How do you get past...

[peacejazzspirit]

Writer's block.

I met a professional writer who told me there was no such thing. I want to believe him, but then what do you call this sudden cease of flow in your hippocrene? You have a brilliant idea but it's been days and days and you're at a loss of words to bring it to life. Is there anything more FRUSTRATING?

So I want to know, how do you get past your "writer's block"?

[rayheinrich]

Writer's block.

I met a professional writer who told me there was no such thing. I want to believe him, but then what do you call this sudden cease of flow in your hippocrene? You have a brilliant idea but it's been days and days and you're at a loss of words to bring it to life. Is there anything more FRUSTRATING?

So I want to know, how do you get past your "writer's block"?

    You don't. Do something else you like, or wash those clothes you've been meaning to wash.
    Muses don't like the smell of soiled underwear.

[RiverNotch]

Writer's block.

I met a professional writer who told me there was no such thing. I want to believe him, but then what do you call this sudden cease of flow in your hippocrene? You have a brilliant idea but it's been days and days and you're at a loss of words to bring it to life. Is there anything more FRUSTRATING?

So I want to know, how do you get past your "writer's block"?

First answer: timidity, stupidity, folly... many things, but I suppose you're not really a writer in the same sense as the professional if you don't learn to get over them, just as you learn to get over how silly your job is, if you're, say, a janitor, a lecturer, a lawyer, etc.

Second answer: not having any ideas at all, not loving, not being loved, not graduating on time, watching someone you love die and being helpless to do anything -- but those all depend on perspective, really. What's really absolutely the most frustrating thing for anyone ever is a one word answer: PUBERTY. 

Third answer: for stuff on a schedule, I just write -- even if I end up writing poop, by the end, if I really want it to not be poop, I know I can always get back to it, so I keep on (theoretically -- for the most part, I actually just wallow in the cum-soaked underwear of knowing I'm so, er, impotent.) For stuff not on a schedule, I just let it be, and it becomes, or it isn't, and that's that. 

Fourth answer: I love talking poop.

[rayheinrich]

Writer's block.

I met a professional writer who told me there was no such thing. I want to believe him, but then what do you call this sudden cease of flow in your hippocrene? You have a brilliant idea but it's been days and days and you're at a loss of words to bring it to life. Is there anything more FRUSTRATING?

So I want to know, how do you get past your "writer's block"?

Sorry for being such a smart-ass. It's late.

Here's a previous pig-pen thread that might be helpful:

http://www.pigpenpoetry.com/thread-9715....ters+block

[peacejazzspirit]

Writer's block.

I met a professional writer who told me there was no such thing. I want to believe him, but then what do you call this sudden cease of flow in your hippocrene? You have a brilliant idea but it's been days and days and you're at a loss of words to bring it to life. Is there anything more FRUSTRATING?

So I want to know, how do you get past your "writer's block"?

Sorry for being such a smart-ass. It's late.

Here's a previous pig-pen thread that might be helpful:

http://www.pigpenpoetry.com/thread-9715....ters+block

Thanks Ray, I'll check out the thread. It's not late where I am, no excuse ya smart-ass.

[rayheinrich]

Thanks Ray, I'll check out the thread. It's not late where I am, no excuse ya smart-ass.

If it's not late where you are, you'll need to wait until it is.
There's an important pig-pen guideline that specifies no smart-assing unless it's late*.


*This, of course, doesn't apply to Australians as they're always 6 months late.

[Quixilated]

Hi PJS,
Ah, writer's block, the doldrums of creativity.

Well, the most effective and immediate solution is to write. Just write anything an everything no matter how insignificant or useless. Write stream of consciousness, ask yourself questions and answer them, write how annoyed you are about not being able to write. Just write anything. Part of writer's block is that you build up the need for greatness in your mind, and then anything that doesn't fit the expectations is suddenly not worthy to bequeath your pages. The pages turn into pedestals where no words are worthy enough to stand. So break down the wall, smash the pedestal, vandalize them with nonsense. Bad writing can be improved, but there's no editing in the world that can spruce up an empty page. Let your words run wild for a bit, then when they've had a good romp, rein them in and remind them that they work for you. It could take a while (days, weeks) for this to work, but it should eventually.

Solution number two should probably be used in tandem with number one, and that is read. Read, then read, then read. Writers write, and writers read. It is essential. Try branching out to a different genre than you usually prefer. Perhaps you will discover a new writing style that sparks your interest and gets those creative juices flowing.

Solution number three, go for a walk. Or do something out away from that taunting white page. Perhaps the experience will give you something to write about. If not, at least it gave you a break from thinking about it and you will return refreshed and ready for a new try.

There are other little tricks and rituals you could try (I am partial to "the dance of the muses" but can't go into detail here), but the only one that really works every time is to just write words. Hope that helps!
--Quix

[peacejazzspirit]

Thanks Quix, I appreciate your suggestions. Before I fall asleep tonight I'm going to write and write and write until my eyelids droop shut and maybe my fingers will keep moving on autopilot while I'm asleep.

---

Writer's block.

I met a professional writer who told me there was no such thing. I want to believe him, but then what do you call this sudden cease of flow in your hippocrene? You have a brilliant idea but it's been days and days and you're at a loss of words to bring it to life. Is there anything more FRUSTRATING?

So I want to know, how do you get past your "writer's block"?

First answer: timidity, stupidity, folly... many things, but I suppose you're not really a writer in the same sense as the professional if you don't learn to get over them, just as you learn to get over how silly your job is, if you're, say, a janitor, a lecturer, a lawyer, etc.

Second answer: not having any ideas at all, not loving, not being loved, not graduating on time, watching someone you love die and being helpless to do anything -- but those all depend on perspective, really. What's really absolutely the most frustrating thing for anyone ever is a one word answer: PUBERTY. 

Third answer: for stuff on a schedule, I just write -- even if I end up writing poop, by the end, if I really want it to not be poop, I know I can always get back to it, so I keep on (theoretically -- for the most part, I actually just wallow in the cum-soaked underwear of knowing I'm so, er, impotent.) For stuff not on a schedule, I just let it be, and it becomes, or it isn't, and that's that. 

Fourth answer: I love talking poop.

Thanks Notch, no I don't aspire to write professionally, but these hurdles will still pop up in my path and I need to learn how to navigate them. And for the most part of your response I gathered that you can't force creativity, which I already knew but thank you for reminding me as I may have forgotten in my desperate, dead-end attempts at writing here lately.

[Quixilated]

Ha! You just described college.
-Q

"Thanks Quix, I appreciate your suggestions. Before I fall asleep tonight I'm going to write and write and write until my eyelids droop shut and maybe my fingers will keep moving on autopilot while I'm asleep. "

[ellajam]

Try the practice threads, they get my preoccupied with meter and rhyme and refrains and the words start turning.

You can also add to the NaPM threads, trying to do one a day makes a person stretch and having a prompt can help. Or, if you're not enjoying writing, you can just give it up and focus your energies elsewhere.