My faith prompts me to be honest, even
when it means personal embarrassment. When it comes to tapping a keyboard, or putting
pen to paper, I repeatedly experience a specific discomfort. Only my closest
friends know I suffer with this health problem.
Two years ago my self-consciousness
was relieved while networking at the Write to Publish conference in Wheaton, IL.
All of the authors I confessed to, bravely shared they too experience creativity
constipation syndrome.
Also known as writer’s irregularity,
constipation syndrome affects a broad range of writers, from first time
bloggers to famous authors. Unfortunately, there are few predictors of when and
where the blockage will begin.
Mental health counselors who
specialize in “Restoring Brain Connections due to Obstructive Word Flow”
recommend the following to reverse this thought-numbing condition.
1. ++ Maintain a healthy diet of reading a variety
of genres. Bravely try authors that you think might leave a bad taste in your
mouth, but are good for you to experience.
2. ++Activate your giggle center through comedy,
people-watching, a bit of wine with jokester friends, or whatever sparks the
most laughter.
3. ++Try the Japanese custom of Forest Bathing. To
accomplish this relaxation technique, you will need to find a nudist camp that
has a thick woods without ticks or mosquitoes.
4. ++Gather all the rejection notifications you
have received. Slowly tear each into tiny strips over a blazing bonfire. Please
have your garden hose and a large fire extinguisher nearby. When done, dose
yourself with one or the other. (This last step alone has been known to unblock
creativity constipation.)
5. ++Attend a support group to share your problem with strangers. (“Hello, my name is Sue Fink. And I have writer’s irregularity.”)
If you are brave enough to admit you’ve experienced these humiliating blockages, let me know what worked to get you going again.
Thank you for activating my giggle cycle !!!
ReplyDeleteTake a long walk in nature and be present in that moment for a few days.
ReplyDeleteMy situation may be significantly different - I never wrote for publication. Sermon writing requires creativity within a defined subject area (covered by a Scriptural text usually not of my choosing), and on a weekly deadline. Being rested helped. I also relate to suggestion #1 - a wide range of reading to feed my brain and my discussions. I also found Brian Tracy's "Eat that Frog" as helpful for organizing my prep time and breaking down the feeling of being overwhelmed. During the 25 years I worked in Wisconsin I never located a nudist camp without mosquitos or ticks, so I can't comment on its effectiveness!
ReplyDeleteThanks for the sage advice, Jim.
ReplyDelete