Writer's Block - Leighann Anderson's Blog

Some people say the term "writer's block" does not exist due to the amount of inane rumours about it.  I have always been a writer since I was 13 years old, I always hiding in my precious hide-out in the Gleniffer Braes (a Braes is a Scottish word for a forest or national park), it had a waterfall, trees as high as houses, flowers of many colours, and precious stones could be found in the waterfall's rock pool; I found my first sample of pyrite there commonly know as "fool's gold" due to its golden colour.  I had made myself a little archway into a den where I had made water-proof by using old water-proof jackets I had grown out of, they were always green,. even at age 13 I knew that green would camoflage my den.  I had kept a small camp bed in there where I could get away from the trouble of bullies and family trouble.  Whilst I was in there I wrote countless poems and stories which seemed good at the time but when I grew up they eemed to be badly written.  The forest that surrounded me gave me numerous ideas, all fantasy based on fairies, dragons, magic etc, if I had the time I would rewrite my first novel, "The Leprechaun Crystal" and dispite the title it had nothing to do with a leprechaun but about what the crystal could do. 

When I was 14 I wrote my first drama, "Rekindled", but it took me 7 years to complete because drama is not my forte but I still managed it.  However, after a few months of completing it I could not write a single thing not even a short poem.  My mind was completely blank as a sheet of paper; my bin suffered greatly due to this because it was always overflowing with crumbled up sheets of paper.  After 3 months of trying I gave up but I suffered afterwards - insomia, I had it for nearly a year.  My family never knew because I went to bed at my usual time and got up at my usual time.  It was only when I slept for over 5 days did my mother find out.  All the doctor put it down to was writer's block, it had induced stress and utlmately insomia.  My brain was producing hormones that kept me awake due to stress.  So writer's block was real in my case and believe me it can more than a period of blankness.  I only started writing again in 2004 which shocked a lot of my friends who all knew that I wrote.  My art also suffered, I couldn't even draw anything even if I copied it from a book.  Writer's block, in my opinion, is choas within the mind and it actually made me ill.

Vince Suzadail Jr. Date: 5/29/2011 5:02:00 PM I never worry about chaos in my mind, I lost it years ago. There are periods where I just don't feel like writing. Sometimes I'll write two in one day, then not write for weeks. Your writer's history is impressive. Vince Login to Reply

Kabuteng P.Ink K. Date: 5/29/2011 11:28:00 AM wow, I don't think I had it that bad as you did, Leaighann-- that must be really something but I am glad that you were able to get out of it-- Me I think I had a bout of it-- but it was more like I forgot to include writing in my life? Then it was sort of rekindled... very interesting blog, thanks for sharing this with us :) Login to Reply

Andrea Dietrich Date: 5/29/2011 12:46:00 AM I force myself to write. that is why I like the challenges. Sometimes a contest just does nothing for me and I cannot even force myself to write about it. So for me, that is writer's block, but I dont' take it seriously. For everything I am unable to write about, another topic pops up for which I CAN write. that is strange how you let the stress in you from writers' block cause you such undue stress, Leighann. Suffering for your art. Wow! an interesting blog, my friend. Now get to sleep.hahaha. (look at me, it's almost 2 a.m. and I do not even have insomnia. heehee) LUv, Andrea Login to Reply