Writer’s Block

I’ve been struggling with writer’s bock. At times it feels quite demoralizing. On top of the other maddening aspects of the world today it feels especially discouraging. I can usually turn to art and writing to help me process my feelings, and yet, nothing is coming out. Hell, I’m writing this blog on writer’s block to help with the flow of ideas and get something, ANYTHING, going.

Part of the issue is that my words seem too small and imperfect to even begin to tackle the swirl of emotions and ideas inside me. Another part is that writing, or art, or anything creative, feels like it would take too much energy. 

It’s not just creative writing either, its also professional writing, like e-mails, website content, this very blog, etc... It’s been hard writing in my personal life to friends and relatives. I feel less skilled, less on point, more scattered. I feel less coherent. 

I know I am being too critical. I know it’s part of hypernormalization and how I feel living under rapidly scaling authoritarianism. 

Maybe you can relate?

So what can I do? 

I can start by looking at another aspect of my life that has been feeling pretty good and where I’ve been reminded about the value of doing things in small, simple, imperfect ways. 

I’ve been playing piano since I was 8. I’m not very good, but I know the basics and can mostly play the things I want, if I put some time, work, and modifications into it. Over the summer I got into a habit of playing often in the evenings. It was lovely playing as the sun went down with my window open to feel the breeze. My music mixing with the sounds of the street. Well, I noticed that after playing so frequently…I sounded pretty decent! I improved my skills, strengthened my fingers, and had actual fun. 

Now, let’s try to apply that attitude to writing. 

See you soon, 

Alicia