What Do You Do When Your Writing Gets Stuck?

This post is for all the writer-folk out there. I'm sure there's a few. I mean, I'm pretty sure there is. If not, then this is only mildly awkward. Moving on!

I'm a writer too (or at least, I try to be). I study writing at uni. I have a list of stories I need to get around to writing. I read too much. I'm going to stop talking about it now, because I think you've got the idea. The thing is, is that I have a real problem actually writing them. The stories, I mean. And I don't know why.

It feels like I've tried everything. Vague outlines, chapter-by-chapter outlines, no outlines. They all work for a little while, but at one point or another I will get stuck in a hole and I will not be able to do a single thing about it.

Sometimes I think it's my mindset. But it's not like I expect myself to fail. I always have an unrelenting optimism at the start. I think I'll finish it, but I never do. I used to get stuck a 1,000 words. Then, it was 5,000. And now? Now, I get stuck somewhere between 10,000 to 20,000 words. Every. Single. Time. I don't understand.

I know a lot of authors suggest to just write. You shouldn't care if it makes no sense. It's only a first draft, and you can always fix things up later. I've tried that and sometimes it works. But then my perfectionist tendencies tingle and I have to take a look back.

I've also heard music really helps. But I'm funny when I write. I can only deal with certain types of music. Maybe some instrumental? Some quiet folk music? It's endlessly frustrating.

In fact, this who saga is endlessly frustrating. I have all this pent up writing energy but when it comes to actually write? I hit a blank. I don't know whether it is too many ideas swirling around my head. Or if it is actually my perfectionism. I just get stuck.

Writing is hard stuff. Figuring out how to focus your energy on writing for long enough is hard. Telling myself that things don't happen overnight - that writing takes time, is hard. I'm still trying to sort that out, but it's just so ugh.

So, my question for fellow writer-folk is this: Has this ever happened to you? How did you deal with it?

And, on a slightly different note: What are some of your favourite 'How to Write' writing books? I've been on a bit of a kick wanting to read them.