August 6, 2008
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Writer’s Flood
You know what? I almost *never* get writers block. When I do it is really a horrible feeling and I just want to jump off a bridge. But it’s really really rare for me. I always have something to write about.
No, what I often get is not writer’s block but something that outwardly appears like writer’s block but is totally different. I call it writer’s flood.
Basically it’s when a whole bunch of really awesome ideas are bouncing around in my head demanding that they be written and I just don’t know where to begin. My attention can’t really be split in so many directions and I start to get overwhelmed by the sheer size of it all.
If you’ve noticed, none of my entries are short. But what you don’t know is most of what I write is way smaller than what I wanted to write or imagined writing. And you also don’t know that of all the entries I post that’s only a tiny fraction of all the entries I WANT to post. The problem is writing each of these posts is hard. They take up a lot of time and lot of energy and a lot of thought. And sometimes a lot of emotional commitment too. And I have to focus on just that one piece of writing to get it right. Only when I’m in a Writer’s Flood I can’t do that. There’s too much bouncing around up there. I get distracted too easily.
Yeah so it’s like that. I feel sometimes like I’m drowning in the ideas. Overwhelmed by the thoughts. And I can’t write. And I wait until I can find a moment of peace, sort of a piece of drift wood to cling onto in the endless sea of thought. And that’s when I write.
But lately the storm has been raging too wildly and I haven’t been able to cling to much. So I haven’t written much of anything worthwhile. So when I feel like this I tend to just do something else entirely. I drop writing and I dunno read manga or something. I meditate and focus on holding my breathe until another piece of driftwood floats my way.
Not to worry though. I can hold my breathe for a long time. And hopefully when all is said and done my writing will be even better for the wait.
Comments (10)
I definitely relate to writer’s flood!
Hey, anything is a good excuse to read manga.
Haha I can relate to that too.. usually I just pick the best out of the bunch. I might write more than one entry but the rest will never see the light of day! ^_^
Happens to me all the time. What sucks is when the flood is suddenly sandbagged and you can’t write out or vocalize those ideas.
I definitley get writers flood but I also get writers block alot. mostly because I can never focus.
@fullmetalbunny - agreed. : )
I’m either in writer’s flood.
Or writer’s block.
I want a balance.
I’m either extreme. Often, on xanga, it’s writer’s flood. Have you seen the length of my entries?
I always have writer’s flood too.
But the thing with my writer’s flood is it’s always manageable.
That’s why I always have a pen and paper wherever I go. I never forget to bring them coz when something comes to my mind, I immediately write it down. I also list the things that I want to write about so that I don’t forget them.. And so that when my mind is clear, I can go ahead and write them.
Good luck with your writer’s flood. *huggles*
@purplepixiepoo - ha if I did that I’d be writing ever waking hour of every single day! lol I write too much for the pen and paper method to really help. Plus I keep most of the stuff I want to write in my head pretty good so I don’t need notes. Heck if I forget something that helps! Cuz then the flood is smaller.
@Laryssa - balance is definitely what we must all seek.
@xxmusicxxfreak - yeah I think focus has a lot to do with it. If my mind didn’t wander through all my ideas flipping back and forth so rapidly, having a “flood” wouldn’t really be problematic. I’d just focus on what I want to write and write it.
@Mentalist_Jones - *exactly*
@raindrops23 - haha well that happens whehter I get writer’s flodo or not! Soooo many good ideas I have just never get written just because I don’t have time!
@fullmetalbunny - too true. I need a few more good excuses. Especially if they can get me out of work so I can read more manga!
@mandalou89 - I’m glad
@RisingRebirth - yeah Xanga tends to encourage flood more than block which I think is a good thing.