Writer’s Block is Like Sasquatch
Dealing with writer’s block is essentially problem solving. The problem is simple: I’m not writing. The solution seems difficult, but I don’t think it has to be. Dennis Cass wrote an article in Poets & Writers about fixation in relation to writer’s block. He says that we become fixated on our solution to not being able to write. We try over and over to get into writing the same way. Somebody once told me that the definition of insanity is doing the same thing over and over expecting different results. So, let’s avoid insanity.
I’m trying to convince myself that there’s no such thing as writer’s block, and it’s a tough sell because I’ve stared at the blinking cursor on a blank page as much as the next guy.
And when I say, “stare at the cursor,” I mean, worry.
- I worry about what the product will be.
- I worry about being brilliant.
- I worry about writing the poem after the poem I’m trying to write.
- I worry about all the other random crap in my life.
- I worry my poems into extinction before they really exist.
The next time you have writer’s block, try this: Stop worrying. Don’t worry, just write.
Tags: writer's block, writing
Any advice on how to do the stop worrying part? That’s what gets me. I’m really good at worrying…
Try not to put pressure on what you want your writing to be. The times that I freak out too much are when I’m trying to figure out the poem before I write it. If you don’t have it figured out before you write, just write–don’t think. If you do have it figured out, all power to ya.
I guess my best advice is never to write FOR something. Don’t write for your thesis, for somebody (aka your reader), for brilliance. Loosen up. Just keep the words coming, even if you know they’re terrible. Resist the urge to revise while you’re generating new material. Save that for later.
This isn’t to say that I’m a pro, and I’ve got it figured out. I need to work on this stuff as much as anybody.
I worry about you two worrying and I too worry about why I even bother to put words on the page. There are so many writers out there that are way more brilliant than I.
that article in P&W was awesome. i wish more research was being done on creativity.