Writer\'s Block

I posted a document on Scribd (Writer's Block)containing quotes by writers on writing and writer's block. At the end I wrote that, although, there are many ways to deal with writer's block, there is one particular way that is very seldom mentioned. This is probably because it is so obvious that it hardly seems worth mentioning. It is the following:

When not being able to think of what to write, then write about not being able to think of what to write!

That's right, I'm not kidding you! If you have writer's block, write about having writer's block. One of the poets from Scribd, Vedika, did just that in this fine little poem.

3AM Anthem

Labour intensive,
Cool comprehensive,
Jaded and raided and faded away.
Face like a washcloth,
Bitten through by angry moths,
Tired, refired, like unhardened clay.
Words from my fingers,
Silently linger,
Writer’s block, screw this, too much hell to pay.

She wrote in the description of the poem: "I loathe insomnia, and writer's block. This was written, surprisingly, at 3am".

Or consider the poem written by another Scribd poet, Suchismita.

A single word does not pass,
Dry and dreary, Oh so parched!
Once so full, the plenitude!
Emptiness now, so seclude

Pen and paper sit side by side,
Facing away, a gruesome fight,
Mutiny this, sprung up on me,
I cannot abide this silent spree!

Brain cells tingle with despair,
Time ticks by, dangling a sword,
How, pray, do I break this Curse?
Coffee, candles, hand of God?

I search in vain, there is no light,
Buzzing ears and fireflies,
O gracious words! Do not so mock!
Banish thyself, Writer's Block!

There are many such examples. You can even write songs about not being able to write songs! Check out this song by Nasri aptly entitled "Writer's Block".

You can follow the lyrics here: Lyrics.

The above and other similar examples involve stating you have writer's block and describing it. But there is something else you can do. Consider the following piece written by Kenosis23 from Scribd. Thoughts-on-Writer-s-Block

As a preamble to this piece Kenosis wrote: "I decided that after finding myself incapable of writing it was time to explore the beast itself..."

That's right (or should I say "write"?), don't suffer the beast, tackle it, grab it by the horns and bring it out into the light for everyone to see! Analyze it. Conceptualize it. Demonize it. Metaphorize it. And while you are at it, cut its horns, slash its tentacles, file its teeth and claws, and kick its sorry wart-ridden ass around for a good measure of fun!

There is one last thing you can do in this vein about writer's block but we will talk about it in the next post. Until then see you later and thanks for your attention.

Phantomimic

Note: Vedika's and Suchismita's poems are reprinted here under a creative commons license.