Whilst in the throes of writer's block...
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austen_inspired
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Whilst in the throes of writer's block...
I suppose many professional writers would snicker at my rather short-term writer's block. (It's been a week)
I have heard that Emerson was himself in the clutches of said 'blankening' condition for upwards of two years; it is reasonable to assume many have 'the block' for longer even, sometimes a lifetime. For me, however, it is most unusual. The amount of words that free-flow through my brain enables me to write several pages during a 24 hour period, plus a number of poems. Thus, being in a 'blocked' phase for seven together is a little unsettling. I rented some Jane Austen based movies and re-read some Burroughs, read through my son's popular science magazines; we all watched a documentary on bridges. I took the kids to the park and walked the stroller around. I watched the bare branches of wintered trees battle each other in the chilly breeze. I went grocery shopping and did laundry. After all this, I still felt uninspired.
It wasn't until I suddenly became overcome with a biting, throbbing toothache that the block broke. I was laying on the couch, lamenting my own pitiful state when my husband decided I needed to be 'cheered up' and seized my feet, tickling them mercilessly. (they are terribly sensitive) He did not stop until I laughed. All at once, ideas began free-flowing once more. Grabbing my trusty laptop, I typed faster than ever before, all the while chewing on a whole Oragel tube. (Don't try this at home, folks... I am a professional.)
Needless to say, I'm nearly done with my sequel novel now and am hoping to start the third book in the series before February is done. My tooth still hurts but at least the creativity is not re-hampered.
Did I mention I loathe & despise going to the dentist?
Cheers!
I have heard that Emerson was himself in the clutches of said 'blankening' condition for upwards of two years; it is reasonable to assume many have 'the block' for longer even, sometimes a lifetime. For me, however, it is most unusual. The amount of words that free-flow through my brain enables me to write several pages during a 24 hour period, plus a number of poems. Thus, being in a 'blocked' phase for seven together is a little unsettling. I rented some Jane Austen based movies and re-read some Burroughs, read through my son's popular science magazines; we all watched a documentary on bridges. I took the kids to the park and walked the stroller around. I watched the bare branches of wintered trees battle each other in the chilly breeze. I went grocery shopping and did laundry. After all this, I still felt uninspired.
It wasn't until I suddenly became overcome with a biting, throbbing toothache that the block broke. I was laying on the couch, lamenting my own pitiful state when my husband decided I needed to be 'cheered up' and seized my feet, tickling them mercilessly. (they are terribly sensitive) He did not stop until I laughed. All at once, ideas began free-flowing once more. Grabbing my trusty laptop, I typed faster than ever before, all the while chewing on a whole Oragel tube. (Don't try this at home, folks... I am a professional.)
Needless to say, I'm nearly done with my sequel novel now and am hoping to start the third book in the series before February is done. My tooth still hurts but at least the creativity is not re-hampered.
Did I mention I loathe & despise going to the dentist?
Cheers!
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James100
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I know the feeling, I'm an English student and at present am suffering from writers block myself. I have loads of work to do and I wonder if you have any advise for me. Well done for overcoming your writers block by the way.
Regards
James Bisson
Regards
James Bisson
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Syrcco44
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I think I've said this before: I don't really have writer's block - just life and self-block. It's not that I'm lost with where to go - I just don't have time for my passion. 
It's horrible. Still, I make time.
But on the subject of writer's block (because, knowing myself, I could completely go off on a tangent)... I remember reading a quote from Phillip Pullman about WB (I may have mentioned this before, also): "I don't believe in it. All writing is difficult. The most you can hope for is a day when it goes reasonably easily. Plumbers don't get plumber's block, and doctors don't get doctor's block; why should writers be the only profession that gives a special name to the difficulty of working, and then expects sympathy for it?"
Still, I remember a few weeks ago I was so empty and none of my characters were talking to me and I felt like I was just falling through a black abyss - completely alone (yeah, ok, sorry - I'm a complete geek when it comes to writing...). It was not fun at all. And then --BAM!! One of my characters started talking... and the spell was broken and it was all better again.
I've also read, from other authors' insight, that writers block happens simply when one has run out of observations of the world and such or you don't know what should happen next in the novel...among other things, perhaps. There are equally simple solutions:
1. Make your characters suffer - this gets the plot going and the pen writing and the spark of imagination and inspiration ignited... after all conflict and suffering has to be resolved - and that should require writing, definitely!
2. Observe and experience life and everything in it. This is what writers do. Get out into the world with a pen and some paper. Sit on a cafe terrace and survey the sights and smells before you - write about it. Travel across the world and write about it. Sit in the middle of your lawn and observe nature - or anything that is around you - and write. Go somewhere in your home that you don't normally go to and write. Don't just sit there - go and write!!!
get out there and live!
I'm sure I have diluted this topic down a little, probably in unjust ways, after all it's all so myriad and unpredictable. Other times with WB one just needs to take a break from it and not think about writing too hard or even at all. - just relax... perhaps write on other subjects ... in the end it'll pass and the walls will crash and break -- that's when you can disappear into the wind again and get carried away with riding the raging rapids of writing!
Sorry. I'm weird.
It's horrible. Still, I make time.But on the subject of writer's block (because, knowing myself, I could completely go off on a tangent)... I remember reading a quote from Phillip Pullman about WB (I may have mentioned this before, also): "I don't believe in it. All writing is difficult. The most you can hope for is a day when it goes reasonably easily. Plumbers don't get plumber's block, and doctors don't get doctor's block; why should writers be the only profession that gives a special name to the difficulty of working, and then expects sympathy for it?"
Still, I remember a few weeks ago I was so empty and none of my characters were talking to me and I felt like I was just falling through a black abyss - completely alone (yeah, ok, sorry - I'm a complete geek when it comes to writing...). It was not fun at all. And then --BAM!! One of my characters started talking... and the spell was broken and it was all better again.
I've also read, from other authors' insight, that writers block happens simply when one has run out of observations of the world and such or you don't know what should happen next in the novel...among other things, perhaps. There are equally simple solutions:
1. Make your characters suffer - this gets the plot going and the pen writing and the spark of imagination and inspiration ignited... after all conflict and suffering has to be resolved - and that should require writing, definitely!
2. Observe and experience life and everything in it. This is what writers do. Get out into the world with a pen and some paper. Sit on a cafe terrace and survey the sights and smells before you - write about it. Travel across the world and write about it. Sit in the middle of your lawn and observe nature - or anything that is around you - and write. Go somewhere in your home that you don't normally go to and write. Don't just sit there - go and write!!!
get out there and live!I'm sure I have diluted this topic down a little, probably in unjust ways, after all it's all so myriad and unpredictable. Other times with WB one just needs to take a break from it and not think about writing too hard or even at all. - just relax... perhaps write on other subjects ... in the end it'll pass and the walls will crash and break -- that's when you can disappear into the wind again and get carried away with riding the raging rapids of writing!
Sorry. I'm weird.
