Entry #8 - Three Challenges Writers Face Every Day

 

Three Challenges Writers Face Every Day

The life of a writer might seem relatively relaxed. Many people imagine authors sitting on a comfortable sofa by the cozy warmth of a chimney on a winter night, capturing their thoughts on paper with impeccable form. Nevertheless, being a writer is not as easy as one would hope. Obsessing over research, avoiding plagiarism, and struggling with writer’s block are three challenges novelists, journalists, bloggers, and many other kinds of professional writers face every day.

Have you ever wanted to write a piece, but researching your topic became a never-ending quest that prevented you from getting started? Many writers find it challenging to immerse themselves deeply in their research without letting their writing suffer. Authors with a perfectionist side very often investigate every minute detail with incredible tenacity to ensure their work is accurate and credible. Although this might seem like an excellent habit, it is not without its disadvantages. Writers who spend too much time researching are not writing. Additionally, they might find themselves second-guessing their work, endlessly revising it, or possibly not even starting the piece at all. Research for one’s written projects is a challenge that must be approached carefully to avoid difficulties during the writing process.

Another obstacle writers face is the ever-growing issue of avoiding plagiarism. Interestingly, preventing one’s writing from being unfairly reproduced is as much of a concern as not plagiarizing other authors’ work. While it may be difficult to enforce a copyright on our work, it is entirely up to us not to claim others’ work as our own, and just as tools for research exist, so do tools for proper attribution. Additionally, the rise of artificial intelligence poses new challenges (Coursera, 2025) as millions of people have turned to the use of generative AI that borrows portions from existing works. Adequately attributing is not only professional but also morally required in writing, and authors need to enforce this norm in every aspect of their work.

Lastly, many authors struggle with the infamous “writer’s block,” a non-medical condition blamed for one’s inability to write fluidly or obtain new ideas. Writer’s block may be more closely tied to the person’s motivation level, especially when tasked with writing about a topic that is of little or no interest to the writer, as it becomes more challenging for ideas to flow. Bachofen (2014) suggests ways an author can overcome this, including spending time in natural environments, finding inspiration in other people’s written works, and taking breaks. Writer’s block is, perhaps, the most common challenge we face when we write.

In conclusion, writing is not as easy as people may think. Excessive research may prevent us from ever starting to write or completing our projects, plagiarism could end our credibility, and writer’s block is the single biggest obstacle for our creative minds. The next time you read the newspaper or someone’s journal entry, think about how much effort that author had to put into their work. By understanding the struggle, we may yet learn to appreciate written pieces.

Coursera. (2025, March 20). Is using AI plagiarism? Coursera. https://www.coursera.org/articles/is-using-ai-plagiarism

Bachofen, A. (2014, September). 10 Ways to Beat Writer’s Block | News for Authors. Penguin Random House Author Portal. https://authornews.penguinrandomhouse.com/10-ways-to-beat-writers-block/