A Word on Writer's Block

            I’m having trouble writing. I used to love it, I could write for hours on end, never looking at the time, but at the moment words elude me. Sure I have ideas, just not words to put them into. Most people assume the hard part of writing is getting ideas. But that’s not true. The hardest part for many writers is figuring how to put that oh-so-awesome idea into equally awesome words. Let me tell you my little secret - I don’t have one! I’ve heard that the trick is to simply start writing, but that’s not the easiest thing in the world when you can put down anything worth any two cents that anybody would pay for it. People say you should write every day, even if it’s a sentence. Supposedly, the whole main idea of good writing is:
1. Write a good sentence
2. Write another good sentence
3. Repeat said steps 1 and 2 until you have a book, poem, or whatever.

            The trouble is step one. I try to write a nice sentence, and I slam right up against a brick wall. Just how does one write a good sentence? How does one go about choosing each word so carefully and placing it in the exact special way so that it causes the emotions flow from the heart? How do I trigger an outpouring of memories, senses that transport someone to another world?

"How do I trigger an outpouring of memories, senses that transport someone to another world?"

              I think something that has really improved my writing, the flow and continuity, has been writing songs and poetry. When you’re writing these things, you’re constantly having to decide on the perfect word to stay with the rhythm of the poem while still saying something deeply profound in every song (Unless you’re a horrible song-writer… but more on that later). I think every writer, no matter the type, should learn to write a decent poem and song. Don’t be afraid, if you have a phrase you absolutely adore, to turn it into a poem. Write your feelings about it. It doesn’t even have to rhyme, but keep in time, keep in idea, and keep in sync with all of the emotions flowing out of you.

              I believe words are directly connected to your emotions. Think about it. Words are uniquely powerful to portray all kinds of emotions and feelings and ideas. With them, you hold the power to giving life and take away life, to build something up or tear it down. Language is an incredible gift, and it should be treated as such.

"Language is an incredible 

gift, it should be treated 

as such."

            For example of this great gift, Love letters are beautiful things aren’t they? They’re written with someone in mind, and they’re often the most amazing works of literature you’ll ever find. Take any love-letter, any love-sick peice and you’ll immediately be carried away to a secret place deep within the author’s heart. Vice-versa, heartbreak is oft so well portrayed by words and music and rhythm. Music and words have a special ability to connect to someone’s heart. But this is an ability that is being sorely neglected due to today's culture.
             Today, the average attention span is shortened to half-a-page or less! That’s just sad! It's also reflected in the writing that is now produced. Take this blog, for instance. It's written in short blurbs, a journalistic style. Chapter lengths these days are shorter and we have to snag readers right a the get-go because today's reader is in a rush and doesn't have the time to actually read something through carefully. As a result, we're losing the depth to our writing that we once had, and "writers block" becomes even harder as we are less and less familiar with the good sentence. I’m guilty of this, and I think we need to settle down and just read.

"We need to settle down and just read."

See, when we’re babies we spend a great deal of time listening before we learn to speak our native tongue. It’s the same with writing. You must spend a huge amount of time reading works by excellent authors before you can even begin to put down something decent on the page. I think this is another reason as to why good writing is in such short supply but nobody seems to notice… people don’t read enough.
In conclusion, the solution isn’t simply to write. A fool has a multitude of words and still says nothing of value. But a wise man listens, and then when he has something full of transcendent truth and wisdom to say… he says it and it shakes the world.


     "If you do not breathe through writing, if you do not cry out in writing, or sing in writing, then don't write, because our culture has no use for it."
Anais Nin