Cintia
asked
Emma Barry:
Hi, my name is Cintia, and I’m from Argentina. Being a writer is my biggest dream in the whole world, but I’ve been unable to write for 3 years, and this is getting frustrating. I’m totally blocked and it’s not that I have just unfinished stories, but I’m also unable to start new things. Is there a way to fight this? How would you handle it?
Emma Barry
Cintia,
Thank you so much for the question! Every one who has ever put pen to page has been there. There are times when I feel like I've poured all of my creativity out and my cup will never refill. But it always does.
There are several schools of thought about this. One would say to get yourself to write every day even when you don't feel like it and that eventually, you'll get back on track. (Ernest Hemingway in A Moveable Feast and Anne Lamott in Bird by Bird talk about this.)
I can see that point of view, but I think you have to be gentle with yourself. When you're feeling blocked, if you add the pressure to write, then you may not only not write but might then beat yourself up about the fact that you're not writing.
I would focus on doing the things that feed your soul, the things that make you want to write in the first place: maybe that's reading, maybe that's cooking, maybe it's looking at art. Just take care of yourself and recharge and try to figure out why you're feeling blocked.
Then, when you feel like it, write, but maybe try a new genre, or work through some flash fiction or free writing exercises. Anything to shake up your routine and keep it fresh.
Every writer has been there, I promise. I hope that it works itself out soon!
Thank you so much for the question! Every one who has ever put pen to page has been there. There are times when I feel like I've poured all of my creativity out and my cup will never refill. But it always does.
There are several schools of thought about this. One would say to get yourself to write every day even when you don't feel like it and that eventually, you'll get back on track. (Ernest Hemingway in A Moveable Feast and Anne Lamott in Bird by Bird talk about this.)
I can see that point of view, but I think you have to be gentle with yourself. When you're feeling blocked, if you add the pressure to write, then you may not only not write but might then beat yourself up about the fact that you're not writing.
I would focus on doing the things that feed your soul, the things that make you want to write in the first place: maybe that's reading, maybe that's cooking, maybe it's looking at art. Just take care of yourself and recharge and try to figure out why you're feeling blocked.
Then, when you feel like it, write, but maybe try a new genre, or work through some flash fiction or free writing exercises. Anything to shake up your routine and keep it fresh.
Every writer has been there, I promise. I hope that it works itself out soon!
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Sep 18, 2015 08:04AM · flag
Sep 18, 2015 08:15AM · flag