{"id":490,"date":"2013-01-07T00:55:58","date_gmt":"2013-01-07T04:55:58","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/www.logikalsolutions.com\/wordpress\/?p=490"},"modified":"2025-07-16T08:30:16","modified_gmt":"2025-07-16T13:30:16","slug":"spare-parts-to-end-writers-block","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.logikalsolutions.com\/wordpress\/publishing\/spare-parts-to-end-writers-block\/","title":{"rendered":"Spare Parts to End Writer\u2019s Block"},"content":{"rendered":"

I\u2019ve actually stopped subscribing to all but one physically printed and mailed writing magazine. In part I stopped because of all the wasted space covering poetry. If you want to ensure a book with multiple millions of dollars in marketing effort sells fewer than 500 copies, choose a poetry book. Not a book of naughty nursery rhymes ala Andrew Dice Clay, but what poets call poetry today.<\/p>\n

\u00a0The main reason I\u2019ve chose to stop letting trees get slaughtered is the constant stream of articles covering \u201cwriter\u2019s block.\u201d I have heard every whine and snivel there is for writer\u2019s block, and the bulk of it is fresh and steaming from the back of the bull.<\/p>\n

\u00a0For those who don\u2019t write, writer\u2019s block is a term given to writers staring at a blank screen. Rather than actually fixing the problem, they will stare for hours, sometimes months, at a blank screen wallowing in self pity and loathing. There are countless theories on it. In short, it is both your work ethic and your writing ritual. Writing ritual can be as simple as \u201cI write during the hours of x-y each day\u201d, \u201cI only write in my office\u201d, \u201cI have to have my special (insert object here)\u201d. Add to that a work ethic which demands you meet your deadlines, either real or self imposed, stir with some imagination, and presto, you have a prescription for all sorts of weird psychological disorders.<\/p>\n

\u00a0The vast majority of these blocks come from the simple reality that you have something else you need to write to clear your head so you can write what you are supposed to be writing. These needs have various ways of ensuring you pay attention to them. They will sit in the back of your mind making you feel comfortable about how your current work is progressing while they quietly steer you into a dead end. You got so comfortable and wrote so much \u201cgood stuff\u201d over the past few weeks you have now come to the reality you spent many chapters veering so far off topic there is no obvious way back. The thought of shredding all of that work keeps you frozen.<\/p>\n

\u00a0Sometimes they place themselves like a boulder in front of a car on a narrow mountain road. There is simply no way around writing it, yet you refuse to get out of your car and sledgehammer that boulder into gravel. You have a work ethic which demands you finish what you started before you write this blog post or short story which could very well be the best thing you ever write.<\/p>\n

\u00a0How they present themselves doesn\u2019t matter. You need to pull the pin and run. Most of you cannot do the math and prove to yourself you will be much farther along on your deadline if you waste half of today writing that piece. You all think you are going to get around it in just a few minutes after a walk around the block, fresh can of soda, etc. You are wrong.<\/p>\n

\u00a0While most people think it is stupid, the ones who have tried it have found it to actually work. What you need is a stack of cheap keyboards you carry around with you. I\u2019m not talking about expensive keyboards. I\u2019m talking about things you find on clearance for $8 or less. I\u2019m talking about ancient PS\/2 and Compaq keyboards your company or clients are probably tossing out because nobody wants to use them and they have enough newer spares.<\/p>\n

\u00a0You need to ensure that each keyboard you keep is significantly different from the others. A loud, clacky mechanical PS\/2 keyboard. Compaq\u2019s first attempt at a soft touch membrane keyboard. Big backspace vs. small. Large return key vs. slim. Small footprint vs. original XT\/AT full size.<\/p>\n

\u00a0Why? Two reasons.<\/p>\n