I Think I Have a Bad Case of "Whatchamacallit"

Imagine this:  A most evil, malignant and immortal wizard who throughout his villainous reign has plagued some with fear by acting like a "raging psychopath and sadist deriving pure amusement by inflicting pain on others."  He does so without remorse: "killing Muses, oh, I mean Muggles, just for fun."  Now is this J.K. Rowling's Voldemort or is it someone else.  Is there another atrocity lurking about waiting to destroy Muggles, I mean Muses?  What or who is it that attempts to consume the genius and imagination of his victims by temporarily restraining them?  What or who ultimately destroys the inner muse so that his writer is consumed by an inability to work leading to his abandonment of his career?                                                                                                                                                                                                                                

Okay so I am speaking of Writer's Block, or the character in the Harry Potter series known as Voldemort?   But like the character in the Rowling series, this annoyance should also go unnamed.  This, like Voldemort, is "He-Who-Must-Not-Be-Named" because naming it makes it more real, gives it more power and then makes it come to life.  Like a child saying that he has a tooth ache in order to avoid going to school he may come to believe that he has a toothache.  Once at the dentist though a miracle occurs: he no longer has pain and can't even remember which tooth was painful.

Now I admit, that there are things that I don't like to do and that I find myself digging in my heals in so that I can avoid doing them.  Spring cleaning is one but I can't recall a "spring-cleaning-block."  There are times when I have not wanted to get up and go to work but I have not called in and said: "I will not be in today because I have "work-block" or "boss-block".  Though I really would have liked to do that but you get the idea.  The "term-that-shall-not-be-named" is too general because there are many causes for its existence.  It's like saying that you have stomach ache because there are too many causes for this ailment to call it just a stomach ache.  So it's time to start demolishing the building of resistance that we construct for ourselves, block by block, and find a way to deal with the detour to our dreams.

Some causes for this malicious malady include: a biochemical problem causing misfiring in the person's brain chemistry (yes, there are studies being done on this); a writer just not being ready to write due to unforeseen circumstances like a health issue; a writer trying to compose the work mentally without writing new ideas on paper and then forgetting; a writer feeling like they have to be perfect; a writer fearing that their current work will be the last they can ever produce; and a writer accepting undue and excessive criticism about their writing.  Some ways that they express this include: struggling to find topics to write about; struggling to make time to write; they may self-edit excessively or just stop writing all together.

Now for the cures, but remember these are some tat have worked for me. There are many. Just keep trying until you find what works for you.  A good deal of my ideas have come from two books that you can get easily at a bookstore or local library: Steven King's "On Writing" and Julia Cameron's "The Artist's Way."  Cameron's book is very helpful especially with what she calls "morning pages."  She says that it is important to get three handwritten pages done every morning no matter how you feel. By writing these pages first thing in the morning the writer can quiet their "inner censors" and instead, allow the "inner child to shine."  She says that when the writer is able to reach their own quiet center, and go past the censor's production of fear and negativity, they will arrive at the place of their triumphant selves.  (p12) What is interesting is that by doing this I find that I also manage to keep my promise to myself to keep on writing.  I also have saved these pages and have returned to them later finding material for future works.

Steven King's book "On Writing" is an excellent help for writers especially in this area.  The ones that I refer to the most are:Showing up; Keeping the door shut; Work Consistently/Write and Read a Lot; Don't Care Too Much About What Others May Think; and finally Remember Why You Started To Write in the First Place.




Showing up: establish a writing schedule you can stick with: King links writing to any job done by a craftsman, laborer.  "Our work involves creating and building stories, poems or plays like a bricklayer puts down bricks.  The bricklayer uses mortar and bricks to build his structure and we use words one beside the other to create our work. "  Just as a laborer has to show up for work, so does the writer: everyday, on schedule, to complete something tangible.
Keeping the door shut:  Find a space you will enjoy being in, be sure it is well-lit, quiet enough; and be sure the door is closed to minimize interruptions.  King says that he plays loud rock music and then he can't hear the distractions.  He does this while he is doing his first draft but the door is open with his final draft because "once you know what the story is and get it right — as right as you can, anyway — it belongs to anyone who wants to read it. Or criticize it."
Work Consistently: Establish your working hours or parameters.  King suggests 1000 words per day or 4 hours per day; just stick to it and don't get up off the chair until it's done.
Write A Lot: King says that in order to become a better writer you need to write more and more.  He says that waiting for inspiration can be a long wait so just write whatever comes into your mind about the story.  Rewrites will come later.  Just write.
Read A Lot: He says that when you read you pick up things which might be reminders of what you should be doing or should avoid doing.  It broadens and deepens your knowledge.  King says that you can read in waiting rooms, treadmills and the bathroom.  Still no time: King says that he listens to several audio books in a year.
Don't Care Too Much About What Others May Think: King says that if you listen too much to your critics you won't get much done.  Your writing will become worthless and will not be the truth: your truth.  If it is not your truth then your reliability will go down with your writing and for your reader.
Remember Why You Started To Write In The First Place:  you need to touch base with why you love writing.  "Writing isn't about making money, getting famous, getting dates, getting laid or making friends. In the end, it's about enriching the lives of those who will read your work, and enrich your own life, as well. It's about getting up, getting well, and getting over. Getting happy, okay? Getting happy."




 There is one more suggestion that I have.  I have used this website and technique before when I experience a cessation in writing: Dr. Wicked's Write or Die website at http://writeordie.com/and write quickly for a set time. The website is free, fun, and this kind of writing in particular is sure to cure you of the writing doldrums at the very least.  Like free-writing and Cameron's morning pages, this site is a good way of squashing your censor and give your creativity "a thorough dusting."

So whether you are a Harry Potter fan or not, or you call this Voldemort, the Muse-Killer or anything else you chose, one thing for sure is that you have more than likely experienced this "You-Know-Who" in your writing life.  Drag out your Invisibility Cloak, Resurrection Stone and Elder Wand or try a few of these; either way destroy the evil wizard lurking over your writing who is trying to destroy your muse, your dreams  and get writing.

Debralee Mede

My question:  Have you tried any of these techniques?  How have they worked for you?  What does work for you?




Filed under: beating writer's block, creative writing, Debralee Mede, editing, fear, goals, Helping Other Writers, Recommended Books, Writer's Life, writer's block