Block

Every writer, regardless of training or expertise, has experienced writer’s block. This limbo-like state is marked by absences… the absence of inspiration, insight and energy. Add the covid fog to this overcast and it is hard to see your way to creativity. When this occurs it is time to run through a list of what is known as “writer’s prompts.” Automatic writing, is a favorite, as is playing with genres. Sometimes I will write the beginning of a detective story or a short burst of description to prime the pump. Today, I wrote the beginning of a country song and came up with:

She buys fine art at the Motor Inn

She has a body made for sin

She may wear earrings made of glass..she may not have too much class

But I love her anyway

There’s nothin you have to buy her

She’s all malt liquor and Oscar Meyer.

When I saw how bad that was, I tried a long peroration on a saying by the Lakota sage Lame Deer; “it’s what you see with your eyes closed that counts.” Problem is that on this day when I close my eye, I don’t see much, other than the interminable boredom of pandemic. Too tired to tilt with windmills, I sit in a non-creative, near vegetative state. I tried music. Cranked up the classic rock and roll to goose the creative carburetor. A few sputters ensued but the engine did not turn over.

We have cleaned all the closets and stacked all the canned goods and the fog continues to close in. I am looking for a new vision and Lame Deer may be right…it is probably behind my eyes. I want to see a bright hopeful future where all are safe and protected. I want to see a new world of possibility and presence but just now, I can’t bring it into focus. As Helen Keller once said, ‘ The only thing worse than being blind is having sight and no vision.” TRUE

So I will continue to seek the inspiration that must be out there somewhere. I hope for all of us that our vision clears and we re-engage with vibrant life.

It can’t come too soon.