White Rabbits, Wonderland and Writer's Block

Recognise this little fellow?

Said to be carved in approximately 1330 and wearing the distinctive satchel of the pilgrim, he graces the archway of St Mary's Church in Beverley, Yorkshire, a town where Lewis Carroll stayed while he was preparing to write Alice in Wonderland. Even the most fleeting glance suggests an impression of the White Rabbit, running behind schedule, whom Alice follows into the rabbit hole, thus beginning her fantastical adventures.

It was a treat to see him, so distinctive and characterful, partly because it made me smile to think of the stonemason with a sense of humour all those years ago, but also because it's a reminder that inspiration comes in unexpected places. If you are tussling with your Work in Progress, or suffering from writer's block, go out for a walk or a wander – it's amazing what you might stumble upon and following a fresh idea may lead you to unexpected places, just as Alice discovered when she set off in pursuit of an irresistible little rabbit...

Making a Commitment to Your Writing

When you're sitting in front of your computer, staring at the blank screen *what shall I blog about today* and you can see a big, fat, writers block out of the corner of your eye, making some kind of external commitment about your work may help you to get off the starting blocks.

Writing can be such a cussed, solitary thing to do, that I would heartily recommend you to find yourself a writing buddy at the earliest opportunity. Your buddy could be a partner, a parent, a friend or a fellow writer. Because the relationship is often reciprocal,  it has the potential to develop into something constructive, critical, supportive and empathetic, all in a wonderful one-er.


Most writers write because they can't not, so motivation isn't usually a problem, but some kinds of writing are more fun to do than others, so if you're struggling with something and running out of steam (and inspiration), making some kind of literary commitment to your writing buddy might be the answer. Promise them that you will show them your draft synopsis/final chapter/article pitch by Friday week, and you will find yourself extraordinarily motivated to make good on that promise.


Saying something, makes it so. We write in order to make the magical world inside our head seem real. In the same way, promising to deliver a piece of work will help to make it happen.