The post with no title because I've got writer's block...
Hello. Welcome to 11:30 the night before a 15-page short story is due. Here I am, sitting on the couch. I've got my lappy, a blanket, some tea, and a Pandora Radio station playing. All good things to get the writing to flow.Nothing. NOTHING....
It's driving me insane. What is this phenomenon called writer's block, and why is it so aggravating? I've got three stories started, about a page or two written, then dead silence. I've got nothing else to say. I don't know where I want the story to go. My voice is off-kilter. The character is unbelievable. I don't have a good plot. I have to go to sleep at some point. Why didn't I do this earlier? Seriously, what is wrong with me? (All counter-productive thoughts, I know, but I'm venting, so just bear with me.)
Where do I go when all else fails? Google, that's where. The interwebs will bring me comfort and hope. I typed in "Writer's block quotes" and following are some of my faves:
"Writing is 90 percent procrastination: reading magazines, eating cereal out of the box, watching infomercials. It's a matter of doing everything you can to avoid writing, until it is about four in the morning and you reach the point where you have to write."
(Paul Rudnick)
(Paul Rudnick)
God bless Paul Rudnick - he really gets me. I actually employed 2 out of 3 procrastination strategies listed in this quote. I read a great article on Wes Anderson in The New Yorker, and I watched a meaningless NFL game. I'm pretty confident that Paul and I would be friends if we ever met. True procrastinators share a bond. The bond of a vicious cycle of stress, self doubt, self loathing, completion, pride.
"I only write when I am inspired. Fortunately I am inspired at 9 o'clock every morning."
(William Faulkner)
(William Faulkner)
BOOOO to Faulkner. We can't all be inspired at 9:00 am. The only thing I'm inspired to do at 9:00 am is to go back to bed. As a result, I'm inspired to drink more coffee at 9:00 am. Actually, booooo to anyone who is inspired to do anything before noon. There. I said it.
"Close the door. Write with no one looking over your shoulder. Don't try to figure out what other people want to hear from you; figure out what you have to say. It's the one and only thing you have to offer."
(Barbara Kingsolver)
(Barbara Kingsolver)
Barbara wins. This is what I needed to hear, because tonight, this is my problem. I don't have someone literally looking over my shoulder, but I'm really trying to figure out what other people (namely, the professor) want to hear from me. He doesn't like quirky and slightly silly writing. Bummer for me - that's what I do. He wants MANLY stuff. War and death and action and guns and sci-fi. In the spirit of Barbara Kingsolver, I say TOO BAD. I'll write the story I want to write.
Let's hope my newfound resolve lasts long enough to get me through the night. Cross your fingers, friends!
posted by Erin @ 11:32 PM
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