Wiley Wednesday – Battling Through the Doldrums
I’ve been suffering a bit of something I am loathe to name and honestly never expected would happen to me to such a degree – writer’s block. There are multiple insidious reasons for this. And I think I’m wallowing in it as opposed to using the tools available to me from sources like “The Artist’s Way”.
Just yesterday, though, I enjoyed a minor breakthrough via a responsibility to write something for this very blog. Instead of struggling, I went with my ennui and started a moody little piece. It worked so well that I managed nearly a thousand words, which used to be my daily goal.
To my satisfaction, the ending even took a bit of an upturn. The entire experience, albeit a small step, lightened my mood somewhat. And isn’t that the ultimate goal of creativity?
One lesson I need to take from this is that only I can remove my block. Another is that I can put words on the page without fighting against my mood. Third, joy can be found in the small projects as well as the large.
Best wishes to you on your road to satisfying creation!
I'm sorry you're fighting a block. It's a painful experience (or at least it was for me). Cameron describes it as, "a tearless time of grief." Josip Novakovich advises us to write in any, and many, moods: many authors' material suffers from moodlessness, according to Novakovich.
I think the lesson here, as painful as it may be, is that blocks are a necessary part of the creative process. Not all creative expression happens openly. Fallow periods are necessary, just as they are for a farm. We may fight them, and feel lazy, but the truth is we are fallow for a reason. Try not to fight it and, as you saw, you might surprise yourself with words you never expected.
If all of that fails, then try walking. Walk for 20 minutes, outside in whatever weather. Feel the air on your skin, the light in your eyes. Something about being outside creates a calm alchemy within us that can, over time, help to break loose a block: sometimes not unlike ice floes in a river. But whatever the reason, remember this: the block is painful, yes, but it's there for a reason.
~hugs~
That last paragraph is so true, Darla! It's a huge step in the right direction to get to that realization, it really is.
And I think the idea of just writing what comes to you, whether or not it's on your personal agenda for the day, is perfect. The key is to just get some momentum going, and that means words on the page.
Glad you had an "aha" moment, my friend!
Thank you, dears! Your kind words and support mean a great deal.