Unplugging the Muse

by Lori Soard

Lori Soard has a Ph.D. in Journalism and Creative Writing but she's hardly the stuffy professor type. She enjoys romantic comedies, and tries to incorporate humor into her writing because life usually gives her something to laugh about. She runs a variety of websites. You can access them all at www.lorisoard.com.

Make sure to check out Lori’s book, LIPSTICK DIARIES!

 

The "J" button on my keyboard bounces loose as I pound my head against the device and groan in frustration. I have two article deadlines, galleys to go through, and a paying copyedit job and I can't seem to focus on my computer screen for more than five minutes at a time. And my poor, abused, overused keyboard is protesting yet another moment of creative block by its owner.

As usual I can't come up with that catchy, opening hook that I know I need for my monthly article I write for the local newspaper. If I can just grasp that one perfect line then the rest flows easily for me. I squint, hoping it might magically appear next to my blinking cursor, but all I see is a lot of white space and a few dots dancing before my eyes.

I know I'm not alone in this frustration. When Pamela Johnson and I wrote So Your Muse Has Gone AWOL?, we interviewed hundreds of authors about writer’s block, creative blocks, and working through just this type of situation. Reminding myself of one story in particular of an author who writes through nearly debilitating arthritis pain, I place my fingers back over the keyboard and tap them lightly over the keys in the "starting typist position" without actually hitting them hard enough to punch those letters up on my screen.

I'm reminded of a quote by Gene Fowler—"Writing is easy: All you do is sit staring at a blank sheet of paper until drops of blood form on your forehead." Well, in this case I am staring at a blank computer screen, but I can definitely feel the drops of blood forming.

Why does writing have to be so hard? Why do I have to love writing? There are days—like today—when I wish that I could do anything else in this world. Lord knows there are easier ways to make a living and definitely ways that pay better. But, writing isn't a choice for me. I know that no matter what "job" I might go out and find, I will always write anyway, so I might as well make a living from my passion.

My friends, I have a confession. I am the queen of procrastination. Maybe there is an idea just floating in my inbox that will help me get started. The perfect quote from an interviewee. I click over to my e-mail and spend the next hour reading spam—hey, it’s better than bleeding from the forehead! Finally, unable to ignore a looming deadline any longer, I go back to my word processing program. Sadly, my muse hasn't written the opening line for me and curser still blinks, as though sticking its tongue out and taunting me.

Since I can't come up with an opening for my newspaper article on senior citizens who volunteer in my home town, I'll start that article on writer’s block that I promised to write for a friend. Of course, I'll need the perfect opening line...

Sidenote:

Although I took a light-hearted approach with this article/essay on writer’s block, there are times when it is no joking matter. There are specific steps you can take that will help you overcome block many times.

1. Work backwards—write the end and then the beginning.
2. Find a writing friend and bounce ideas back and forth either via instant message or on the telephone.
3. Read a good creativity book such as The Artists Way. And, of course I hope you'll consider reading So Your Muse Has Gone AWOL?
4. Keep your butt in the chair. Sounds simple, but it works. Keep writing, even if you can always edit. "I'm not a very good writer, but I'm an excellent rewriter." ~James Michener
5. Work on something else. Sometimes going to another project (like I wrote this while trying to come up with a hook for my newspaper article) can free up your creativity and get the juices flowing again.
6. Check out some ideas at musegoneawol.com
7. Sign up for Daily Muse Prompts hosted by Pamela Johnson through www.worldromancewriters.com (you must be a member of WRW but membership is free).
8. Remember why you love to write. Have fun!

© Lori Soard www.lorisoard.com