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Blockheads .... on a roll?

B is for Block.... as in writer's...



The only thing worse than the fear of publication is the fear of not having anything to publish. And so, the vicious cycle of doubt, depression and the horrors of the blank page do everything in their power to stifle the creative flow.... to create a 'block' as it were.....



The distraught writer can do little to prevent such tragedies, as 'Blocks' know how to creep up on the unsuspecting writer while his back is turned. And, the presence of the 'Block' is not discovered until the blinking cursor blinks in a stationary position or until the ink doodles in the corner of the page have suddenly covered the paper.



How do we survive such a menace? How do we overcome such a treacherous monster, bent on destroying our very spirit?

I say we do what we did in kindergarten----- take those writer's blocks and imagine each one as a building block, a square piece of wood or plastic. Each building block represents an actual creative block.... one for fear, one for doubt, one for time (or lack there of), one for the inner-critic, one of the inner-editor..... keep making creative building blocks until you have every pitfall visualized.

Now, build your block castle. Put every creative block in the form of a building block into the structure, with the least powerful blocks at the bottom and the strongest block at the very top (the higher this treacherous block is, the better). And once the building is complete, holding every creative block you can imagine, stand up and kick the bottom out of it! Really let the building have it. Those blocks should go flying, with the worst of the blocks going the farthest.

In essence, destroy your castle.... destroy your blocks!

There, now don't you feel better??

Comments

  1. I very much appreciate the Gaiman quote at the top of your page. I've read him for years, admire his work, and yet, I'd never heard that quote.

    You delivered it just when I needed it. Thanks for that.

    As for writer's block, well, a few years ago I stepped out of an airplane while it was 5,000 feet up. I figure, if I can do that, what's to fear in a blank page?

    Find your plane. Take the step. Land well. And the rest seems small by comparison.

    Thanks for dropping by today. And enjoy your A to Z!

    Joe
    Dead Reckoning

    ReplyDelete
  2. You are most welcome! It's from his poem, A Writer's Prayer. The whole piece is wonderful, but much too long to post in a blog description :-)

    And, yes, stepping out of a plane would definitely make any other obstacle seem like small potatoes, kudos to you, sir, I'd never be able to do it.

    ReplyDelete
  3. Very interactive approach to writer's block :P You should be a therapist. Or kindergarten teacher. Same difference.

    ReplyDelete

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