what kind of music are you in?

[Phil O]

Glad to hear you guys are being creative. I'm going through one of my many writers' block periods. I know it will pass, but it still sucks. I really don't do a lot of writing, but its good to crank out something from time to time and it's been too long a time.

Phil

[philbrown]

Glad to hear you guys are being creative. I'm going through one of my many writers' block periods. I know it will pass, but it still sucks. I really don't do a lot of writing, but its good to crank out something from time to time and it's been too long a time.

Phil

A lot of people swear by the book The Artist's Way by Julia Cameron. Another one I read a long long time ago was The Courage to Create by Rollo May. It was so long ago I couldn't tell you now if it was good or bad. I recall it helped me at the time. One of my faves though is A Whack on the Side of the Head by Roger Von Oech. I read it every couple of years. I'm about due on that one as the last section deals with finishing things which I really need to work on. Lots and lots of ideas but... whatever I started last week- that just seems so... last week. Does anyone else have that? My sig kinda speaks to that...

As far as writer's block - the standard movie cliche is the writer staring at the blank page in the typewriter or writing a line and crumpling the paper. I think walking away (if possible) is a better solution. Maybe take a trip or read a stimulating book or what have you. Collaboration can be good too sometimes. Of course there are a few quotes floating around about the best inspiration being a deadline or paycheck, so there's that too

[monkey man]

... Lots and lots of ideas but... whatever I started last week- that just seems so... last week. Does anyone else have that? My sig kinda speaks to that...

+1 here Phil. It could be argued that we need to lighten up on the self criticism, but I reckon it's a habit I'd rather have in abundance than the contrary.

I agree about the break thing too; it always worked for me. My latest, super-extended-and-forced break broke me though (many times, actually), so it's worth noting that there's probably only a limited number of inspiration trains that one can jump back on whilst on a break, their appearance becoming progressively more sparse. That said, in my case I'm talking about well over a decade, and many thousands of trains starting with 10 a day and now one every 3 to 6 months, which isn't typical of a block-breaking break by any means. LOL Don't get me wrong - I'm no longer waiting for trains. Sheer desperation will see me practically marrying my gear when all's set (a few bits critical to my needs are still missing).

[Phil O]

A Whack on the Side of the Head

Sounds like what I need.

Phil

[monkey man]

Where can I get these new-fangled whacks? I surely could do with one too... in fact, I'll buy a box.

[philbrown]

Where can I get these new-fangled whacks? I surely could do with one too... in fact, I'll buy a box.

Whacks In The Box. The drive-thru is open until 1AM.

[monkey man]

Doh! [Slaps forehead]

I know that place - just 'round the corner from KFC and the drive-through marriage joint, right? Silly me!

There, now all the DeePeeps in MOTUVille know what sort of music the Phils and I "are in" - none. We waste our creative energy getting whacked... on the sides of our heads.