As a writer who doesn’t get writer’s block I thought it was interesting that the writers you quote don’t get it. My theory is that they treat what we do as a profession, not a hobby. We know that we are not always going to write beautiful prose but we also know that when you do, it is usually an almost unconscious act based on practice. So you keep practicing. And publishing because writers have to have readers…
I laughed heartily while reading this. I think writing is a process that begins at poor and edits to (we hope) excellent. I think of it like sanding or planing.
I agree with Mr. Gaiman. Even on my novel I don’t write linearly. I sometimes write a scene from the beginning. When I dry up I write a scene from the end or a scene I think I might use and haven’t found a place for. Sometimes writing is just a matter of opening doors and taking chances. We so often create rules about how the process is supposed to go. Why must it be linear? Why must I have the plot sorted? Why must I write it in order? Isn’t the purpose of writing to go exploring?
For me it is not writer's block per se - it is the struggle between writing for myself/journaling vs publishing - there is a big diff - some may not agree but after a certain point in your writing journey, it is not about writing what you want to - your audience are looking for a certain type of articles (expectations) that they associate you with - that is why I feel it is important to not keep all the eggs in one basket - my background is in numbers but somehow I doubt my readers on Medium would be interested in me talking about statistics and such lol
Yes, I get stuck and feel fallow. Neurotic? Of course. By the definition you found, anyone alive and aware today is neurotic at best. But on we stumble, and I've learned that if I stop mentally flogging myself, eventually I'll get back to work. And by eventually, I mean in an hour, or even a few minutes.
Way, way back I thought it sounded like an excuse. Then I thought well I have never ever had it, nor had I ever eaten a truffle or flown a helicopter.... hmmmm,,,, so what would I know ? Too busy writing to believe OR disbelieve, but if it's real then you have my support. Peace, Maurice
I found I'm more productive if I write my articles before reading the comments from the previous day. I get tired. Physical exhaustion is what stops us from writing. In the morning, I'm good to go again. Nice post, I liked all the quotes!
I mostly write longhand, and when nothing makes sense, I draw. I can look back at my notebooks and where I see writing surrounded by line drawings, I know I was struggling. Does it get me moving again? Not always, but it engages my brain a bit differently and I find that helpful.
I never have writer's block ... because I only write when I feel like writing and have something I want to say. That's the upside of NOT getting paid for one'swriting!
thank you. such a good essay. 'plumbers don't get plumbers block' made me LOL.and I have gone down several rabbit holes myself in reading it, including buying a copy of Bukowski's book.
What I have is a traffic jam of ideas in my head, with construction blocking most of the road and a fair number of the drivers having road rage.
As a writer who doesn’t get writer’s block I thought it was interesting that the writers you quote don’t get it. My theory is that they treat what we do as a profession, not a hobby. We know that we are not always going to write beautiful prose but we also know that when you do, it is usually an almost unconscious act based on practice. So you keep practicing. And publishing because writers have to have readers…
I laughed heartily while reading this. I think writing is a process that begins at poor and edits to (we hope) excellent. I think of it like sanding or planing.
I agree with Mr. Gaiman. Even on my novel I don’t write linearly. I sometimes write a scene from the beginning. When I dry up I write a scene from the end or a scene I think I might use and haven’t found a place for. Sometimes writing is just a matter of opening doors and taking chances. We so often create rules about how the process is supposed to go. Why must it be linear? Why must I have the plot sorted? Why must I write it in order? Isn’t the purpose of writing to go exploring?
For me it is not writer's block per se - it is the struggle between writing for myself/journaling vs publishing - there is a big diff - some may not agree but after a certain point in your writing journey, it is not about writing what you want to - your audience are looking for a certain type of articles (expectations) that they associate you with - that is why I feel it is important to not keep all the eggs in one basket - my background is in numbers but somehow I doubt my readers on Medium would be interested in me talking about statistics and such lol
Yes, I get stuck and feel fallow. Neurotic? Of course. By the definition you found, anyone alive and aware today is neurotic at best. But on we stumble, and I've learned that if I stop mentally flogging myself, eventually I'll get back to work. And by eventually, I mean in an hour, or even a few minutes.
Way, way back I thought it sounded like an excuse. Then I thought well I have never ever had it, nor had I ever eaten a truffle or flown a helicopter.... hmmmm,,,, so what would I know ? Too busy writing to believe OR disbelieve, but if it's real then you have my support. Peace, Maurice
I found I'm more productive if I write my articles before reading the comments from the previous day. I get tired. Physical exhaustion is what stops us from writing. In the morning, I'm good to go again. Nice post, I liked all the quotes!
I mostly write longhand, and when nothing makes sense, I draw. I can look back at my notebooks and where I see writing surrounded by line drawings, I know I was struggling. Does it get me moving again? Not always, but it engages my brain a bit differently and I find that helpful.
I never have writer's block ... because I only write when I feel like writing and have something I want to say. That's the upside of NOT getting paid for one'swriting!
thank you. such a good essay. 'plumbers don't get plumbers block' made me LOL.and I have gone down several rabbit holes myself in reading it, including buying a copy of Bukowski's book.