Writer’s Bloc(k)

If I’ve learned anything, it’s that when inspiration hits… you have to write about it- because it seldom hits.

My last month has been chalk full of revelations, ideas, caffeine, realizations, insomnia, thinking, pondering, over-thinking, and the likes.

I realize that most of the adjectives I just listed are indeed synonyms, but I love words so much that I want to use them all.

Here’s the thing, creativity does not exist without experience. I can’t write a novel if I don’t have something that truly moves me…

I think the best authors out there are men and women who have deeply felt something.

I do not think that age is pertinent, or the amount you have traveled, or your educational background; I think any ol’ schmuck can write something brilliant if it comes from the heart.

And here is the struggle- because matters of the heart can be exhausting. I like to imagine that I can live an ideal life without being emotional about anything. It is so much easier to shy away from feelings and simply act out of logic.

But the best authors- they write interesting people. They write about characters that you can empathize with, characters that you can’t get out of your head; characters that you feel like you really know at the end of the story.

And if you’re unwilling to put yourself out there and let go of your guard, you really can’t get to know people. And if you don’t know people, how will you understand them enough to write about them?

Writing a novel has been on my bucket list since before I could even read novels. When I was little I would write story after story- the ideas and the inspiration were constant; and I miss that so much.

Now I  justify my permanent writer’s block with excuses of being too young, too inexperienced, too naive. In all reality, my inability to be inspired, based on the notion that emotions are weak and to be avoided, is my own fault.

So- enough gibberish; the inspiration is hitting and I won’t be sleeping any time soon… this must be the time to write.

Until next time,