But if you played a writer on TV, could you act out a scene with writer’s block, or would no one — by definition — be able to write that script. I’m just asking for Schrödinger.
"Conquering with a “lede” works well for op-ed articles and other short form pieces, it is less useful for longer, more complicated writing projects."
I have no problem writing a paragraph or two in blog responses. I just can't get started on a book I've had outlined in my mind for many years. It's volume 6 of Churchill's History of the English-Speaking Peoples (volume 5 was written by Andrew Roberts a few years back). The book is a political fantasy.
The first half of the book goes through the process of bringing the UK into the US as a collection of six states. The monarchy is dissolved when, in a religious ceremony, the Windsors take off their crowns and place them on the altar, giving the crown back to God. The Windsors are made special rangers of the national park service, with a nod to Tolkien (the rangers are the people of the old Kings). The President swears the PM in as a US citizen, then nominates him as governor-general of the US-British Territories. He goes back to No. 10 which merely has a new sign out front. Scotland is ready with a state constitution and becomes the 51st state. England, being too populous to be a single state, enters as three states. There would be North England with a capital at York, South England with a capital at London, and Wessex with a capital at Winchester.
I don't think the idea of a cruise would help me get started. The last time I was on a cruise, from California to Hawaii, was aboard USS Long Beach and I had duties to perform.
HOLY CRAP!!! I have never been on a cruise in my life, generally get motion sickness on ANY moving conveyance, but that looks like heaven. Writing comes very easy for me, especially once I have settled on a topic, but I do not write long scholarly pieces. What looks especially attractive to me is not the peace and solitude but the "no responsibilities" part. A person can get a LOT of writing done if SOMEONE ELSE is making all the meals, doing all the shopping and cleaning up afterwards!! That's why Max writes novels and I write columns. Well, dear friend, smooth sailing and good writing (which is a lock) and come safely back to us free of Hanta virus. AG
Similar to your mentor, Steve, Richard Rhodes said the best advice he received on writing was the Knickerbocker rule (an early mentor of Rhodes): Apply ass to chair.
I haven't written much in a long time, but I find other creative pursuits often come with their own "blockages." When I was writing code during my career or working out a furniture design problem in my dotage I would often hit a wall and come to a screeching halt. The more I tried to push through it the more stuck I felt (there is a point when you realize banging your head against the wall hurts). What I've learned in those times is to walk away, allow the problem to gestate and inevitably I will wake up one morning with the solution nearly fully formed in my head. Admittedly this may not help much when you're up against a deadline, but revelations (solutions) seem to have their own timeline.
Louis L'Amour didn't believe in writer's block. He said to just start describing the room you're in or whatever was around you and one the words were flowing, the story would come.
If only we could all be Louis L'Amour.
P.S. If you think a blank page (screen) is terrifying, you should meet a blank canvas.
Have all the usual commenters been stricken with writer's block? It's almost 9:00 and only Steve has been able to squeeze out a word. A single word that probably isn't even recognized by Webster's.
One way is to write bullet points in any order at all and then try to impose some structure. And don"t be afraid to jot down something stupid. As the Knicks might say, all's well that ends well.
Just finishing a Baltic cruise. I haven't used the time for writing, but I travel solo and like the structure life on the ship creates. (I also love immersing myself in a city or country at other times.) I bring my laptop and get a lot of "study" done.
I do enjoy the benefits of being old now, and having paid off all my obligations. And I say spend now, before the left comes for our IRAs (which I guarantee they will try to do some time in the next decade).
Is it possible that the beers I see here and there in these photos relax the inhibitions and indecisiveness which sometimes afflict a writer?
Beers can be hell on penmanship.
Hence the laptop keyboard.
I have never had writer’s block…
… then again, I’m not a writer…
But if you played a writer on TV, could you act out a scene with writer’s block, or would no one — by definition — be able to write that script. I’m just asking for Schrödinger.
"Conquering with a “lede” works well for op-ed articles and other short form pieces, it is less useful for longer, more complicated writing projects."
I have no problem writing a paragraph or two in blog responses. I just can't get started on a book I've had outlined in my mind for many years. It's volume 6 of Churchill's History of the English-Speaking Peoples (volume 5 was written by Andrew Roberts a few years back). The book is a political fantasy.
