I’ve done a lot this year. But I have done less writing than many previous years. People–even other writers–will ask “Do you have writer’s block?”<\/p>\n
It’s not like that. I am never dry facing a blank page. That’s not the block.<\/p>\n
The block comes way before that.<\/p>\n
Virginia Wolfe writes beautifully about a write getting “a room of one’s own” in which to write.<\/p>\n
I imagine that room. I have had that room. It is wonderful. This oasis of creativity, a place to form sentences and metaphors, I know it well.<\/p>\n
If I could get to that spot, it would be glorious. But that room is fortified. I have to storm the castle to get there.<\/p>\n
It’s a scary castle, surrounded by a moat. I can’t just waltz into that castle and skip up to the room of creativity. Oh no!<\/p>\n
A battle is raging. The castle is inviting me, but it’s not that easy. I can’t walk directly forward unimpeded. My phone will buzz, with calls and texts and emails. Take care of those first.<\/p>\n
And oh that’s right, I am supposed to do this paperwork the deadline is coming up. And what about the school trip?<\/p>\n
It’s a mountain to climb to earn that room.<\/p>\n
Steven Pressfield talks about The War of Art<\/em>. How we’ll do anything to avoid the final act of creation, because it’s so terrifying.<\/p>\n But I did not invent these things coming at me! Every single one of them is important<\/em>.<\/p>\n As I write this out, I am talking myself into recognition. To paraphrase, the important will always be with us.<\/p>\n I want that room.<\/p>\n Can it be important if I just want it?<\/p>\n Only if I decide it.<\/p>\n I can read stories about how other people get to the castle.<\/p>\n For me, I know, it takes a lot of deciding.<\/p>\n And planning.<\/p>\n It will take a while. But I want back in that room.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":" I’ve done a lot this year. But I have done less writing than many previous years. People–even other writers–will ask “Do you have writer’s block?” It’s not like that. I am never dry facing a blank page. That’s not the … Continue reading