, a B.A. in Philosophy, a Political Science minor, and a concentration in Creative Writing. He graduated with an M.A. in Clinical Psychology from the University of Tulsa in 2013. Jack serves as the webmaster for the Oklahoma Writers' Federation, Inc. and as the President for Nevermore Edits. When he isn’t engaged in writing-related activities, Jack proudly works as a licensed professional counselor for a non-profit community mental health agency.

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