OK I was going to call this post: how I “manage” writers block,
but I don’t. Manage it, that is. I cope as
best as I can, until I can move on.
We’ve all been there: staring at a blank screen
willing our fingers to move or our brains to barf something anything out! But, all that happens is a
cramp in your creativity muscle. The paper stays blank, the screen white or
whatever medium you use doesn’t get used.
You tell yourself it’s time to walk away. Time to
crack open that favorite book that always inspires you, turn on the TV for a
while as a distraction or jump in the shower – that’s where the magic happens.
But, sometimes nothing works and you find yourself STILL sitting. STILL
staring. With nothing more than a half-eaten bag of chips and a half-empty
glass of wine to show for it.
What to do?
There are times when I have to recognize that forcing
something isn’t going to make it what I want. It’s going to sound forced or awkward and I’ll just
end up having to rewrite it later.
It is hard to walk away. Believe me, I know! Maybe
(like me) this is your only chance to write for the whole day or week! The kids
are at school/taking a nap/at grandmas/sequestered in their rooms, it’s now or
never. Maybe you set a goal to write 2,500 words this week and you have 1,900
and you want to just push out the last 600.
I will sometimes shut my eyes as I turn my computer
(the green box with buttons) off and bolt out of my office. I’ll go fold
clothes/clean bathrooms/do dishes…you know all the other stuff that needs to
get done.
And you know what!? Not long after I’ve let go of my
writing frustration my characters start talking again telling me where they want to go and not the other way around. With my mind clear (usually
doing mindless things helps) MAGIC happens! Inspiration strikes! And soon
enough, I’m back at the green box letting my story pour out of my fingertips!
It’s hard to let go, but I find that sometimes the
best thing to do is to forget for a while.
If that doesn’t work…try standing on your head.
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