Overcoming Writer's Block - One Writer's Comments

Erma Bombeck Writers' Workshop

Write This Way!

Already added it to the blogroll.

Society for Technical Communication - SouthWestern Ohio Chapter

I met a gentleman from this organization yesterday, and he gave me some information, most importantly of which was this URL. I know that this is a creative writing weblog, but this appears to be a pretty good networking organization for technical writers. I'm sure that anyone visiting this weblog may either be themselves or know of technical writers who would be interested in learning more about this organization.

I know I am.

WritersWeekly.com - Freelance Writing Jobs, Markets, Self-Publishing, Courses

Words as Weapons, Sharper Than Knives

(Use
Kiddie Gloves --
He
can't handle
too much.)

I hate being weak because
those whom I've trusted
in the past
have walked
all over me
when
I've trusted them
("So-called" friends.)

I don't like
being ill and
expected
to perform
up to par.
(Can't afford it.)

(What
have you been doing
with your life,
you bumbling idiot?)

Harsh
words

Mean
words

Hurting
words

Words
from myself
To myself

Words
To cut down
not to build up

Words
of frustration
and anger

Self-inflicted
words

Words
that kill
the spirit

Sin and Punishment

God doesn't want us to sin
He listens to us attentively
God is upset when we treat sin
(in ourselves and others)
lightly

God refines and tests us

Boast about God:

O Lord God Almighty
Great are your deeds
Awesome in power
Grand in splendor
Your name is to be praised
All through the day and
All through the night

I rejoice in knowing you, my Abba
My cup of blessing overflows
You've been so merciful
You are holy, righteous,
A God to be feared
Let me never take you for granted.

Thanks for everything

based on a bible study I had on Jeremiah 8-9 on August 2001

Now That's Just Weird

Browsing through the referrer links, I found out that this blog came up in the search results for

• mommys who pull kids pants down

Of course, by listing that here, I'm probably increasing the chances that it will come up again.

Who are you blogging for?

This question has come up around the blogging world lately, and it's one I have to ask myself often. Am I blogging to get the attention of several people, so that they will visit my site and maybe link back? Am I eager for someone 'important' in the blogging world to comment about something I've written?

I have purposely refrained from adding comments to my "Letters to God" blog because my intent is to focus on writing to God, not to get some kind of reaction from someone who might read it. I have, however, recently, noticed myself checking my other blogs too often to see whether someone has noticed something I've written.

I need to remind myself the original reason why I started blogging: for myself. Miles Davis said, "An artist's first responsibility is to himself." And it was Toni Morrison who said

There's a difference between writing for a living and writing for a life. If you write for a living, you make enormous compromises, and you might not even be able to uncompromise yourself. If you write for life, you'll work hard; you'll do what's honest, not what pays.

I pray that I keep these thoughts in mind as I write.

The Rumor Mill

Just got the link.

A Relentless Passion

Three dollars rest on the table, each folded in half. The finished lunch dishes, on the light green tray have been pushed to the other side of the table to make room to read and write. An opened quotation notebook sits nearby, the ink drying -- recent treasures gleaned from the wisdom of others. His Men's Devotional Bible, with many accidentally dog-eared pages from years of rough handling, sits to his right. The cover would no longer close all the way. A 5-by-7 index card lays just inside the front cover. It's this index card that maintains his present focus, for it describes thoughts written down at a turning point in his life:

He grew up with hurts, just like anyone else, and effects of them continued with him throughout his college years and into the early years of his marriage. Then, some years after their first daughter was born, they attended some foster parent training. That's when the bubble burst. All the gushy, sappy feelings for wanting to foster-to-adopt in the first place were, in a way, violated by the realities of abuse and neglect.

As he listened intently to the descriptions, the definitions of abuse and neglect, and the illustrative examples, he felt the pain in the core of his heart begin to rise. Damaged emotions, never allowed to heal, were making their way back into his consciousness. He didn't want to feel the pain. He tried to deny that this was going on. He wanted to be able to forgive, forget and move on.

But he couldn't. He found a blank 5-by-7 index card and quickly scribbled his thoughts, his brief memories, and, especially what he knew was right -- he'd need to surrender these feelings to God.

Another, smaller 3-by-5 index card marks his current page in the Men's Devotional Bible. A few inches away rests the library book that was his current muse. He'd have to return it by next Saturday the 15th. He wasn't quite halfway through it yet. Each chapter and verse were being meditated upon. He was, after all, learning from the wisdom and experiences of others, and he was yet more inspired to become a writer.

Well he already was a writer and has been for some time. But it was the measure of success he desired, to be published, to experience the joy of knowing that others valued his work enough to pay him for it.

He is an artist and the written word his artwork. He recalls the wisdom of the late Miles Davis: "An artist's first responsibility is to himself." The words of one Benjamin Disraeli also remind him: "When I want to read a good book, I write one." And finally, the late Oscar Wilde chimes in: "I never travel without my diary. One should always have something sensational to read on the train." Whether on the train or somewhere else, the work lies within him and it will indeed soon emerge, as long as he continues to write.

Planet Relish E-zine | Meet the Editors Chat

Check out Jennifer's blog, the Tuesday, February 4, 2003, post for the link to the chat session, which will be this Friday, February 7, 2003 at 10:30 PM EST. Why not check it out? I must consider this myself.

Nulla Dies Sine Linea

Oh, that's right, you don't speak Latin. