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Previous Challenge Entry (Level 3 - Advanced)
Topic: Inspiration/Block (for the writer) (05/20/10)
My English professor wants me to write about writer's block and inspiration. And now I have writer's block about writer's block. Oh, the irony. I've already played my alphabet game... Well, kind of. I only got to C before I got distracted, and I never did continue. Why do I always get so distracted when I'm trying to come up with ideas?

A is for altitude. I have no idea what "altitude" has to do with writer's block, though.
B is for block. Writer's block. Duh.
C is for chocolate. The writer's best friend. Oh! I have some chocolate chip cookies I forgot to eat!

****Fifteen minutes later****

Now where was I? Oh yeah. The alphabet game. "C" again... At this rate, it will be 2050 before I get through the whole alphabet. Okay. Abandon ship.

Hey, what if I wrote about an author who's on a ship? And it's about to sink. But if he can write a letter to the Queen of England and telegraph it to her fast enough, she'll be able to send out a fleet to save them. But that would have to be a pretty slow leak to give the fleet time to get there... and a pretty fast leak to inspire the writer. Maybe there are two leaks, one fast and one slow. No, that's stupid.

Gee, that pillow looks really nice. If I just placed it on my keyboard, then maybe my dreams would go into the computer by osmosis. Or would that be reverse osmosis? I don't know. *humph* This is why a scientific and analytical mind do not mix with a writing mind. Why did I have to be cursed... blessed with both?

You know, I head about this one method... "Rover, come!"

"Rover, what if I wrote a story about a dog who has to write a paper to graduate obedience school? Or maybe he has to write down all the rules and he has writer's block. Do dogs call it writer's block? Or writer's fence?"

Great. He's asleep. I just managed to put my dog to sleep. Trash that idea.

I know. What if a writer had a great idea stowed away somewhere? And he's looking for it, and right as the trash truck comes, he remembers it's in the folder he just threw away? So he runs out to the trash truck and gets there right as it's driving away. So he runs after it, and... gets hit by a car. Wow. Now there's a "Debbie downer."

Think. I need to get something down on paper. Wait, I have an idea. What if I just started with... and then wrote down my ideas as they came, and.... you know, that just might work. Here goes nothing...

I have writer's block about writer's block. Oh the irony.
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This article has been read 1323 times
Member Comments
Member
Date
Lollie Hofer 
06/01/10
Oh, the irony indeed! I'm laughing because I said THAT very thing while struggling with an idea of about writing about writer's block. Thanks for putting a smile on my face.
Joanney Uthe 
06/01/10
I love the stream of conscienceness of this. Sometimes that is what it takes to get over writer's block. Great, realistic entry.
Jody Day 
06/01/10
Good job. It's a great description of the thought process of many a writer (me).
Carol Slider 
06/01/10
This sort of reminds me of James Joyce--but it's a lot more fun to read. I don't think I could ever write a story like this... more's the pity. Enjoyed it!
Virgil Youngblood 
06/01/10
Was that Nat King Cole singing Ramblin' Rose in the background? Subliminal inspiration? A fun read.
Lisha Hunnicutt
06/01/10
This is one we can all relate to. I liked the line about the dog calling it writer's fence instead of block. It made me smile.
Kate Oliver Webb
06/01/10
Very fun. Seemed like you'd been inside my brain while I'm fighting my way out of writer's block. Do all of us experience what you wrote about SO well? It was good, you know!
Susan Montaperto
06/01/10
Your story came across as very "real." I'd like to read more about the dog and and writer's fence. Thank you for sharing your frustrations. Keep writing.
Elizabeth Cain
06/01/10
Wow. Good job. Very funny. Very fun. A smile lit up my face with each idea the MC had. When I came to the last paragraph I was a little disappointed because I'd reached the end of a fun read. The MC's thoughts seemed to tie it up, though. So it felt complete. But I still wish I could have read more :)
I liked the dog's "writer's fence" too. And also the one when she has the guy on a sinking ship. I'm not the only one who comes up with ideas like that when I'm blocked! Again, I really enjoyed this, and good job.
AnneRene' Capp
06/01/10
You had me laughing from the very start! This was pretty darn cute!
Brenda Shipman
06/02/10
So clever, with just the right amount of humor sprinkled in! Terrific entry.