Sunday, July 13, 2014

Let it Go: A Writer’s Enema

Write Tribe

       Writing, blogging, hunting and peck typing….they are all related.  There are words on the page, right?  Yes, there are.  So I am writing.  That is half the battle with writers block.  Just sit down and type.  Type random thoughts at the top of your head and let them flow on the screen.  Who said it had to be perfect?  Me.   That is why a lot of things get backspaced and deleted into oblivion, simply because letting just anything flow on the page often ends up looking like raw sewage.  It stinks…BAD.  Where is the industrial size can of Febreeze when you need it?

        What amazes me is then a person puts that raw sewage out there.  You fan the stench by sharing it on every social media platform known to man hoping, against hope, that some sorry bastard will be curious, follow that link, and read it, and maybe even form enough of an opinion to actually comment on it.  Deep down in your heart, you know it is raunchy and crusty.  You know or believe it sucks.  Still you post it anyways just to prove you can.  You wax poetic.   You post it because, honestly, that is all you got! Wonders of wonders, folks stop in and read the raw sewage that flowed out of your brain and actually comment.  If you are like me, you try to avoid the ole inbox because deep down you know what you wrote was shit, the simple ramblings from a very foggy brain, but you still want people to LIKE your shit.   Your inbox fills up to overflowing.  Amazed you simply can’t resist going there and reading what they have to say about what you wrote.  You HAVE to know.

 
           At that point, if you are me, you become hopelessly confused.  Do these people actually LIKE shit or are they just being polite? Have they bought into that ‘say something nice or don’t say anything at all’ that you have been spoon fed since birth and follow it to a tee?  They know it is shit, you know it is shit, but still they spout that “this is so poignant, so brilliantly written BS” and you know what?  You buy it.  You want to believe the fairytale that your writing is actually good.   You so desperately want people to get you.  Understand where you are coming from, that you thank them, are unbelievably floored by their amazing comments, and rush right out with your dreams and heart on your sleeve and write more drivel once again.

                It is a vicious cycle, I tell you!   Lately it has driven me up the proverbial wall.  So far up, that I am in danger of plunging off and shattering into a million pieces, much like Humpty Dumpty.  Quickly checking to make sure I am not really SHAPED like him.  No, no I am not.  At least, I am not shaped like that YET.    Then there is the question, if I can have this much diarrhea of the brain spewing forth onto the computer screen…am I truly blocked after all?  Am I just a sorry lazy ass?  Do I need the metaphorical enema to spew forth a piece of writing which is actually entertaining and brilliantly written?  Obviously, yes, yes I do… because the bottom line is…I AM full of shit.  You know it, I know it, and everybody knows it.



         With that said, how do you battle that dreaded writer’s block that leaves you panicked, pissed off, and feeling despondent? 

       1. Write!!  Something, anything.  Let that raw sewage flow.  Let it go!!! Don’t hold back anymore.  It is no fun being constipated.  Let it spew forth and free you! 

2. Don’t worry.  Be happy!

3.  Laugh!  Giggle until you pee your pants, your belly hurts, and fluids are leaking from every known orifice then transfer that unbridled glee to that blank screen.  Let people THINK you drink hair spray and you are bat shit crazy if that is what does it for you and then write that shit down!!  God knows, you must document this moment, if for no other reason than because you can.

4.  Read.  Yes, you heard me.  Read other people’s work.  If they can write it, so can you!

5. Believe in yourself.  That is one I have to work on big time.  Believe you can instead of believing you suck and can’t.

6.  Last but not least, if you got nothing after all that, walk away for a while.  If you are not feeling it, don't force it.  Sleep, drink, eat, and be merry doing something else.  When you come back refreshed, you may be surprised to find your words have returned with you.  Start back at square one and let those pigeons loose.  Let it go!


     Before you know it, writer’s block will be a thing of the past.



36 comments:

  1. Great post Kathy..no, really! I mean it!!! Lol
    Every now and again I get to where I just don't know what to write...or when!
    I don't want to tell the same kind of stories every time...people will get bored.
    So as you suggest I read other's blogs, not to rehash what they did...but to knock something loose in the old nogin. I avoid writing prompts, that feels too much like homework to me! Hahaha.
    Great topic!

