When William Gibson is writing (or “stuck”, he adds) he looks at photos of objects on ebay. “EBay as shamanic induction device.” I know this because I read his blog, which is what I do when I’m stuck. I read writers’ blogs, searching for evidence of their humanity, which I always find and which reassures me. Sometimes I do other things too. Like climbing Ulriken. What do you do?
7 thoughts on “working at writing”
Leave A Comment
Recommended Posts
Torill
I don’t have to use an email-address any more? YAY. Anyway, I commented on this post in my blog – you made me realise that writer’s block isn’t all about writing.
Cassandra
If it ever happens, I’ll let you know.
Eirik
Whenever I get stuck (as most writers will do from time to time) I take a page from one of the most prolific writers of all time, Isaac Asimov. He usually had many different texts to write, and simply switched to a different text for a while. This is why I find having a blog so helpful, BTW.
mcb
Walking definitely helps, I think. But talking with wise friends can often help unstick a stuck mind.
Christian
I blame it on someone else, it might not be right, but it really helps. 🙂
pericat
Another method, related to Eirik’s approach, useful if you are pressed for time and simply must break out of your block, is to write, well, nonsense. The first word that comes to mind, write it down. Then the next, and the next. Don’t be concerned if they form sentences or even have any sensible relation. Some minutes of that, and you may find yourself back on track.
If that doesn’t do it, pick another page and write a letter to your mom. She’ll be glad to hear from you whether or not the exercise of writing her does the trick. 🙂
Jill
I like the nonsense approach – it often works for me.
Though actually, since I’ve been blogging, I don’t have writer’s block. Which is quite useful actually: I’ve proved to myself that I can always write, and I always find something that’s interesting enough to me that I want to think about it and write about it, ‘cos I do in my blog – but sometimes I don’t WANT to write, at anyrate not a serious academic essay or thesis or whatever.
Seeing the difffernece is very useful.