In almost every writer's fora that there is, the deplorable perennial problem of writer's block has always been brought up by both professional and amateur creative writers. Some discussions have even gone as deep as defining the nature of writer's block in the hopes of acquiring counter-active measures should writer's block, a.k.a. "fear-of-the-blank-page" come up in the middle of a deadline.
What is a writer's block? On the surface, it is simply a period of non-activity for the writer. A writer or a poet may attempt to write something based on the need to write something, and come up with absolutely nothing creative, if anything at all. What causes a writer's block and what can be done about it? Here are some thoughts and suggestions:
1. The fear of coming up short from their last project - Collectively speaking, most artists and writers have an obsessive compulsion to concretize and materialize, through their works, abstracted thoughts and ideas. Once they attempt at some work, there is always that fear of producing something despairingly short of what they have intended to create from its original idea, thus, disappointing themselves more than disappointing others. If artistic or writer's block does not happen prior tot he start of the project, it may also very well occur while the work is in process. This explains why several writers may work on different projects at the same time, jumping from one unfinished work to another, others even abandoning previous works altogether for a new one and ultimately not accomplishing anything in the end.
2. A comeback after a long time off - Vacations and some time off taking care of familial/domestic or personal matters can only have two extreme results: either it rejuvenates, recharges and inspires the writer for the next project, or it completely diminishes or finishes off whatever is left of a prolific and fecund mind! Let's face it, even professional writers are, first and foremost, human beings before they are writers. And, as humans, brilliant and loving their professions as they may be, writers too are bound to lose footing once they have taken some time off from writing, if not inspired and recharged, as mentioned.
3. Insecurities - Lack of formal training...Being a newbie...The writing style...a friend who's a better writer...etc., etc., etc., these can all spell one thing: insecurities. Our insecurities can really work nasty for writers and we know there is no other way out other than a paradigm shift or a change in perspective for the writer. We know that there will always be other people more educated, more renowned in the creative writing field, writers who are relatively better than us, other trends and styles in writing which the writer can become unfamiliar and intimidated with, but the bottomline is that it is just a matter of gritting your teeth with some decision-making: to write or not to write? In the first place, if a writer is already too busy being concerned with being a writer rather than actually writing, if a writer writes for some reason other than writing for its own sake, then he/she has no business being a writer at all.
4. Bills to pay, daily tasks, and other small details - Where to get the money for the bills, who brings and fetches the children to and from school, and for writers with actual day jobs, how many deadlines to meet -- who can still think of writing? These concerns, to mention only a few, hampers the writer's writer's sensitive thoughts. These are practical things that need to be done on the daily basis. On the surface, these concerns may seem harmless to an aspiring writer, but eventually, it dries up the creative writer's reservoir that needs constant nurturing. This is not to say, however, that children, career and domestic chores and other concerns should no longer be tended to in order to write. Being a great writer does not necessarily entail shunning away from daily practical concerns, in the same manner that a duty-free person does not give you a prolific writer. Difficult for the right-brained writer as it may be, time must be managed, schedules and systems must be established in order to attain the perfect juxtaposition and equilibrium of work (chores and responsibilities) and play (writing).
I don't know the meaning of writer's block and why, because I'm not writing for the world, but for me and my passion for storytelling. What I write, I want to loan to the world to read, but when it comes down to it, why do we write? For fame and fortune, the love of it, just a job, felt I had to follow in mum, dad or whoever's footsteps? Only you can honestly answer that question. I write because I love it. Once upon a time, I escaped the world into my imagination and haven't left it since. I want to be in the clouds, in that imaginary spot where I can be the hero or the monster and everything in-between. I love being in places where I'm in total control and no one can get in, into my mind that is.
I truly believe writers block comes with subconsciously or consciously thinking, who is going to read my work? Oh my god, what if my mum reads this, she would have kittens. I dare not swear, use violence or sexual references; my dad would disown me. What if my friends laugh at it? What if an agent or publisher rejects it? What if it's not commercially viable? What if the story line has been done before? What if my style doesn't conform to everyone else's? What if, what if, what if. Get rid of them. Free your mind. This is your baby, your creation. Express yourself the way you want to. Take away the chains binding your creativity and even you as a person. Failure comes with not having confidence in your work. Writers block is the fear of rejection, not meeting a deadline and expectations of you.
Think writers block is due to running out of ideas? The book world would come to a halt if this were the case. They are all in you, you just have to ask the right questions and expect the answers. Try looking at a sunset. Ask yourself what you see, describe it, feel it, what is your mood at that moment? Believe me, you can write a novel on a sunset.
For many years, I considered myself illiterate. I couldn't spell or punctuate and avoided reading books due to not understanding the majority of words. Just thinking about my problem, led me to write 'Signature for Sunshine'. Another example, sitting in a pew within a church, I was thinking, is this really my ticket to heaven? Again, this one thought was behind the book, 'The pew is not a one way ticket to heaven'. Living on a farm and looking at my house from the middle of a paddock, resulted in, 'They died and moved in'. Standing in front of a new building, 'Aus Com' came about. Ideas are all around us and in us if we ask the right questions and seek answers.
I never think, has it been done before or who will read it. I write because I want to express what's in my head, in my emotions, what does this particular topic mean to me and what does it relate to in my life. There is always something to write about. Another example; I had a funny experience with a fly and a rat, these critters got a mention in my book, 'They died and moved in'. Talk to a monk; they can tell you stories about a blade of grass, which will enlighten and enchant you. Why, because they are not thinking, will you buy it, market it and make a million out of it. They are sharing something precious to them. I use the word share, as that is exactly how I see stories, sharing. Yes, I know, we all have to eat and pay bills. So we are back to, why do you truly want to write? What will be sacrifice in your creation for the sake of outside validation, fears of rejection, the hunt for fame and fortune? Your talent will be sacrificed, your imagination squelched.
Now saying this, being true to yourself and your creation does not mean broke and a nobody; another article in itself. It comes back to writers block and being true to yourself and your creativity. Remove all, what ifs. Remove all, who is going to read this. Remove all, I'll do what other's expect of me and take on someone else's style because they are popular. Remove the box you have placed yourself in. Open your eyes, ears and heart and you will never have writers block. In addition, you will be free to express yourself like never before. Believe me, it works and how do I know? I don't believe I will live long enough to write all the stories in my head, even if I lived to a 100, that's how much of the box I have removed. Do people like my work? Definitely! Do people hate it? Definitely! Does this stop me writing, definitely not!
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