Maybe it’s the end of the long holiday season. Maybe it’s the general air of doom and gloom (President Obama’s inauguration notwithstanding). But there’s been a lot of talk lately, both virtual and non, about the problem of “writer’s block”: who has it, what is it, how to deal with it. Well, I’m here today to ask a different question, namely, “does it really exist?” I’m not so sure.
Of course, all of us writers have moments when we sit blankly staring at the white page/screen. For some of us those moments last, well, moments. For others it can last years. But I have to wonder if it is really true that during those “blocks” we really can not think of one damn thing to write? I know for me, that’s never been the case. There are always things to write about. Ideas are always there lurking somewhere in the back of my mind. Sometimes I’ve written entire chapters while in the shower; sometimes an entire poem while walking down the street. But these flashes of brilliance often remain in my head and never get to the page and that, it seems to me, is the real problem. Very often these writing blocks are not failures of inspiration, but rather, failures of will.
I’m in the midst of one right now. The combination of the holidays and my recent operation have stalled my work now for the better part of two months. Over the past couple of weeks, I have been able to sit in front of my computer and accomplish some things. I’ve organized files, taken notes, edited old poems, written blogs. But the whole time, the notebook filled with the first draft of my new novel sits there glaring at me, not so silently asking me when I will open its pages. Right now the new novel is the hard thing, the main thing, and I just don’t have the will to get down to it.
But I’ve been here before and I have an answer — actually two answers. First, I trick myself. I do something pertaining to the task at hand, without it really being the task at hand. This time I’ve printed out a new hard copy of the manuscript to-date and devised a new strategy for writing draft two. I’m going to read the whole bloody thing as it stands now just to see how it reads, what’s working and what’s not, and I’m not going to let myself write one new word. And I know that within ten pages I’ll be re-engaged and writing again. Of course it’s just a mind game (forbidden fruit and all that). I don’t mind admitting that I’m a head case when it comes to writing, but at least I now know how to make it work to my advantage.
My second answer is, I think, more interesting. Work on somebody else’s work. Teach, mentor, offer advice to a friend, edit someone else’s writing, do anything that gets those juices flowing, but don’t do it for yourself. The other day a good friend of mine came over with her brilliant new novel (you know who you are out there :-)) ). It’s ready to go; the world will be a better place when it is actually published. But she needed a cover letter, a synopsis, a list of agents — all that soul-destroying stuff you have to do to get that novel published once it’s written. Helping her write HER synopsis, HER cover letter, got me excited again about this writing world I inhabit and how I long to work within it. And so I thank her for letting me help her — because in the end it has helped me just as much.
A failure of will…..it happens to us all. We’re only human after all and we demand something quite difficult and often quite painful from ourselves. But a “will” can be manipulated and rediscovered. A “block” is something more imposed, external, artificial. Maybe it’s just a matter of semantics, but it’s all about words with us anyway, isn’t it?
Mm. I have sat here at my desk for three days buzzing with a new idea, but each time I try to get it onto paper it somehow dissipates, doesn’t seem like a proper idea after all. But I can’t dismiss it, because it keeps buzzing back again. I know you’re right, and the best thing to do is go and work on something else, and I just need to have the will to do so…
I like strategy two – that works amazingly well most of the time. Ted Hughes was exercised about this problem, and basically advocating writing – anything, just covering the page with words until what you wanted, miraculously, started to appear. That works too – with or without Hughes’ supernatural invocations!
That’s a very interesting post Sue. I don’t write (as you know) so don’t really suffer from writer’s block but I do sometimes get slightly panicky when looking at a blank sheet of paper waiting to be filled with my scribbles. I get round this by keeping a drawing ‘idea’ book. I have pictures torn from books, conversations overheard, general ideas and when I’m feeling uninspired I turn to my idea book to get my creative juices flowing again. In saying that, I have no idea whether that sort of thing would help with the writing process but it works for me!!
C x
I like the idea of tricking your mind and sneaking up on the work from an unexpected direction.
To all: I was afraid this came off sounding preachy. God knows I didn’t mean it to be…
Elizabeth: It’s funny how different parts of the brain affect other parts. Often if one part is occupying you, then the “creative” or “poetic” part comes up with something when you’re not noticing.
Dot: Yep…I do think it’s all about tricking yourself to do what you don’t think you feel like doing. Like so much else in life, eh?
Carol: I do think it’s all the same. the retreat i go to in Ireland os for both writers and visual artists, and the woman who runs it first showed me how the process is all the same. i do believe she’s right (ie we’re all bozos on this bus 🙂 )
Michelle: funny the head games we have to play, but hey…whatever works!
Failure of will, I like that. Isn’t doing much to help me get writing at full speed again but I am grateful just for a change of perception about writer’s ‘block’. xo
Brilliant post, Sue. For the first time ever, I find myself just sitting, staring at my pc. I’ve never had a problem with words flowing, or been lost for ideas. However, I know in this instance what’s stalled me – the review from a writing agency which as left me gasping and wondering where on earth to begin with a rewrite – especially given rewrites are not my favourite thing. The good advice says to work on it incrementally, dealing with one problem at a time, rather like eating an elephant. Trouble is, I still can’t work out which bit of the elephant to start nibbling. I think printing out a hard copy and just reading, is an excellent idea.
Sue, this is a great post and an important discussion. I haven’t written anything for weeks due to illness, and before that I hadn’t written anything over 500 words for about a year, due to book deal freak out. However, I don’t think of any of this as a “block” because I have ideas buzzing round my brain all the time. What I don’t seem to have is the energy to focus enough to write them down. So for me it is energy, but that could very well be synonymous with “will”. It all sounds similar. My partner is currently working through the Artists Way, he thinks he may have been “blocked” for the past 6 years or so, and it seems to be helping him. If that kind of terminology helps, then that’s fine.
I think it can be a crutch though – saying “Well, I’m blocked and that’s that, but perhaps I have just never experienced a block. For us writers, I believe there are always ways to kick-start inspiration, such as using prompts to write flash stories, or your excellent ideas about doing other things that are writing-related, and helping others with their writing. I’d add something else – reading. I am SO inspired by reading other people’s writing, it really gets me in the mood! When I have my energy back, I can feel it all building up inside me, I think it might just pour forth!
DJ: hang in there. You’re one of the most persistent and dedicated writers I know!
Absolute: writing agency? I’m sure it’s a great place with good ideas, but don’t just take their word as gospel. Right?
Tania: I agree so much about reading. But for me also watching a well-written film does it too. That feeling of “Jeez, I wish I had written that” is a great motivator.