I think I’m going through the phenomenon writers call writer’s block (although I just read a writer’s diatribe that it doesn’t exist. He says if a writer can’t write, she’s not a writer.) Each time I sit down to write to an idea I’ve had, nothing but the first line comes out. And when I push myself to continue, sentences form, sure enough, but they go nowhere with no point being made. It’s maddening and it’s tiring.
It’s also unfamiliar to me. As a professional developer of ideas that get concocted from thin air and build into television events or projects it stands to reason that the prolific creativity machine should be well oiled to avoid misfires. It’s not.
Image by thorinside via Flickr
This writing thing is a different medium. And I’m not so bold as to actually call myself a writer; I’m not (see Mr. Writer expert?). I’m practicing to become one. To find my voice. To develop a style. To stumble upon a genre. And to be honest, because truth-telling is one of those necessary virtues in non-fiction writing, which seems to be my preference. At least for now.
After participating in a 4-week non-fiction creative writing series for women, I came away a little more practiced and fluid, but with no principles to stash in my back pocket to help with construction. She said there were none. Maybe that’s the case for creative writing. But certainly there are things to remember when putting fingers to the keyboard with the intention of making the material interesting to people.
Image by _e.t via Flickr
As I write I’m sitting in the Barnes & Noble Cafe with a stack of writing and pop culture magazines to get my juices flowing. This technique always worked during my TV years. Bring a notebook, grab some magazines and books, peruse them and brainstorm new concepts. And in fact, as soon as I sat down with my tall decaf and biscotti, this notion of spilling my guts occurred to me. Maybe if I actually record my stuckness, I’ll become unstuck?
My years of television creation appealing to a mass public has taught me that if you want people to watch, you have to give them something they can identify with, become fascinated by, aspire to or become informed by. And you have to target the right crowd.
Well my crowd is the boomer population, particularly boomer women with professional backgrounds because that’s where I am in my life. Working to discover “next” that’s as exciting as what was. And to share the process as I live life unencumbered by the daily routine of deadlines, expectations and management challenges.
But I digress. My dear friend in California is in the throes of self publishing her first book. How cool is that? We worked together in radio many moons ago and she’s moved on to a number of things, one of which keeps her passion for writing alive. I can’t wait to buy a copy.
For now, I’ll continue to muddle my way through. I’m discovering writing to be an interesting challenge. And I got a gig as a community columnist for our local daily paper. I hope to make those pieces interesting. And I really really hope I don’t experience this kind of obstacle with my deadline looming. I have 3 in the can, so to speak, ready for tweaking. Cross your fingers for me.
In the meantime — tell me, how do you oil your writing machines? Please oh please share! Now on to my magazines!
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