I am certain I'm not the only one struggling to write this summer. The reasons not to are endless, I'm sure you know them well, but I thought I'd quickly run down some reasons to return to the page and some ideas as to how.
Write to remember you're human. To practice empathy. To learn more about yourself and therefore, others. To calm down. To channel rage. To escape. To be more present. Because a filled cup can more easily give to others. Because you want to. Because you're a writer.
For the how...
1. Make Getting Started Easy
A few months back I tweeted this thought that seemed to resonate:
I still return to these “entry points” when I feel stuck, especially when I wander into genres outside my comfort zone (essay, memoir). Someone commented to swap them around. Start a poem with a question; a story with an offering. This is good advice and probably will make for more interesting work. Though lately, I'm settling for having written any words at all, interesting or not.
2. Draw Inspiration From Other Mediums
Our Summer at the Movies prompts have been so useful in sparking work. Caitlin’s basically been writing a full on lecture for each film and I know I'll be returning to her insights repeatedly. A drive-in theater near me is showing Jaws next month, so I'm saving last Saturday's prompts until then.
3. Find and Nurture Your Writing Community
Our free Saturday co-writing sprints continue to be a relief. Knowing I have time on the calendar to write with others helps me release tension I feel while doing the many non-writing tasks of my life.
In case you missed last Saturday, here were the writing prompts shared. One of us (Megan, Caitlin, or Jessica) write new ones each week. Here were some of Caitlin's:
- Write a piece that includes one or all of these words: thread, trashcan, mineral.
- Begin a piece with an extreme weather event: drought, flash flood, storm, heat wave, etc.
- Write a character who, objectively, is selfish, but from their perspective is selfless. What do they tell themselves to justify their actions?
- Put a group of characters in a stressful or dangerous situation. Assign each one of them one of the four acute stress responses: fight, flight, fawn, or freeze.
- Research a place/location you know well. Try to find information or a fact about it that is new to you or surprises you. Base a piece off of this fact.
(BTW: Our next co-writing session is September 13th). Sign up for the Zoom link.
4. Accept The Mode You're In
I try to pay attention to whether I'm in "generator brain" or "editor brain". It's hard to imagine while I'm critiquing so if I feel like editing, I do. But lately I’ve been noticing a third mode, which I’ve started calling memory brain.
Memory brain cares far more about recording the facts of what happened, and in doing so it crowds out interest in metaphor, sound, language, or (the right) image.
Of course, the lines between these modes are blurred. I often “edit” poems while I’m still “generating,” but I do think I tend to work in dominant modes which each have their own goal.
For me, one of the most important defenses against writer’s block is recognizing which mode I’m in and making sure that aligns with the project I’m working on.
I’m carving out more and more prewriting time. After I can get out all the memories I can then freely ditch the details that might be “true” but not right for the poem. I make room to imagine.
5. Embrace the Aesthetic
Each season brings its own vision of an ideal writing day. I’m already picturing rainy afternoons, patchy internet, and longer nights, all perfect excuses to dive into novels and unfinished manuscripts. I used to believe this kind of romanticization was unserious, but now I couldn't care less. What use could I possibly have for more seriousness in this world?
I hope you're finding ways to write too. What's been working for you lately?
Kindly,
Megan
