Be Blocked

Is this what they call writer's block?

When I first decided to throw myself headlong into a career in writing and started this blog, with the intention of sharpening my skills, I was seeing inspiration everywhere. I even wrote a blog post about a rat, for goodness' sake (although, it was a metaphor, of course). But for the last couple of weeks, I haven't had that "I should write something about that!" feeling. And I suppose that waiting for it to land on my head isn't going to make anything any better.

So, what the heck happened?

I seem to have gotten myself pretty busy. Between all my work applying for the internship and then all the wine I had to drink to make myself feel better for not getting it, I've had a pretty tight schedule. I've started a contract working as a clinical psychologist evaluating children to determine whether or not they have an intellectual disability , which is also quite taxing, despite only being two days of work per week. It's a bit of a system shocking transition to go from being a french psychologist in Ahuntsic to an english writer, and I don't seem to be able to switch it easily within a single day. And with the fall TV line-up, it's ever so easy to come home and kiss my PVR hello at the end of the day. "What have you got for me?" I ask. It never fails to deliver. Add in a whole bunch of Vitamin Daily gigs, a lingering threatening cold, and a whole bunch of other life stuff (see blog about stuff I won't talk about on my blog), writing has taken a back seat.

A important facet of the writing process that I am missing is critical feedback. It's really so lovely to post a blog entry or have my piece published in the Globe and hear nothing but praise (comments regarding my lack of official "doctor" status notwithstanding). But let's face it...most of the people reading my pieces are my friends. And if they aren't my friends, most people aren't that rude (People who suggested I am not a "real doctor" notwithstanding). So I don't have the opportunity to get feedback on why some parts of my pieces don't work as well or how I can make my writing better.

Not that I'm asking you to open the brutal honesty floodgates. We all know how the criticism sandwich works. Compliment, critique, compliment. So, it could go something like this.

This piece about writer's block uses nice words from the english language, like "notwithstanding" and "floodgates." However, I find that it doesn't really tell me anything other than the fact that you're stuck and don't know what to write next. How about adding in some mystery, comedy, or romance? It's better for the reader when the writer writes things that are interesting. You have nice hair.

Anyone out there like critiquing stuff? I'm going to try to actually write a couple of pieces that have been rattling around in my head without coming to fruition for far too long, and I feel pretty certain that they're going to need some help. I can critique you back. If not on writing, then other things. I can be pretty critical. It's one of my best qualities.

Be blocked.