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Joe, I know exactly how you feel! I think one of my big issues was that I ran out of crazy real life scenarios to talk about. I literally buried my parents so many times on this blog, relived my rape, relived being beaten by my first husband, and all the insecurities of I have always felt of feeling unaccepted. Sure, it was funny as hell in hindsight but in the process made me look like a complete dumb ass. Then I branched out and tried writing fiction and now I am feeling a bit alienated once again. UGH no happy medium. I always like the writing prompts because I didn't have to think very hard until I started trying to write fiction. I am glad you enjoyed my post. I have struggled a lot with writer's block this summer and all those pent up emotions came out in this post. Thank you for stopping by and for your encouraging comments. ♥

      Delete
  2. That's being darn honest... admire you for that :)

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Loudthinkin, I am pretty much a tell it just how it is person. Thank you for stopping by and for your kind comments! ♥

      Delete
  3. Wow! You really did pour your feelings out, didn't you? Good for you. Bet that felt better doing that, too. I think we all can relate to the feelings you go through. I get dreaded writer's block or worse, the ol inner critic telling me not to bother writing as it's too hard and my stuff is all crap anyhow and can't compete with other writers. I have to constantly fight these negative influences and persevere because I like writing too much to quit and I think you do, too. And hey, you have new glasses now. No excuse not to write!

    http://cattitudeandgratitude.blogspot.ca/2014/07/ubc-day-13-today-is-embrace-your-inner.html

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Cathy, yes, yes I did and it felt GOOD! Probably the best thing I have written all summer. Writer's Block sucks big time and this prevailing feeling of laziness doesn't help either. Thank you so much for stopping by and for your comments! ♥

      Delete
  4. Honestly, Kathy, if your writing was nothing but s***, I'd have dropped you like a hot potato. Believe me, I've been suckered into some posts which promise to be enlightening and entertaining, but they either drone on and on (worse than writer's block is the sewer flow of words when the writer doesn't understand how to be concise), or are so fixated on their own problems, they don't leave room for themselves and for others to grow. You have expressed yourself marvelously, and given other readers great advice on how to not succumb to writer's block and to be mindful of what they actually do put out there. Blogging is competitive. Those who want to blog, take heed! Blessings!

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Martha, I am so pleased and happy you enjoy my writing even when I feel like it is bad. You offer so much encouragement here and on your own blog and I am so grateful for it and your friendship. Thank you for stopping by and for your sweet comments! ♥

      Delete
  5. You are full of shit too? I thought it was just me? lol The cat never gets writers block at his sea, going on four years and not a one, plus when you are 130 posts ahead, you can take breaks, so that may help too lol

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Pat, oh yes completely full of shit...that is me! You are lucky you never get writer's block. Your blog is amazing! When I was growing up my Dad used to ask me how tall I was ...well 5 feet. He would reply "WOW, I didn't know they stacked shit that high! Thanks for stopping by and for your sweet comments! ♥

      Delete
  6. Hey, that's really sage, honest advice. I admit, I've felt like that at times. But f it, the important thing is to write and hopefully grow, right? Love it, and thanks for writing.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Patricia, I agree! Thank you so much for stopping by! I am so pleased you enjoyed my advice. Most of the time it works for me. ♥

      Delete
  7. Y'know Kathy, lately I have been feeling the same that I have been writing shit and people are reading it too (sometimes appreciating) Guess, they are being too gentle with me. But I understand what a writer's block can sometimes do with you....it srews up your mind (sometimes).

    I love those tips here, guess I need to take a breather and start again :) Thanks!

