Tuesday, September 11, 2007

Writers Block and other musings

After not writing for about a month - and i have lots of excuses for not doing so, but i won't list them lest others get ideas - i decided to identify the main problem and write about it. Well i figured i was confronting the dreaded Writer's Block - which according to an article in Wikipedia - is a phenomenon involving temporary loss of ability to begin or continuing writing, usually due to lack of creativity or inspiration. Note i have some words in bold - these are the blocks of the definition that i could best identify with - because i began numerous posts - and there was enough to inspire me but no creativity to keep me going. The same article then goes on to say that the best way to overcome it is to write whatever comes to mind and to fix a specific time in the day and write regardless of the quality of the output. So taking heart, i have set out to lay down some random thoughts that have come to my mind - its like framing the doodles that you draw in the margins of notebooks - its by no means any great art - but it has its time and place.

  • i really like chatting to my grandmother - every time i call her i am greatly relieved to hear that not much has changed in the world of parenting since her time - thats atleast for the last fifty or sixty years - its very comforting to know that while everything is about change around us - some things never change.
  • i like going for a walk - you get to meet the most interesting people when you are out and about - and of course it helps you to lose pounds and inches.
  • its great meeting up with old friends and i really like it when i have an unannounced visit from friends - it really makes my day - its nice to have a chat sitting around the table with a steaming cuppa - it transforms the mundane things that we talk about into scintillating conversations.
  • its fun to see old photographs and videos - you can laugh at yourself and you are the only one who does not find it boring.
  • i subscribe to heartwarmers - a website that sends me emails every couple of days about things that, well, warm the heart - this morning the usual story came with a bonus of some witty one liners. I have taken the liberty of pasting some of the ones that i really liked- i hope i am not violating any laws in doing so.

    On a Plumber's truck: "Don't sleep with a drip. Call your plumber."

    Pizza Shop Slogan: "7 days without pizza makes one weak."

    At a Towing company: "We don't charge an arm and a leg. We want
    tows."

    On an Electrician's truck: "Let us remove your shorts."

    On a Maternity Room door: "Push. Push. Push."

    At an Optometrist's Office: "If you don't see what you're looking
    for, you've come to the right place."

    In a Podiatrist's office: "Time wounds all heels."

    On a Fence: "Salesmen welcome! Dog food is expensive."

    At a Car Dealership: "The best way to get back on your feet - miss a
    car payment."

    Outside a Muffler Shop: "No appointment necessary. We hear you
    coming."

    In a Veterinarian's waiting room: "Be back in 5 minutes. Sit! Stay!"

    In a Restaurant window: "Don't stand there and be hungry, Come on in
    and get fed up."

    In the front yard of a Funeral Home: "Drive carefully. We'll wait...
I think i will end it here for now, hoping that tomorrow inspiration and creativity will take over finally bringing this temporary phase to an end and proving that the cure really works!!!

5 comments:

himali said...

I could totally relate with your post as I read. Iam a graphic designer and there have been so many projects that just didnt get the right start. There were times when I could not think of a theme, a creative layout for even the simplest of projects. IF that came through, I would get stuck with the colour scheme. My professor introduced me to the term "mental block":):). I used all the tricks like go for a coffee break, or watch TV..listen to music..even go to the gym. Now when I look back at those few projects, I can but only smile.

Malina said...

Yes, I used to face writer's block, too when I was freelancing for a newspaper in Dhaka and I face it now while writing posts in our blog.In my case the block becomes more of an obstacle when I try hard to be creative....but at times it just vanishes when I least expect it.

Anonymous said...

So far I thought I haven't suffered from mental block but I could see it creeping up from time to time, that was till I read this post. Generally I have some surplus ideas but as you said continuing on them sometimes is a difficult thing. But I'll tell you what..some of those unfinished goods actually turn out into real good articles... later

Ketaki said...

Tell me about the BLOCK! There are hours and days I sit and stare at my computer screen. SHobha De says that a writer has to be disciplined. So even though what she may write in the day of the block turns out to be C%^&, she still trudges on (This is the only thing of Shobha's that I remember)

Ketaki said...

The last part of your post reminds of me all the hilarious forwards we shared. I still remember the one that youscanned and mailed me.