Define Writer's Block - If Only It Were That Simple.

Derfine writer's block. An intangible concept that has been the bane of many a writer's existence since the dawn of mankind. How did that sound? Did I project the proper type of mystical aura and intellectual intrigue that would relentlessly beckon you to read more? If your answer is yes then enjoy the feeling. because that's about all you are going to get out of this humble writer. How was that? Did you like that?

Seriously guys, writer's block is something I am sure we have all experienced at one point or another in our illustrious writing careers? For some it can be more serious and often times debilitating, to the point of creating an inability for said writer to devise and produce any original piece of writing. I did a little research on the subject, so look out ! I am about to spit out some definitions I located on the internet.

First a definition word for word from our friend Wikipedia. ( Ahem )

Writer's block is a condition, primarily associated with writing,( no way, really? )

in which an author loses the ability to produce new work.

Now, free Merriam Webster Online:

writer's block

noun

: the problem of not being able to think of something to write about or not being able to finish writing a story, poem, etc.

So... two definitions, pretty much the same. Wikipedia carries on with research and studies, clinical observations, causes, coping strategies, Etc. Etc. blah blah blah.

It is all very interesting and informative.

However when we are in the throes of this phenomena all this clinical crap does nothing to help us ease the situation and deliver us back to our full creative potential. ( Help! I think I swallowed a thesaurus! ) Sometimes we merely have to suffer through it. Sometimes we need to fight it tooth and nail, and if we must go down this path, then we won't go quietly. We go down kicking and screaming all the way. ( At least yours truly does. )

Last week I posted a blog likening the articles we write to children that we have ( real or imaginary. In my case Imaginary. Don't look at me like that. I am not crazy. I'm not ) The irony here: I was currently wallowing in writer's block. I was fighting hard to get an article written. and I wasn't about to give up on it. <sigghhhh> Alas it was not to be. I had to set the article aside for a later date, because I was starting to sink into depression and that I could not allow.

Kicking and screaming, remember? I worked at it, around it, beside it, above it, below it, you name it. I did it, Nothing seemed to help and I conceded to this continuance for three days before I decided to write about something else. Bingo!!! Writer's block eliminated.

I ruminated on this very interesting ( to me anyway ) turn around and wondered what had occurred within me to dispel my ongoing trauma. ( Well it was traumatic to me! ) here is what I figured out ( by myself thank you.) I was trying to write in a clinical, factual style. I hate reading that type of writing. It bores me to tears. I much prefer a little humor injected, and I act like I am talking to someone sitting right across from me having a coffee. This is what works for me. Later when researching this writer's block business. Wikipedia put into words what I felt:

"The pressure to produce work may in of itself contribute to writer's block, especially if they are compelled to work in ways that are against their natural inclination"

So there you have it: How Polly cured her writer's block. I learned a very valuable lesson:

I needed to be true to the passion within me. Now all I have to do is figure out how to rewrite that other article in the writing style I have evolved into.

Thanks for "listening" It felt good to get that off my chest

Polly