Writer's Block

What do you do when you can’t write? Someone asked me this question recently and I gave her a long list of ideas to help her get back into writing again. As I was driving around this afternoon I realized that the plain and simple truth to absolve writer’s block is simply to write. I have certainly had “writer’s block” many times and really what that means for me is that I start to write and then I critique it or think it’s bad writing and then I simply stop. I dreamily await some inspiration to come and visit me with hopes that I’ll then write something simply amazing that the world has been waiting for! But, usually that “inspiration” doesn’t come and then I get frustrated.

Lately, I’ve been making a lot of art and I’ve come to understand that if I wait for inspiration to come I will never make art. Writing is a practice, something that you show up for and have to put the time into, at least that’s been my experience. On the rare occasion a wonderful burst of writing will seemingly come out of nowhere, but for the most part I must show up to the page, listen, write, and keep the words flowing. You write your way through writer’s block.

What poetry has taught me

I began writing poetry by jumping into it and writing & writing & writing. In those early days I was getting used to my writing voice, but had had practice from years of journal writing. Writing poems was the next natural step in that process. I am forever grateful to people who write poems and to people who read them. 


I was first introduced to poetry at UWM with Susan Firer. I knew nothing of poetry, but was told to take this intro to Creative Writing course because my advisor thought I might like it & it would fulfill one of my requirements. I didn't know that that class would provide me with a way to express what was within me. 


Poetry wasn't simply about writing and reading poems, but rather it fine tuned a way of living. I am so glad that I was introduced to poetry in my early twenties as it helped me pay attention to the world around me and world within me. I was able to listen to what my life was trying to tell me. 


In our busy lives I welcome taking some time to read a poem, to let the sheer beauty of language roll off my tongue and through my mouth. Read a poem out loud! Enjoy the taste of language for yourself, let yourself be a witness to the joy around you & within you. : )