Writer's block

I'm trying to write a report. Actually, I'm trying to write two fairly major reports in the same week. Obviously at some point when I was planning my work, I thought this was a good idea. A week writing at home, with cat curled up beside me. I like writing. I like cats. I love my house. Perfect.

Nope. Actually, it's very, very painful. And suddenly there are squillions of fascinating distractions.

I have looked at favourite blogs & friends' websites umpteen times over. They haven't changed since the last time I looked. But at least I'm doing wonders for their hit rates. And I find you really can miss those tiny details the first ten times you read something...

I have sorted out my diary for the next two weeks. I have consumed my entire body weight in sugar.  I have exchanged e-mails with people I haven't seen for years, and shot replies back to new messages at lightening speed. I have thoughtfully sent cards to friends.  I have been totally delighted to hear from anyone who phoned me, hung on their every word and become mildly hysterical when they tried to end the conversation.

If I still worked in an office, I would by now have driven my team to distraction pacing up and down, pleading with them to talk to me and pinching any available food off their desks. Being at home instead, I have at least resisted the enticing call of the pile of ironing in the airing cupboard. So far.

I have re-written the same sentences approximately 25 times. They are now beautifully crafted works of art. I have planned and re-planned. I have read all my research material three times over. One of my IC friends helpfully said 'you just have to wait for inspiration to strike. It'll happen when you least expect it'. I'm waiting. I'M WAITING! Hello?!

I did have this strange idea that I might like to write books. I'm now asking myself whether this is wise. I'm thinking I could end up twice my current size and weight, addicted to Second Life or some such Internet-based diversionary activity, alone and friendless, having sent trusty friends fleeing 'neath a barrage of cards, phone calls and e-mails.  Mind you, I'd probably have a VERY clean house.

Cure for writer's block, anyone??

Sue

Comments

[Sarah Ponsford]

Sue, I've found that the biggest challenge when writing something is actually starting it ... getting those first words down. So why not try writing the end first? I find that when I've done that, I can see what else I need to write to 'get there'. Admittedly this is more fun when you're writing a short story than a worthy (but obviously interesting and fascinating) report but it might prompt those little grey cells into positive activity. If it doesn't, please let me know and I'll buy some more Cadbury's shares.

[Fiona]

A friend of mine is married to a chef. A quite successful one at that. One who churns out cook books full of fabby pictures with wicked (naughty, not hip) recipes. The good news is that she finds it horrible to write these books. She likes the cooking involved but she hates writing. So when she needs to write, she goes to a writers retreat in Somerset. Everyone there is a writer trying to write something. Tea breaks, yes. Ironing, no. Someone else to do everything for you so you can concentrate, yes. Inspirational surroundings, as long as you want to write about the social scene in 19th century Bath, yes. Works for her, but I quite understand about the distractions. I'm trying to write our comms strategy at the moment. Have you noticed how many more hits you're getting to this site?!

[Clare Warren]

Should come with a health warning…

This one’s not for the faint-hearted, but I thoroughly recommend the ‘pressure and panic’ technique. There’s nothing like the twelfth-hour to bring on a moment of literary inspiration. (This may shock you Sue, but my best homework was done on the school bus!) So I say, carry on procrastinating and wait for the panic to set in – works wonders for me… but I wouldn’t attempt this if you’ve got high blood pressure.

[Martyn]

Sue
Old journo's trick. If you're struggling to know what to write, take your hands off the keyboard, take a deep breath and then say out loud what it is you are trying to write down. Then simply write down what you just said.

This also works on those occasions when you are trying to write something complicated. The clearest explanations for things are often verbal, so the trick is to get the spoken word down on a page

Good luck

An old journo

[Timm]

I can recommend the guide "Writing, Briefly" by Paul Graham (http://paulgraham.com/writing44.html). The key learning for me is explained in the first paragraph: Write a bad version really quickly - don't worry about the first sentence, correct it later. Expect 80% of ideas to come during writing, and 50% of them to be rubbish. Write, rinse, repeat.

[Liam]

..my approach entirely!

Don't forget to make time to go to the shops or ride your bike between drafts!

Liam

[Wendy]

Ahh distraction! Otherwise known as writers' herion - i.e. addictive and virtually impossible to wean yourself off! In fact, even writing this post is accompanied by a distraction (I have one eye on a robin on my bird feeder). I guess the thing is, that 99% of the time the job gets done in the end. So don't sweat it too much - just wait for the panic. It will always arrive in the end to save the day!

[Sue]

What a great load of comments! So to summarise, the advice is:

* Just start writing - anything
* Just carrying on writing - anything
* If you get stuck, say out loud what you want to say and write it down
* Come back to it all later and make it all look beautiful
* And/or join a writers' retreat where you can't do anything else anyway, and everyone else is in the same boat
* OR ... just procrastinate madly to the 11th hour, wait for panic to set in and then write furiously at 90mph till it's finished

(Anyone who does this last one, if you know your myers briggs profile, I'm betting you're a P. i.e. you get your energy from a last minute deadline and you like leaving your options open. I'm a J. I like to plan ahead and know everything's all sorted. I frequently do have to do things at the last minute but I don't like it very much!)

Thankfully, all is going better now, says she cautiously. But now that I've spent so much time sitting on the floor surrounded by articles, books, and every SCM/The Business Communicator ever written, I've written down lots of ideas for future blog musings when I'm finally allowed out of reports-ville. Watch this space!

Sue