Writers block! It is not a figment of my imagination. I am at a loss for words and ideas to fuel my imagination. Once upon a time, I could string together random words to make coherent sentences, it made me ecstatic. One day the words simply disappeared. They vacated the tiny room in the attic of my mind never to return, took away my enthusiasm to write as well. I look back at the good old days when I could give shape to my ideas, and express my thoughts at will.
Am I doomed for life? No! I refuse to give up I am a survivor and nothing can keep me down. When you chase happiness it runs away from you so I decided to sit back relax and let it come to me in its own sweet time. ‘If you love something set it free if it is yours it will come back to you, otherwise it never was yours.’
There could be a million reasons my condition(writer’s block). Everybody has their unique set of problems and issues. I can tell you about mine. As a 50+ woman with an under active thyroid gland my plate is full, in fact it is overflowing. Another reason is the half empty nest syndrome; one child has flown the coop while the other is in a pre-flight mode. I am guilty of clutching at straws but ‘desperate times call for desperate measures’. I know all these are mere excuses. So what do I do? I devise ways to tempt my tools of expression and engagement to come home to me 🙂
- I go for long walks in the garden near my house. Nature is bountiful and joyful. The greenery uplifts my mood and the beauty of the flowers gladden my heart.
- Listening to music is another favorite pastime of mine. I love gazals, Sufi music, R.D. Burman’s songs. I hum along to entice my elusive thoughts like the Pied Piper of Hamelin :).
- My bookshelves become my lifesavers at times when writing is not an option.
- Visiting family and friends triggers creative juices to flow. The light-hearted interactions sometimes get converted into blog posts.
- I go to the movies and as I live their many lives, mine gets a fresh perspective.
How do you bring back the errant words into your life? Care to share your tricks with a struggling writer 🙂
Thanks In advance…
Fill your paper with the breathings of your heart. ~William Wordsworth
By Sulekha Rawat
Fortunately, I’ve not been struck by the block but one tip that someone gave me was to write a post beginning with ‘I remember’.
Talk about children when they were little, the phases you saw growing up, what you see when you walk, the quirks of relatives etc 🙂
What I have heard is wriying helps get the block ho away. So get to it as soon as you can. 🙂
Parul, I remember when I could write without prompts:) Thanks for the awesome tips, I will start with a few incidents from my kids’ growing up years. You are lucky the writer’s block hasn’t been a pain in your life. Happy writing.
You my friend are a magician! You weave magic with your “errant” words and, if this is what a writer’s block produces then may we all be inflicted by it from time to time 🙂
Rima, you are a sweetheart 🙂 It’s so nice to read comments from like minded writers and friends. I am motivated to write some more, thanks.
Just write with no intention to publish.. after some time, the words and ideas will form. That is my experience. Or write a question and answer kind of post or a list. It helps. You are so eloquent with your words and I don’t think anyone can forget their natural gifts.
Latha, thanks a ton. I like the ideas you and Parul have shared here. Lists are new to me, might try my hand at it.
Ah! We are in the same boat, Sulekha. A blank document has been staring at me for over a week now. Finally, I posted this picture post today. Sometimes, the words, ideas, thoughts just vanish into thin air. But then we need to sit and get back to work and they do come back like in your case. 🙂
I am sure you will come out of this too, love your posts. Try writing what Parul and Latha have suggested. Thanks a d best wishes.