Blocking Writer's Block

There are not many things in this world that I hate more than not being able to write. I get frustrated, angry, confused, and distraught. I get sick of everything I've been working and even less confident on what's already been long completed. It all leads to the vicious cycle of what some refer to as writer's block.

I've read articles where people claim that writer's block doesn't exist, it's a state of mind or it's only what you make of it. And there are always those people that insist that they've never gotten writer's block, they always have a healthy flow of ideas and never struggle to put a word on the page. Well, good for them. But I think it's a load of crap.

At some point in every writer's life, whether their a lyricist, novelist, columnist, or copywriter, I feel that everyone has had at least of moment of insecurity, self doubt. A feeling of blankness where no words exist for every stinkin' thought that floats around in their brain. It's how they deal with that feeling that makes the difference. It's how they block writer's block that makes them the writers that they are.

For me, blocking writer's block can be a struggle. No, it IS a struggle. Right this moment. In fact, that is the reason that my hands are resting on this keyboard right now. Why every word is coming...slowly. Why if I were, talking, you'd be, confused, why I was, pausing, so much. But ultimately that is the reason why I'm typing this post in first place. An attempt at a block. Keeping the words flowing, the mind working.

It doesn't matter that I'm a lyricist writing a blog post. It's the fact that I'm writing. Putting words together to form sentences that make sense. Somewhat. I may not deal well with my mind not wanting to cooperate but this is how I fight myself. This is how I force myself into thinking and how I dig myself out of the hole that is the resting place of my songwriting career.

You know what, those people that say writer's block is a state of mind and only what you make of it aren't that far off base. It may not be as easy as me telling myself that I don't have it and writing the next #1 hit. It'll probably take time, pain, and a little more frustration. And most importantly I know it's going to take a little extra effort toward realizing that something has to be done about it.

Yes, there are those rare moments when a lyric comes and you have that moment of genius where you feel like an unstoppable, rhyming force. But for the most part writing that special line is work. Like putting together a puzzle that the dog got into and chewed to crap. But if it's what you want to do, write and be good at it, the work is worth it and to be expected. Sometimes you have to your hands covered in dog saliva and get out the Scotch tape. But it's worth it in the end.

It's so worth it.