ESSAY | POETRY | PUNS NOT INCLUDED
The Writing’s on the Wall
Prompt Response to Scrittura’s Wry Welwood - how I deal with writer’s block
“To be or not to be, that is the question.” — William Shakespeare
“Toupee or not toupee. Better to pay, lest you end up in the slammer.” — Homer Simpson
I suffer from writer’s block. That much is true.
It’s not that uncommon for a writer.
Yet, I would say I’m somewhat prolific, in spurts.
There’s a reason for that.
At any point in time, I have a minimum of half a dozen drafts in my Medium in-box with at least one pivotal line of poetry or a kernel of an idea or an Unsplash or NightCafe featured image to provide some inspiration.
But sometimes the rest of the words just won’t come.
Then, I walk away.
I go to spin class. Or the doctor. Or I shop for fresh ingredients to prepare for dinner.
The key words here are fresh ingredients. Similarly, I don’t want my poetry or my story to be as stale as old bread, or banal. I like a little edge or a turn of a phrase. A surprise. Even a sucker-punch.
Why, you may ask? It’s simple. It’s not so much that I dislike being predictable. It’s because I don’t want to be bored. I want to be surprised — by where my poem or storyline is taking me.
So, if anyone asks about the frustration of writer’s block, I would say, stretch your legs, maybe even a change of scenery, then start with a little seed and let your thoughts stream. Or free fall. See where they take you. Then, see what happens if you take an unexpected turn.
I’m definitely bad at puns, so I generally steer clear of them when writing, much like cowpokes avoid stepping in manure. And, in a way, rhyme is increasingly hard to do.
Of course, since my scribbles are all a mess, scraped and bloodied, the tedious process of bandaging and editing my writing begins. That’s a whole different beast and a subject for another day.
Inspiration — Here is a poem that evolved when writing this response to the Scrittura Prompt of Experiencing the Frustration of Writer’s Block — thanks to editor Wry Welwood for the prompt and inspiration.
The Writing’s on the Wall
by Connie Song
Words once blew out my ears,
my eyes,
my nose,
my toes
and straight to my trusted pen.
But now the din is suddenly silent—
and I can’t seem to hear
the stirring of a single syllable.
The writing’s on the wall —
and unwritten poetry is a loose thread
running within the soul
like tap water, a tsunami, even a drought,
or a gentle stream by solid river rock.
Write until you can write no more —
and when the well is dry
and love seems unrequited —
be reassured the day will come
when words will barge in
uninvited.
Dear Reader — How do you deal with writer’s block? I’d love to hear in the comments.
Or you can try responding to this Scrittura prompt by Wry Welwood. Well worth the read.
© Connie Song 2023. All Rights Reserved.
