A Writer's Embarrassing Irregularity Syndrome

 

My faith prompts me to be honest, evenwhen it means personal embarrassment. When it comes to tapping a keyboard, or puttingpen to paper, I repeatedly experience a specific discomfort. Only my closestfriends know I suffer with this health problem.

Two years ago my self-consciousnesswas relieved while networking at the Write to Publish conference in Wheaton, IL.All of the authors I confessed to, bravely shared they too experience creativityconstipation syndrome.

Also known as writer’s irregularity,constipation syndrome affects a broad range of writers, from first timebloggers to famous authors. Unfortunately, there are few predictors of when andwhere the blockage will begin.

Mental health counselors whospecialize in “Restoring Brain Connections due to Obstructive Word Flow”recommend the following to reverse this thought-numbing condition.

1.    ++ Maintain a healthy diet of reading a varietyof genres. Bravely try authors that you think might leave a bad taste in yourmouth, but are good for you to experience.

 

2.    ++Activate your giggle center through comedy,people-watching, a bit of wine with jokester friends, or whatever sparks themost laughter.

 

3.    ++Try the Japanese custom of Forest Bathing. Toaccomplish this relaxation technique, you will need to find a nudist camp thathas a thick woods without ticks or mosquitoes.

 

4.    ++Gather all the rejection notifications youhave received. Slowly tear each into tiny strips over a blazing bonfire. Pleasehave your garden hose and a large fire extinguisher nearby. When done, doseyourself with one or the other. (This last step alone has been known to unblockcreativity constipation.)

 

5.    ++Attend a support group to share your problemwith strangers. (“Hello, my name is Sue Fink. And I have writer’sirregularity.”)

            If you are brave enough to admit you’ve experienced these humiliating blockages,                                            let me know what worked to get you going again.