The first half of the book goes through the process of bringing the UK into the US as a collection of six states. The monarchy is dissolved when, in a religious ceremony, the Windsors take off their crowns and place them on the altar, giving the crown back to God. The Windsors are made special rangers of the national park service, with a nod to Tolkien (the rangers are the people of the old Kings). The President swears the PM in as a US citizen, then nominates him as governor-general of the US-British Territories. He goes back to No. 10 which merely has a new sign out front. Scotland is ready with a state constitution and becomes the 51st state. England, being too populous to be a single state, enters as three states. There would be North England with a capital at York, South England with a capital at London, and Wessex with a capital at Winchester.
I don't think the idea of a cruise would help me get started. The last time I was on a cruise, from California to Hawaii, was aboard USS Long Beach and I had duties to perform.
Oh please, write this book. I want to read it!
HOLY CRAP!!! I have never been on a cruise in my life, generally get motion sickness on ANY moving conveyance, but that looks like heaven. Writing comes very easy for me, especially once I have settled on a topic, but I do not write long scholarly pieces. What looks especially attractive to me is not the peace and solitude but the "no responsibilities" part. A person can get a LOT of writing done if SOMEONE ELSE is making all the meals, doing all the shopping and cleaning up afterwards!! That's why Max writes novels and I write columns. Well, dear friend, smooth sailing and good writing (which is a lock) and come safely back to us free of Hanta virus. AG
Similar to your mentor, Steve, Richard Rhodes said the best advice he received on writing was the Knickerbocker rule (an early mentor of Rhodes): Apply ass to chair.
I haven't written much in a long time, but I find other creative pursuits often come with their own "blockages." When I was writing code during my career or working out a furniture design problem in my dotage I would often hit a wall and come to a screeching halt. The more I tried to push through it the more stuck I felt (there is a point when you realize banging your head against the wall hurts). What I've learned in those times is to walk away, allow the problem to gestate and inevitably I will wake up one morning with the solution nearly fully formed in my head. Admittedly this may not help much when you're up against a deadline, but revelations (solutions) seem to have their own timeline.
Some of Rhodes' books really were the bomb.
ISWYDT
Well.
That seems a bit extreme.
Louis L'Amour didn't believe in writer's block. He said to just start describing the room you're in or whatever was around you and one the words were flowing, the story would come.
If only we could all be Louis L'Amour.
P.S. If you think a blank page (screen) is terrifying, you should meet a blank canvas.
Alas, ALL my canvases are destined to remain blank. ZERO artistic talent in the visual arts. I am in awe of painters, sculptors and such. AG
Ditto. I can't even draw a straight line with a ruler.
See Churchill's short volume Painting as a Pastime. He describes how he got past the blank canvas issue permanently.
Have all the usual commenters been stricken with writer's block? It's almost 9:00 and only Steve has been able to squeeze out a word. A single word that probably isn't even recognized by Webster's.
One way is to write bullet points in any order at all and then try to impose some structure. And don"t be afraid to jot down something stupid. As the Knicks might say, all's well that ends well.
taking a cruise as a cure for writers block? we're speechless.
Love it. I think I may book a cruise to find out if I am a writer.
Just finishing a Baltic cruise. I haven't used the time for writing, but I travel solo and like the structure life on the ship creates. (I also love immersing myself in a city or country at other times.) I bring my laptop and get a lot of "study" done.
Having to take cruises to write...the horror! What Mr. Hayward will do to keep us in blog fodder is astounding, noble and heroic. Am I (ahem) write?
gorgeous pictures.
Quite the profligate lifestyle, flying to Tokyo to take a boat to BC, just to write a chapter...
We love you, Steve. Great post!
OK.
I often have Talkers Block. My wife says, Talk to me, and nothing comes to mind that I think she would find of interest.
On the upside, this tends to avoid arguments.
You lead an amazing life.
I have a much more straightforward method for overcoming writer's block: I have a mortgage.
I do enjoy the benefits of being old now, and having paid off all my obligations. And I say spend now, before the left comes for our IRAs (which I guarantee they will try to do some time in the next decade).