Archive for May, 2006

Overcoming Writer’s Block

I’ve just read an interesting article on blogging. The author on the blog called The Qwertyrash Blogs has written a piece on Blogger’s Block. This is just a blogosphere term for the old fashioned “writer’s block.” (Update November 2013: The Qwertyrash Blogs no longer exist.)

He suggests that there are two distinct types of writer’s block.

1. Writer’s Block where you are “bereft of ideas.” He includes some useful hints on helping to overcome this malady, including carrying a notebook to jot down ideas.

I don’t so much suffer from writer’s block, but rather “writer’s forgettery” – so I have a pad of recycled paper (used stuff printed on one side only) and I immediately jot down ideas as they occur to me. That way I always have a list of topics to write about in my three blogs (see the Links section for my other blogs). I also have a file on my computer listing all the topics I could write about in the future. This is a long list. I don’t think I’ll run out of writing ideas for a few decades yet.

That reminds me of a Calvin and Hobbs cartoon I have somewhere in my files. Calvin looks extremely frazzled and the caption says, “God put me on Earth to achieve a certain number of things. Right now I’m so far behind I am going to live forever!”

2. Writer’s Glug is the lesser known form of writer’s block. I love that term. So descriptive! He says that writer’s glug is “where you have the ideas but writing feels like walking through deep mud – quite laborious.”

Yeah – like none of us know what that is like!

The article goes on to give some very useful hints on overcoming this particular problem. My solution is often to get out and go for a walk. It clears out the cobwebs. I also take my binoculars and go birdwatching. This will invariably give me something to write about in my birding blog!

What works for you?

I’d like to read the ideas of my readers. How do you overcome writer’s block?

Updated November 2013.

Haiku #6

Pond Near Freeway

Water lilies float

In peace and tranquillity

Unconcerned by rush!

© 2006 Trevor W. Hampel.

Haiku #5

Ghostly morning mist

Hovering silently, chills –

It dampens spirits!

© 2006 Trevor W. Hampel

What do you think?

Okay – I’ve been brave enough to post four of my haiku over recent days.

Baring my creative soul, so to speak.

I invite readers’ comments.

What do you think?

Excellent? Good? Average? Could do better? Stinks?

Haiku #4

Seascape on Land

Soft waves ripple-race

On meadow-green luscious grass.

Look! It flows uphill!

© 2006 Trevor W. Hampel