tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2445163857888749606.post5981593309114045441..comments2024-02-07T11:07:10.219-06:00Comments on Obsessions of a Workaholic: When I Have Writer's BlockNeurotic Workaholichttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06775298184138766683noreply@blogger.comBlogger20125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2445163857888749606.post-1130698494592819552015-01-25T21:40:34.908-06:002015-01-25T21:40:34.908-06:00Hi Catherine,
Thanks! I grew up in a small Midwe...Hi Catherine,<br /> Thanks! I grew up in a small Midwestern town, and you can do plenty of people-watching there too; you just have to be more subtle about it because otherwise they'll gossip about it, as small-town Midwesterners are known to do (I myself am still really bad about gossiping).<br /> It's hard to find the energy to write after spending the day teaching and writing lesson plans and comments on students' papers. That's why I started going to coffee shops at least once or twice a week, even for just an hour at a time; it was a chance to escape my work and just write the stuff I wanted to write, and the coffee gave me the energy. :)Neurotic Workaholichttps://www.blogger.com/profile/06775298184138766683noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2445163857888749606.post-25106841456211402732015-01-25T16:10:50.014-06:002015-01-25T16:10:50.014-06:00These are all really great ideas! I think you have...These are all really great ideas! I think you have a great advantage living in a big city. The people-watching is usually top notch! I really need to start writing down what I hear people say on the bus or at the bus station. I'd say that's where I encounter the most colorful people of this small midwestern town (because there really isn't much else to do here). <br /><br />I preach all sorts of methods to my students for dealing with writer's block. I really should practice what I preach more, come to think of it. The problem sometimes is just finding the energy, of course...<br /><br /><br /><br />Catherinehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/05532531939334578737noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2445163857888749606.post-9556637489871660322015-01-12T08:32:42.753-06:002015-01-12T08:32:42.753-06:00Hi Annalisa,
When I heard that woman talk about h...Hi Annalisa,<br /> When I heard that woman talk about her crush and Instagram, it made me think of that TV show Catfish, where the people claim to have "relationships" with the people they meet online, even if they've never actually met in person.<br /> And yes, definitely go to a cafe, because then you can drink a nice cup of coffee and perhaps eat a delicious pastry too. :) Neurotic Workaholichttps://www.blogger.com/profile/06775298184138766683noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2445163857888749606.post-39929094402462543962015-01-11T10:55:57.787-06:002015-01-11T10:55:57.787-06:00I'm a people watcher too. I love the woman who...I'm a people watcher too. I love the woman who thought being followed on instagram 'meant something'... Ah, modern life at it's best :-)<br /><br />I'm a bit blocked at the moment, so I definitely think it's time to sit in a cafe and visit a gallery!Annalisa Crawfordhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/14943610814274794998noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2445163857888749606.post-35697484497680731082015-01-08T18:13:27.100-06:002015-01-08T18:13:27.100-06:00Hi Emily,
Feel free to use my list, and thanks! :...Hi Emily,<br /> Feel free to use my list, and thanks! :) One of the reasons I like to write in cafes is that it's a good way to cure my writer's block, because there's usually something weird/interesting to see/hear there. Neurotic Workaholichttps://www.blogger.com/profile/06775298184138766683noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2445163857888749606.post-88192390081180975512015-01-08T01:54:30.419-06:002015-01-08T01:54:30.419-06:00I may have to steal your list. Or bookmark it. I c...I may have to steal your list. Or bookmark it. I can't imagine your writer's block lasts long with these great cures. :)Emily R. Kinghttps://www.blogger.com/profile/03892444969625637064noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2445163857888749606.post-90196183381826850682015-01-07T23:36:50.730-06:002015-01-07T23:36:50.730-06:00Hi Rachel,
I haven't tried that strategy bef...Hi Rachel,<br /> I haven't tried that strategy before but I like it, especially because sometimes I'll stop writing or refrain from writing altogether if there's a particular scene that I don't feel like working on.Neurotic Workaholichttps://www.blogger.com/profile/06775298184138766683noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2445163857888749606.post-71569126101428937882015-01-07T18:43:50.660-06:002015-01-07T18:43:50.660-06:00Sometimes I'll jump around in my ms to write w...Sometimes I'll jump around in my ms to write what's fitting my mood. Like yesterday when I was super grumpy I skipped ahead to an argument. ;)Rachel Schieffelbeinhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/01629400142880123520noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2445163857888749606.post-6247349262106410082015-01-07T13:48:05.513-06:002015-01-07T13:48:05.513-06:00Hi Crystal,
I like the idea of keeping a folder ...Hi Crystal,<br /> I like the idea of keeping a folder full of stories; I usually write first drafts in notebooks and then I have to hunt around for the notebook after I fill it up. It's hard for me to de-stress, because I truly am neurotic; even in my dreams I'm worrying or working. Neurotic Workaholichttps://www.blogger.com/profile/06775298184138766683noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2445163857888749606.post-48426617975308375882015-01-07T13:46:19.823-06:002015-01-07T13:46:19.823-06:00Hi Deniz,
