Sunday, March 27, 2011

Writer's Block

I'm not saying that I have writer's block today, but sometimes when I'm trying to pull an idea out of the ether, I feel a lot like this:


Over the last day or two I've been making some serious progress on Jackhammer (forthcoming novel) and I have been working up the pitch I'm going to give a potential publisher that I'm meeting in Washington DC in a couple of weeks.

People commonly say that artists are batshit crazy, but I think that goes double for authors. You have to look into the abyss to write well, and as Nietzsche said, "When you look too long into the abyss, the abyss also looks back into you."

Thoreau said that it's not worth going around the world just to count cats in Zanzibar. I'm hoping that my journeys amount to more than counting cats when applied to the books I've written and am working on now.

BUT when I can hear one hand clapping, it's time to take a break from writing - or a cold shower - or something.

11 comments:

Coffeypot said...

HA on the cold shower. But that picture...couldn't do it. And it's not a good place to have an attack of diarrhea.

LL said...

It would make the ledge slick as greased -- whatever...

Xmichra said...

That is one of those pics that made me exlaim Holy Sh*t..lol...

I find that I get writters block as well, and I write on a more low-key level. So I hear ya.

Opus #6 said...

Artistic expression gives us a way to communicate with each other on a deep level. Hopefully that mitigates at least some of the troubles that drive us to want to express ourselves artistically.

Az said...

I'm sure that with your writing talent, you'll be back into it in no time :)

LL said...

Xmichra - It's just how it rolls, you're spot on.

Opus #6 - Without an avenue for self-expression, I'd explode.

Azra - I'm back already! thx

WoFat said...

Writers? Bat-shit crazy? Not me. Eeeehahahahahahahahahahahahaha!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

LL said...

You're the poster child, WoFat.

darlin said...

LL I was told by an English professor that when he gets that block he sits at his keyboard and types out random swearwords, he lets it out and then regroups. Just a suggestion, beats the hell out of clapping with one hand!

I read the first few pages of your novel, Bloody Mexico, and talk about hard to put it down, damn university gets in the way of my pleasure reading but all in good time I'll get to savor each and every word!

Have a great day and don't jump!

Race Bannon said...

Writers block is like...like...well...its like...

montreal said...

good...so nice..i like it...thanks

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