I have writer’s block.
Maybe you’ve paid attention to the site recently and seen the frequency of posts slow down a bit, or maybe you’ve corresponded with me (there’s a score of so of you out there) and know the story.
Most writers, especially writers that are the top in their field, will constantly be asked “How do I become a professional writer?” I’ve read blogs, reports, articles, and FAQs from these folks; most of them tell me what I already know. I need to write nearly every day. But no one has given me a clear, definitive answer on how to get back on track when you have a severe case of the doldrums.
When I talk about it with my real-life friends (as opposed to my internet friends), the advice I most commonly get is that I should “just write through it.” It’s almost as though I have a cramp in my hamstring, where walking it off is a viable option. Unfortunately for me, it doesn’t work that way. When I don’t have that special spark that makes my words live on page, it’s like fingernails down a chalkboard. It is annoying–so much so that it sets my teeth on edge, makes me irritable, and I question my creative ability.
I’m a far stretch from a professional writer, but I’ve at least had some nibbles and some interest in the work I’ve done so far. I’ve received more encouragement in this regard than a lot of aspiring writers in a shorter amount of time, but despite this, it’s almost as though my muse is dead. I have several great ideas percolating in my head. I even have several projects I’m really excited about, but I can’t seem to harness my brain for the creative power that I need to plough through them.
So what do I do? Anyone have any thoughts?
I should mention that as a consequence, I’m finding all forms of media distasteful. I don’t want to listen to music, my reading has slowed down (both casual and professional), and I don’t constantly scour the internet for things to know. I need a mental (and physical) break in the worst way, I suppose.
If you figure it out, please let me know.
Maybe you do need a break, or to sign up for a new writing class to get the spark back, or start a new project that lights your fire like the old ones. Believe me, your not the only one and I know professional writers have ways of getting past it and it’s probably something we need to learn. I’ve wondered sometimes if it was something technically wrong I was doing and my mind was trying to tell me it wasn’t right.
Personally for me, since I don’t rely on writing for a living, I write because I like to. Because it gives me a purpose more than just the eight to five. I know I can’t do it if I’m not finding it rewarding. And I have been known to take a break from time to time waiting for that spark. Thank god it comes.
I’m betting that a 4-day weekend in SE Oklahoma will help things right along.
There are now 250 rounds more of .45 ACP ready… Should help break the doldrums… Will bring next weekend with the new TAC light. Blitz
Aw hell yea! Go blow something up! You’ll feel alot better.
I recommend one good weekend away from home indulging in solid nonstop computer gaming. Shooting guns is a close second.
Seriously though. Hit it from a scientific angle. Lock yourself away in a room and write down a list of questions that you would run past someone with writers block. Be honest with yourself and answer the questions to the best of your ability. destroy the paper when you are done. After a few hours, you should have a reasonable idea of the next step that you should be taking.
Neatorama and Mental_Floss each have an interesting article on how famous authors dealt with writers block.
I think you suffer from something more than just writer’s block. The human spirit seems to oscillate between highs and lows like the ebb and flow of the tide. A while back I read an article on Lifehacker that recommended we work with our low points rather than fight them. The logic being the low will pass with time and chances are it will be followed by a high. I regret that I am unable to find the article, nor can I recall much more than that abstract summary.
I pamper myself when I hit a low point. It makes the low more tolerable but I don’t think it moves me through it any faster. I either become rested enough to take the reigns of my responsibilities again or I over indulge until my shame motivates me to blast back into high gear. Video games, fast food, television–I over indulge in simple pleasures. I find rest and inspiration from taking personal days, visiting old friends and being spontaneous. That last one has the largest pay off, but is the most difficult to pull off.