I think one of the hardest parts about...Hi Deniz,<br /> I think one of the hardest parts about writing is to just start writing; like you said, it's easier to keep going once you get started. I often end up worrying about what I'm going to write beforehand, which makes it more difficult for me to figure out what I want to say. Neurotic Workaholichttps://www.blogger.com/profile/06775298184138766683noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2445163857888749606.post-8678700354977516282015-01-07T10:48:16.143-06:002015-01-07T10:48:16.143-06:00Me? I try to de-stress. Typically when I can't...Me? I try to de-stress. Typically when I can't write it's because I'm putting too much pressure on myself. That, or I just don't have enough time to really get into it. I have a folder full of stories I LOVE that I've been working on for years, and sometimes popping back into one of those for a few hours totally refreshes me. I think in order to really write, all you have to do is reignite the LOVE of a story. Crystal Collierhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/03912469552483168148noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2445163857888749606.post-54478522303746179162015-01-07T05:20:00.379-06:002015-01-07T05:20:00.379-06:00Love the museum idea and the rereading. I reread a...Love the museum idea and the rereading. I reread a lot. If I already have a story idea but feel blocked (some days during NaNo for instance...) then I just start writing anyway. Usually by the time I get a few hundred words in I've slipped into the story and the character voice and something interesting is starting to happen...Deniz Bevanhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/17134553551048836979noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2445163857888749606.post-82066298942661922222015-01-06T00:12:32.784-06:002015-01-06T00:12:32.784-06:00Hi Tammy,
Sometimes I wear my headphones with th...Hi Tammy,<br /> Sometimes I wear my headphones with the sound turned off so that the other people can't tell that I'm listening to them. :) Occasionally I'll Tweet weird things that I see or hear. You could keep a pad of paper and a pen by your bed so that you can jot down ideas before you go to sleep. Neurotic Workaholichttps://www.blogger.com/profile/06775298184138766683noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2445163857888749606.post-86951909577785489822015-01-05T23:34:49.116-06:002015-01-05T23:34:49.116-06:00I would love to read the journal for number three!...I would love to read the journal for number three! What a hoot!! When I have writers block I literally will sit there for a few seconds and just go blank. Eventually something comes through. Or on my drives to work something will hit. But more often then not, that hit part happens when I go to bed trying to sleep! Tammy Theriaulthttps://www.blogger.com/profile/13128574900510175415noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2445163857888749606.post-73451766559634262202015-01-05T19:11:32.393-06:002015-01-05T19:11:32.393-06:00Hi Karen,
I have several books on writing and cr...Hi Karen,<br /> I have several books on writing and creativity; my favorites are the ones by Natalie Goldberg. I like watching movies too, especially if the movie is about a writer. Neurotic Workaholichttps://www.blogger.com/profile/06775298184138766683noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2445163857888749606.post-60954957270546221762015-01-05T19:10:52.064-06:002015-01-05T19:10:52.064-06:00Hi Murees,
Happy New Year to you too! I read som...Hi Murees,<br /> Happy New Year to you too! I read somewhere that when you experience certain events on your own, you become more aware of your surroundings, because you're less distracted. I've found that to be true. Neurotic Workaholichttps://www.blogger.com/profile/06775298184138766683noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2445163857888749606.post-47273774382612051792015-01-05T18:34:30.361-06:002015-01-05T18:34:30.361-06:00Hi Sarah,
You could always watch clips of plays ...Hi Sarah,<br /> You could always watch clips of plays or musicals on Youtube; one thing I also like to watch are Jane Austen films, which are on Youtube (and some of them are full-length). One of the things I love about Chicago is its great theater scene. I wish I had more money for the big, fancy theaters, but at least there are the tiny theaters that sell cheaper tickets. Neurotic Workaholichttps://www.blogger.com/profile/06775298184138766683noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2445163857888749606.post-85594742698302631452015-01-05T14:10:19.477-06:002015-01-05T14:10:19.477-06:00I read and also watch movies. Certain books on wri...I read and also watch movies. Certain books on writing and creativity also inspire me. The best thing though is to just put it on my to do list, usually starting with 30 minutes if I've been away from writing for a long time.Karen Jones Gowenhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/11378428503220197256noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2445163857888749606.post-55978356380202641772015-01-05T12:46:21.140-06:002015-01-05T12:46:21.140-06:00Happy New Year! I avoid most people on a daily bas...Happy New Year! I avoid most people on a daily basis. Isolation really helps my creativity. Murees Dupèhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/11781339206465690961noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2445163857888749606.post-24209239286232734912015-01-05T12:02:41.499-06:002015-01-05T12:02:41.499-06:00Love these! It's always good to pay attention ...Love these! It's always good to pay attention to the things and people around you--you never know what you'll hear or see that will inspire you. I haven't been to a play or musical in so long I think I'm having withdrawals...maybe that's one reason I have writer's block!Sarah Fosterhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/09481750127533816819noreply@blogger.com