Lesson 5 – Writing When You Can’t

“Writer’s Block” or writing when you really want to but are stuck for ideas Have you ever really, really wanted to get something out but found you just can’t? Maybe you get the first part of the first sentence out and then… nothing? There’s also *that* letter that you’re trying to write. You know the one. Everyone gets stuck sometimes no matter what kind of writing they’re trying to do (research, personal/journal, letter. You’re in a big club. Everyone’s been here with us at one point or another. The point is getting past the glitch.

Nothing is ever permanent. It can be erased. Do you edit posts that go up on boards? Do you go back, erase things, and start again? This is essentially what’s happening when you’re stuck in your writing. Your head is so busy editting that your heart never has a chance to get out what it needs to and your hand never has an opportunity to put it down. When you’re stuck for ideas or ways to express yourself just keep writing. This is not about perfection, it’s about getting your stuff down. So when you get stuck just write what’s going through your mind, write nonsense words, just write. I’ll show you the rest in a minute.

As an example….

Dear F,
I don’t know what to write here but I told myself I’d give this a try. yatta, yatta, yatta. Still don’t know what to write. The past year has been so hard and I’ve missed you desperately. I know you don’t ever want to need anyone but I need you. ok, what do I need you for? Man this is the part that gets hard. What if I say something that comes out wrong? I feel like nothing I’ve said this year has been right. And so I’ve forgotten what else I want to say. Stupid memory and I’m stuck not knowing what to write again.

Every time I’ve opened my mouth to talk you’ve told me I’m wrong or given me that look. How can I be real/genuine and not express what I feel? As far as I can see it doesn’t work. And so I’m alone. Am I? What if he just tells me I’m not again? Blah, blah, blah. Ok, so for the last year you haven’t let me help you in any way yet you expect me to ask you for ……..

This may not be the best example but just so it’s obvious that the idea is to just blather away and write whatever is in your head, even the garbage. Especially the garbage because lots can be found out by some of the things that end up written down. The next step is to go back and erase all the extraneous stuff and rearrange.

Again…

Dear F,
The past year has been so hard and I’ve missed you desperately. I know you don’t ever want to need anyone but I need you. I feel like nothing I’ve said this year has been right. Every time I’ve opened my mouth to talk you’ve told me I’m wrong or given me that look. How can I be real/genuine and not express what I feel? As far as I can see it doesn’t work. And so I’m alone. For the last year you haven’t let me help you in any way yet you expect me to ask you for ……………

Then read it again and keep writing. Add things into the middle that you’ve thought about, things that you might find missing and just keep running on and editing after it’s on the page, NOT in your head. It’s something that works for me and amazing, actually, that you can get a functioning piece of writing out of a bunch of seeming trash.

Here you go, give it a try by starting with this.

“If your child wants to lick the beaters on the mixer, shut off the motor before letting him.”

Do you shut off your own beaters before you indulge? That is, are you always working in high speed? Do you slow down enough to actually enjoy the more fun aspects of life?

Just jump in, give it a try, and have a great week!