Ah, the dreaded Writer's Block. Killer of copy, Pirate of Prose, Destroyer of Dialogue, Stomper of Stories. It is infamous, and it walks among us.
Or does it?
I was thinking about Writer's Block today because I've been seeing more and more people talking about how to "cure" their own Block. I've always been of the opinion that if you believe in its existence, it will come out and get you, like if you say "Bloody Mary" three times in front of a mirror at midnight. Best to just leave it alone and pretend it's not real.
A while back while working on my WIP, I felt like I was getting the dreaded "Block," so I unstuck myself by writing a poem about it. I was amused by the irony, and was able to go on writing because of the exercise.
Do you believe in Writer's Block?
Is it fact, fiction, or creepy ghoststory? Does it affect your writing life? If so, do you have any Block Breakers or cures? I'd love to hear your thoughts!
This Teaser Tuesday, I'd like to share my Writer's Block poem with you guys. Enjoy!
_________________
Writer’s Block
A canal cakes into ruin
Red dust scattering over broken walls.
The land aches to be filled again
To feel the caress of flowing life
Brought by the river’s hand.
The men forgot how to dig.
Time made them dull, their minds
Following the by and by of quiet living
Not used to work of this kind.
Their backs forgot how to bend.
Hands are smooth, calluses gone,
Forgotten in the land where no one
Lifts a hand to help his neighbor.
No one remembers his neighbor’s name,
The chore of friendship abandoned.
Their only hope, the words,
the melody of time and space,
the by and by of quiet living
turned glorious in the rapture
Of words,
crumbles, even now,
into crimson ruin.
10 comments:
Eh. I think writer's block is often an excuse for when a writer gets lazy after having trouble. Writing *can* be hard, but writers who don't hide behind writers block are the one who make it.
I like your poem idea! :)
Hilarious. I find that I get writers block when our work has some kind of fatal flaw. Until we figure out what's wrong it's really hard to write.
I totally agree with Lisa and Laura. If you're blocked, re-evaluate what's going on in your manuscript. For me, writer's block usually means I'm heading off on a tangent.
*waves white flag* I'm one who doesn't believe in writer's block. Sometimes words don't flow smoothly, but I don't really get stuck on what happens with the story. Overactive Muse is always beside me.
I get blocked when I haven't fleshed things out enough. Once I clear my head, flesh out the problem and re-plot it, the block passes. BTW, love the poem!
I call it The Void. It happens. It's part of life. I normally just tell myself that it's my brain telling me to step away from the writing for a time. Normally, after a mini-break, the writing flows again. So, I write when I write, and I don't when I don't. It's all part of life.
BTW - when The Void is spoken, it is like one of those computer animated voices that echo mockingly. : )
S
Beth--I think you're totally right. I know when I think I'm "blocked" it's because I have something major I need to fix.
L&L and B.J.--that is really interesting! So, once you figure out what's up, you're back in the saddle? Nice :).
Yunaleska--Okay, now I'm jealous!
Christine--that sounds like me. And thanks about the poem :D!
Scott--I can almost hear the void now. Lol.
Great post! Love the poem!
I find I often get writer's block because the story has taken a wrong turn and needs to be refocused on the correct path. Usually just takes some thinking, and jotting down some notes. Sometimes, I skip ahead, and sometimes, listening to certain music helps. Just depends on the day, I guess. :)
I think I'll try your method, and just denies its existence. :D
Um, that was supposed to be deny its existence. Really wish we could edit comments. :)
From these comments, I think we're proving that it's not so much "Writer's Block" as much as "I wrote myself into a corner." Veeeery interesting! :D
Thanks for the comment, Abby!
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