BFS Online: Writing and Mental Health – Writer’s Block

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At one time or another, almost every writer stumbles over writer’s block. Is it caused by doubt, plot problems, external factors like stress or depression? Why do we struggle to overcome its nefarious grasp on our psyche? How can we turn a barrier into productivity?

Join moderator Eleanor Pender and panellists Beth Barany, Villimey Mist, and Phil Williams to examine this frustrating ailment and see if we can’t find a way through.

Beth Barany (she/her): Beth Barany is an award-winning science fiction and fantasy novelist, and certified creativity coach for writers, and runs the podcast, How To Write The Future. She specializes in helping writers experience clarity, so they can write, revise, and proudly publish their novels to the delight of their readers. Her courses are packed with useful hands-on information that you can implement right away. Her transformational consulting sessions help you step into the author life you want with ease and joy. She runs a 12-month group mastermind program for science fiction and fantasy writers to help them develop an editing practice, find their readers, and get published. More resources on publishing, book marketing, and novel writing are on her blog, for and by creative writers, Writer’s Fun Zone. When she’s not helping writers, Beth writes magical tales of romance, mystery, and adventure that empower women and girls to be the heroes of their own lives. She’s producing her first short film based on her character, Henrietta The Dragon Slayer, and is also it’s writer and director. For fun, Beth loves walking her hilly neighborhood, puttering in her garden, and watching YouTube videos about the space industry. Beth lives in Oakland, California with her husband, Ezra Barany, also a novelist, and their cats. Find out more about Beth on her website. If you prefer socials, Beth has you covered: Instagram, Twitter, Facebook, LinkedIn, Goodreads, YouTube. Get Beth’s books on Amazon.

Villimey Mist (she/her): Villimey has always been fascinated by vampires and horror, ever since she watched Bram Stoker’s Dracula when she was a little, curious girl. She loves to read and create stories that pop into her head unannounced. She lives in Iceland with her husband and two cats, Skuggi and RoboCop, and is often busy drawing or watching the latest shows on Netflix. Check out Villimey’s website to find out more. Or follow her on Twitter. Buy Villimey’s books here.

Phil Williams (he/him): Phil Williams is an author of fantasy and dystopian fiction, including the Blood Scouts epic military fantasies, the Ordshaw urban fantasy thrillers and the post-apocalyptic Estalia series. He also writes bestselling reference books to help foreign learners master English. Phil lives with his wife by the coast in Sussex, UK, and spends a great deal of time walking his impossibly fluffy dog, Herbert. You can follow Phil on Twitter or Bluesky. Learn more on his website. Buy However Many Must Die, Under Ordshaw, Dyer Street Punk Witches.

Eleanor Pender (she/her): Eleanor has worked in the creative industries for over 10 years. Her first event chairing on a stage was with Patrick Ness at the Edinburgh International Book Festival in 2015. Since then she has gone on to host in-person and online events at events across the country, at the Young Adult Literature Convention (YALC), Cymera Festival, Bath Children’s Literature Festival, Bristol Women’s Literature Festival, Forbidden Planet and Waterstones Bristol bookshop events and more. Highlights include chairing V.E. Schwab at Cymera Festival in 2019 and interviewing V.V. James over Instagram Live from her back garden. When not chairing, Eleanor lectures at The University of the West of England, Bristol. As a writer, Eleanor has had stories published by Jurassic London and other anthologies, and she is currently working on her second novel. Follow Eleanor on Twitter or Instagram.