Wednesday, May 1, 2013

Block



The irony behind this post is I have a self-diagnosed case of bloggers' block. Symptoms: anxiety, frustration, headache, and the dreaded blank page.  The pristine page mocks me, daring me to string sentences together to form a post worth reading. It's been going on for a couple of days now.

Periodically I find myself stuck in my own head.  Going in circles. I put undue pressure on myself.



I tend to over analyze...

I mentioned my plight to a few blogging friends, and the general consensus was...relax.  Do something other than think about writing.  One blogger suggested I go outside...change my surroundings (I was happy to comply, as the sky was clear, the sun was shining and it was warm.  In short, a perfect day).  Another suggested reading a good book or cooking something special.  Others simply commiserated.  Which amazed me. Low and behold, others go through the same thing! This helped because I was beginning to gravitate toward feeling that I'm the only one who's experienced the phenomenon of the blank page. I discovered I'm not that important.  Shocking (said tongue in cheek). This grounded me. It is the true beauty of a network of colleagues who share my passion for writing. We are all on common ground.



I did something different. I went for a run, got a massage and recharged my creative mind.

In order to burst out of my mental block, I'm just going to write.

Well, perhaps ramble if you will.  The page isn't blank....so it's a start.  Short but sweet.  I feel liberated.

Lesson learned today?  If I'm stuck in a rut, feeling alone....reach out and ask for help.  That is not a sign of weakness.  It is, my friends,  strength.

Peace out.

17 comments:

  1. Michelle, a 'block' is nature's way of telling us we need a break. Never force yourself out of a block. It is like shaking yourself up violently from a deep sleep.

    Glad you woke up though.

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    1. Thank you Uma...I'm learning, slowly but surely :)

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  2. You always write from the heart Michelle, & that's exactly what it takes!
    Cheers, ic

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    1. Thank you Ian...your comments always seem to pick me up!

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  3. Where's the writer's block today Michelle? You actually did a good post about it and I definitely know the feeling. Sometimes we just have to let it run it's course and when something comes to mind then write about it.

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    1. Ha Ha!! Thank you! Relaxing has never been my strong suit, as I'm sure you've figured out by now. I'll get there :) With a little help from my friends...

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  4. I've learned to never force it. One day at a time...one post at a time. You always write from a place of authenticity. And who cares if that's every day or once a week. Your writing is always quality!

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  5. Michelle, I'll trade one of my posts for a massage any day. As I've written elsewhere: "Writer's block is a writer's holiday."

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  6. First of all, Michelle, your ponytails and pouty expression are pretty damn adorable. If you're a highly motivated individual, writer's block can really throw you for a loop. Like others have said, it's simply a gentle suggestion to slow down and enjoy the moment. Glad to see you're back in the saddle, literally and figuratively!

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    1. Kris, you crack me up!! Thank you for the chuckle :) It's good to be back!

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  7. Michelle, I tend to over analyze too. Sometimes I get writer’s block. Other times I have too much in my head and cannot get it all down fast enough. (I also run into the problem of wanting to blog but having to wait and go back to it later because I have a spouse who complains when I blog; he thinks it’s unproductive. I totally disagree!) Even with writer’s block, you still wrote a great post about having writer’s block! You are a natural born writer!

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  8. All you need to do is step back...don't think about it too much. Be silly and clear your mind of all the noise. Once you've done that - your sanity will come back to you even stronger!

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  9. I think this post was great because of your honesty! I have been there before too!

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