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Kajal, it certainly does. I have so much self doubt lately it is simply ridiculous. I have decided to slow this blogging business down a bit to allow the mush between my ears to catch up a bit. It is important to me to keep up with the comments answering and reciprocating on my blog. If I can't it seems stupid to write more until everything is in order with what I have written in the past. Doesn't matter how many challenges you sign up for, if you got it, you got it and if you don't you don't. Why force it and stress about it. Just got to do the best you can. Thank you for stopping by and for your sweet comments! ♥

      Delete
  8. O you really let it all come out, didn't you? :) Good for you, Kathy! Appreciate your honest take on this, and agree with you that sometimes we just need to breathe easy and walk away....we can't write good stuff all the time, so no use trying :)

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Beloo, yes I did and it felt really good. Thank you so much for your sweet comments! ♥

      Delete
  9. I can relate to this post which is simply written honestly and brilliantly too! I have these doubts all the time but I believe, the key is to keep writing, someday, we will reach there and in the mean time, we can be thankful for the generous and kind comments that keep getting! :)

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Shilpa, good point and great advice! Thank you for stopping by and for your sweet comments! ♥

      Delete
  10. Now that was a purge if I ever saw one. I think we all have wondered at some point if people are being polite or if they truly like your post. What the heck if they want to drop by and say hello, let them. I love your frankness and sense of humour and you are the haiku queen. Keep writing.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Suzy, thank you for stopping by and for your sweet comments! I think it just a phase of self doubt that I have been going through. It has been difficult. I don't really want to quit writing but I don't want to force it either. This prompt came along at just the right time because I needed to get those feelings out of my system.

      Delete
  11. When I tell you I like your stuff i really mean it!!!! :D I'm glad you are pushing through and did this post!

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. JoJo, It is a struggle I just have to plow through the best I can. Thank you for stopping by and for your kind words and reading my drivel even when it is below par. I appreciate it. ♥

      Delete
  12. LOL!!
    you have said it all !!
    and yea, when I like something I say so and if I have nothing to say on a post, I simply pass on.. it doesn't mean the writing is bad - it just means I don't know what to say! :D

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. pixie, I generally can find something nice to say but when I can't I pass on too. Thank you for stopping by and for your kind comments! ♥

      Delete
  13. Been there numerous times and slightly there now. Excellent post.

    Father Nature's Corner

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. GB, I am pleased you enjoyed it. Just wrote it from the gut. Thank you so much for stopping by and for your kind comments! ♥

      Delete
  14. I so loved the honesty in your post.
    For me laziness is an issue... sometimes the ideas swirl in my head, but I can't get into that 'blogging' mood to pen it down.
    Reading other bloggers helps a lot.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Rajlakshmi, laziness is a big issue for me this summer. I will be so much better off after the kids go back to school because then I will have no distractions. Thank you for stopping by and for your kind comments! ♥

      Delete
  15. And this exactly is why I love you Kathy! I found myself giggling all along. Huge hugs! I just waved my magic wand on you and wished that you never ever stop writing!

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Vidya, HA HA HA! Well thank you for that magic wave. Hope it works. I am so pleased you enjoyed my shit. One of best pieces of "shit" I have written all summer. OK I will behave! LOLOLOLOLOLOLOLOL Thank you so much for stopping by and making my day with your bubbly comment! ♥

      Delete
  16. Such a honest flow of "shit" ...Loved it. And I agree to most of the points you mentioned and incidently some of them feature in mine too. But I liked that idea of laughing away... Is your second name Giggle by any chance Kathy..Coz that is what you make us do most

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. shiva, HA HA HA HA HA HA!!! LMAO!!! Why yes, yes it was a honest flow of shit! You can usually count on me to have an honest flow of shut when I am on my game. I tend to laugh, a lot and am known to get the giggles to such extremes that I piss my pants. You will have that after having kids. The pucker on the ole bladder just ain't what it used to be. HA HA HA . Thank you so much for stopping by and for your kind comments! ♥

      Delete
  17. Great advice - to write! I could relate to the comments part. Sometimes the kind comments can give a false sense of greatness (but it is nice to read :) )

    I know you'll find your place in writing. In the meantime, I have to say, this was some good sh*t!

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. jannatwrites, LOL so pleased you enjoyed this bit of shit! HA HA Thank you so much for stopping by and for your kind comments! ♥

      Delete
  18. This is not shit at all, but quite fabulous really. I am so stuck right now, so really needed this. (But trust me - everything I write these days, true shit indeed!)

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. charleneaross, writing it helped me a bit and wouldn't you know all this shit spewing forth may be the best thing I have written all summer. Here is to great shit!! Thank you for stopping by and for your sweet comments! ♥

      Delete