Something in the Air? Or Funks and Writers Block

Or funks and slumps and …. well, some people don’t believe in writer’s block. But when you’re experiencing a funky slump, or whatever you want to call it when no words are coming to your mind at all for writing…. And you aren’t even reading. That’s definitely not a happy dancing place.

So how do you get out of it?

As I’ve tried to get out of the deep trench of emptiness that seems to have taken over my brain I have stumbled across interesting information that I needed at this time.

And I found not only that I wasn’t the only one that had been in an awful funk, so had the Editor of Writer’s Digest - just check out this part of the recent free e-newsletter -

Letter From the Editor

Lately I've been in a funk. Personal funk. Professional funk. Writing funk. And, as many of you probably already know, I don't tolerate funks well and will go to great lengths to get out of them. One article that helped me was 4 Ways Inspiration Helps You Beat Writer's Block, which helped me learn that instead of looking for inspiration, sometimes it's better to let it find you. I also found comfort after reading Your Job Is To Write, Not Worry, a piece designed to remind you what is really important when your heart and soul is devoted to being a writer.

Also, I wanted to introduce you to one of my favorite members of the WD team, Marielle Murphy, in my latest installment ofWD Editors Are Writers Too. If it weren't for her "Friday Fun Fact" e-mails, I wouldn't have known that slugs have 4 noses! I'm eternally grateful for that.

Okay I’m not saying that misery loves company, and that info’ on the slugs….. Ewwwww.

I’m saying it is nice to know that I’ve not been the only aberration in the writing world these days. Especially with NaNoWriMo in full swing and there’s clacking of keys to be heard all over, even in the next chair.

It wasn’t just the felt commiseration, it was the articles of inspiration and encouragement.

Like this one:

4 WAYS INSPIRATION HELPS YOU BEAT WRITER’S BLOCK

Hmmmm, maybe I can convince key-clacker in chair next to me that while he seems to be cranking out the writing for NaNo, the inspiration suggestion of going away and changing the scene might really help me and be what I need right now. I guess maybe the Thailand elephant suggestion might be a little much? But he might think a change of scenery might help him as well. Elephant or not.

So what do you do to get out of your slumps? Especially writing slumps.

Become Your Life's Dream

Okay so I can be a romantic sap sometimes.  Not often perhaps, or often enough, being that I'm, ah, :::cough, cough::: older than, well, let's just say I'm not a teenager anymore though I sure seem to be spending an inordinateamount of time with teenage characters!  But I'm definitely not the dewy-eyed ingenue I once was. ;)   Not sure I'd refer to myself as a cynic, even though others not so lovingly minded might. ^ ^

But I am crazy about the Susan Boyle video clip.  And if you don't get that reference, scroll down the blog a couple of entries.  And then go check it out for yourself!  Seriously!  The 7 minute clip.  It's fantastic, heartwarming, and inspiring.   Altho' I have to admit while the music she sings to is Fabulous, as is her voice of course, but the lyrics..... yes, I think it probably fit where she was in her life but they are rather downers.   So with all due respect to the writers of Les Mis. et.al...I've decided to change the line that is continually roaming around in my head.  I don't want my life killing my dreams, thank you very much, I've had enough of that.  So along with positive thoughts, and dreams, etc...I decided my lyrics to roam in my head is going to be - my life's become the dream I dreamed.

Of course it hasn't really, yet anyway.   But I'm preparing.  ;-D    Along with the now successful dreamer Susan Boyle.

Here's to all successful dreamers.  I'll be meeting you soon. ;)

Quotes

A friend gave me a most lovely birthday card recently that I had to share -
"If a little dreaming is dangerous,
the cure for it is not to dream less
but to dream more, to dream all the time." - Marcel Proust

Hold fast to your dreams...


This reminded me of some of my favorite quotes:

"I've learned that people will forget what you said, people will forget what you did, but people will never forget how you made them feel." - Maya Angelou

"History, despite its wrenching pain, cannot be unlived, but if faced with courage, need not be lived again." - Maya Angelou

"There are only two ways to Live Your Life.
One is as though nothing is a miracle.
The other is as though everything is a Miracle." - Albert Einstein

"Remember, a journey is not measured by the amount of breaths you take, but the things that take your breath away!"

And inspiration comes from all sorts of places if you allow it.
For those that have not yet discovered the Wonderful whimsical jewelry of the Kirks Folly Family I would highly recommend checking them out. http://www.kirksfolly.com/ I have a wonderful collection of their unique pieces that I have accumulated over the years and they always make your heart sing in some way. Whether from just looking at the lovely things they do and create, or just the thought of possibilities....it's all good, as one of my fellow writers says.
And while you are over on the Kirks Folly site, be sure to sign up for Jenniefer Kirk's newsletter - the Fairy Godmother newsletter, as she always has a great quote in it. Which is where most of the ones listed here have come from. And she had a quote in one of her newsletters about the choices we make, and what we choose to believe and choose to think. I must find it again sometime as it was an incredible thought.
But in the meantime I will use the ending of one of her newsletters -
I leave you with this: Your Thoughts Become Your Destiny