Painful Writer's Block...

[Katherine Brengle]

I have had complete writer's block for over a week... I have an article sitting in my Documents folder that has about 7 sentences written thus far, and for some reason, even though it is on a subject that is very important to me, I can't finish it...

I don't know if it is because I am stressed out about Adam (my husband) coming home in a couple of weeks, or just in a slump, or what... but usually I write every single day, and lately I have been giving up very quickly when I get frustrated or tired...

Any suggestions?

[BelleCarolinaPeridot]

1. Sometimes you can't force inspiration .

It will come when you least expect it .

[Katherine Brengle]

2. I know you're right...

I just don't usually have a hard time, but I guess it is normal and I'll live, lol.

:hi:

[BelleCarolinaPeridot]

4. I write songs ...

and there was a period of time where I could not write for a year . I had to learn to let it come to me . Nowadays I write/get my inspiration when I least expect it - sometimes when I am just in front of the computer or in the shower - times where I am the most relaxed and comfortable . I sing to myself a lot , and I use my cellphone to record melodies and lyrics . The only thing now ? is getting all of my material out of my system . Thats my project for my birthday : publishing all the music that I have written and composed .

[izzybeans]

3. Write about not being able to write. This is your preoccupation

at the moment. The words on the subject will flow. I've discarded volumes into the dustbin of history about writer's block. Afterwords, usually, I'm clear.

[BelleCarolinaPeridot]

5. Good advice .

[izzybeans]

10. For my 2000th post i found an old one and here it is (very short):

The thing about not being able to write is that words do not flow freely, as I suppose they would on a normal day. Yet a paradox comes to mind. The entire time I experience this block, words continue to flow freely from my mind. So much so that I must turn attention to the ubiquitousness of the institution of language; leading me to remember the words lie mostly out there, and not in here, where I've convinced myself to stop. This brings me to my favorite lesson. If you want to uncover your unconscious look around. It surrounds you. You've displayed it and made it your home. In this very den reside the words I must now use.

That is the end and it ends in nonsense, just as it begins. But I suppose I went on and finished my work afterwards.

[Katherine Brengle]

9. I've done that before!!!

I think I'll try it--but not tonight, I'm gonna take a nice bubble bath and just relax for a change. :)

[izzybeans]

12. Nice thinking. I meant to reply to you directly above. I found one

and thought I'd share.

[Ptah]

6. If it is about natural gas on the western front,

please argue against the exploitation.

:shrug:

[Robb]

7. Smoking, drinking heavily, self-mutiliation...

Or, just wait it out. :hi:

It happens. It goes away. Fear not!

[RandomKoolzip]

8. Victor Hugo locked himself in a room....

...with no food, no furniture, no clothes, no windows, NOTHING in order to overcome writer's block and churn out/write "Les Miserables."

I don't suggest you do the same.

Do you enjoy recreational chemicals? They've always helped me emerge from particularly stalwart episodes of writer's block.

[BigMcLargehuge]

11. Take a break

and don't beat yourself up over it. Feeling guilty for not writing only makes you hypercritical of whatever you are struggling to write.

[BikeWriter]

13. Writer's block? I get it, but not often...

I write mostly for enjoyment, though.

[politicat]

14. Take the baby for a walk.

Put her in the stroller and go. (Hell, go to a mall if that's what it takes.)

You are stressed and anxious and putting effort into DU. Is your sister still living with you? And you do have your partner coming home - even though you're happy he's coming, it will still be a stressful readjustment for all three of you.

When I want to write, I have to turn off my internet connection or go someplace that doesn't have one. Sad, but true. (Still, managed to crank out a half a million words last year, and most of the time, they made sense in the order in which I wrote them.)

[leftofthedial]

15. don't work on your article

just clear your mind (meditation, tea, soothing music, whatever works for you)

set a three-minute timer

start writing words--not your article, not sentences, no "editor," just whatever words come to mind in stream of consciousness, one after the other.

if needed do this a couple of times a day


also, sometimes another idea or issue blocks the thing I think I'm working on. Try writing something else--poetry, a short story, jokes...whatever.

try breaking your routine. write at a different time of day or in a different place than usual. I find I'm very creative very late and sometimes very early.

exercise can also help


you could also try having a wild, mad, crazy fling with another DUer to take your mind off Adam coming home. Okay, that was uncalled for. :evilgrin: