Writers’ Block?
“The road to hell is paved with works-in-progress.” Philip Roth
Will computers ever replace writers?
A Twitter exchange with a writer got me thinking. She was concerned about the idea of technology replacing writers.
- Could it happen?
- Will our creative spark save us?
- Can we writers plug-in to a creative stream whenever we want?
Let’s do an experiment
“Who is more to be pitied, a writer bound and gagged by policemen or one living in perfect freedom who has nothing more to say?” Kurt Vonnegut
Do you have a challenge getting started or unblocking yourself?
Why not try a wee experiment?
Here’s what to do:
Simple task
“writing about a writer’s block is better than not writing at all.”
Charles Bukowski
- Open the first spam or selling type email at the top of your email inbox
- Go five lines down and seven words in to find your starter word
- Write 250 words based on the word you find
- Complete the rough text in under half an hour
- Have a we correction session if you’ve time
… “for” self-selected as my word …
Dare to begin
“Don’t waste time waiting for inspiration. Begin, and inspiration will find you.”
H Jackson Brown Jr
Why not try the experiment. One piece of advice: if you do, just start!
I started at 09:21 (I finished at 09:46).
‘You need something for that …’
… A mumbled statement and I missed the first part. Something for what?
I rushed to the mirror and stared at myself. Was it the reddish-purple pimple with the yellow tip at the end of my slightly gnarled nose? Or my black, cracked, rough-edged fingernails? God, they looked like crumbly tombstones (talk about pizzazz) . Then there were my slightly cheesy feet stuffed into my creaky black lizard leather boots; sooo comfy and, okay, they’re slightly dilapidated, but the heels give me an impressive, rather intimidating height.
Something for that! Something for what? There’s my fabulous, furry, feral feline; an appropriate cat for someone like me, you know: big and ugly, like a few pounds of greenish tripe. Of course, he smells better than cows innards most of the time.
Apart from scaring children … He sneaks up on them, making loud, alternate growls and hissy-spits, while arching his craggy, clumpy, mangy back. When up close, he bulges his dirty red eyes, and lunges with menace as little horrors shriek ‘MUMEEEeee!’ What a wonderful familiar presence for a girl to have.
In fact, there’s only one real problem with him … flatulence! Inferno fragranced the air with a hiss from a nether place. That was it! It was the scent of sulphur I needed something for.
It’s always good to solve a problem. I’m glad my friend didn’t insult me because I’d have been forced to turn her into something vile: a leprous frog, a squishy caterpillar … a politician …
I drafted the above 250+ words in twenty-five minutes. This was followed by a correctional review within the timeframe.
I’d love to know how you get on. Please share. Would you like more exercises?
Please respond to the poll.
© Mac Logan