Reflections on 2010

Man, I am finally, finally breaking out of my writer’s block that started around the holidays last year. It didn’t start as a writer’s block, just a shift in priorities that took me away from my creative writing. My day job is information development—writing user guides, online help systems, instructional materials, and I had a wonderfully busy end of year and first quarter. I’m a consultant so I put a lot of effort into my work when I have it to compensate for the slow times. Unfortunately, that means work often cuts into my time for other activities. But I knew it was temporary so I didn’t worry. But when I did have a little time for creative writing, I discovered not only was I rusty, but I was tapped out of ideas, stuck on a chapter that really sucked, and I was speeding down the highway to Demotivationville. And I made it all the way there, even became the mayor for a while.

If you’ve ever experienced a roadblock like this in your writing, music, art or anything you pursue creatively, you know how totally disheartening losing your mojo can be. I figured I would ride it out, but after a while it seemed like an awfully long ride.

I helped my publisher write and produce materials for a couple of major author events we just wrapped up and I finally had to admit to him that I had hit a brick wall. He understood and assured me that my slump would be temporary. He was right. And it helped to learn that even the big name authors suffer occasional downturns. I thought they might be slightly more invincible, immune to that. Wrong.

So how did I work through it? I tried writing something different but it just didn’t feel right. I kept riding it out and did other things. If you ever experience this, here are some suggestions:

·         Believe in what you’re doing

·         Find others that believe in you

·         Take a deep breath

·         Take a break

·         Start a new hobby or pick up an old hobby during your “sabbatical”

·         Listen to some totally raucous Classical music. Loud.

·         Read a good book

·         Hug your significant other

·         Read a bad book and then say out loud, “Jeezus, my writing is phenomenal compared to this crap!”

·         Listen to some cool Jazz on a steamy afternoon

·         Hug your pet

·         Call your mom or your relative or friend of choice and have her/him tell you everything will be just fine

·         Listen to some kickass Rock

·         Take a walk and find something that inspires you

·         People watch and find something that inspires you

·         Listen to some totally righteous R & B

·         Hug your kids

The recent author events pumped me up and gave me the incentive to dive back into my writing. I learned that it’s okay to take a break but don’t ever, and I mean never give up. In the immortal words of General Douglas McArthur: “Age wrinkles the body. Quitting wrinkles the soul.”

--TR, May 2011

Ahh, the ocean...