Rochester Writers Association

It happens to the best of us. You're happy, enthralled with the genius of your ingenuity, and writing as fast as possible. The ideas are flowing like the Mississippi during the rainy season. Then out of nowhere, WHAM! All the beavers in America decide to dam your creativity. You shake your head to clear your mind, unsure of what just happened.

And then you stare numbly at your computer screen. Your mind freaks out as you realize that the villainous writer's block has struck. That thought leaves you debating whether or not you should whack your head into the keyboard. Or maybe you feel like the ink in your pen has dried, there's lead missing in your mechanical pencil or the lead in your normal pencil is so brittle nothing happens but breaking as you try to write and your fifty miles from the nearest office supply store.

What's a writer to do? The only thing we can. Crawl into a ball, roll around on the floor, and then moan, groan and whine to anyone who will listen. Down fifty cups of coffee, blame your sister, mother, brother, father, best friend, boyfriend, girlfriend, husband, wife, and/or children and then get over it.

GET OVER IT?!?! You would at this point scream at me for not sympathizing. But, I can't. The only thing that can cure writer's block is to WRITE.

Before you ask, no I haven't lost my mind. But, I have learned (strictly through trial and error) that you have to FORCE the creativity. Find writing prompts. Literally type "writing prompts" into your search engine and just wait to be bombarded as the results fly in. Then pick one that doesn't want to make you hurl obscenities at the author (i.e. What did you do for summer vacation?) and pound out the words. If that doesn't work, flip through a magazine, newspaper, old book and write down any words that "jump out" at you and merge them until you can write a sentence. If that doesn't work, just write over and over and over again "I do not know what to write." or "This is stupid, why do I ever listen to Susan." and you could even try, "I will write today." The point is, you are telling your spoiled, always gets its way, 2 year old mind who is boss. It says you can't write, you say you can. Let's see who wins.

After a few hours, days, or even weeks you will BREAK out of the trap of writer's block. You will be able to stand on your desk chair, recliner, kitchen chair, or even coffee table and give out a massive war cry as you pound the writer's block to the ground. Showing that you have taken over the world and you are no longer afraid of the blank page, the empty screen or the pen with dried out ink!

It is highly important that every writer has their own space. It can be as simple as a t.v. table faced away from the t.v. to as elaborate ensemble that is feng-shui accurate. The defining aspect that all writing spaces must share is what the writer gains from it. Peace and a work space. 

I believe that the best possible space would have items that inspire and calm. Some examples would be, if you are working on a poem that is centered around nature (besides taking a walk in the woods) you could have nature scene photos/images on the wall above your work area. Images of nature can be both inspiring and calming.

Currently, I have an old desk, reminds me of high school biology. In front of the desk on the wall is a little plaque that reminds me to believe in my dreams. To the left, on the wall is a calendar with a degree hanging over it. On the desk itself, are little figurines that remind me of my current work.

In fact, right now, there is a statue of Ganesha, miniature island statues, and a sunken ship. All of which tie into what I am currently working on.

The most important part of the space is that it has given my mind an area that it has associated with writing. It is the one place that when I sit down to write I don't become distracted. A cup of coffee, pen and paper and I'm on my way. If you haven't created your space yet, I highly recommend it.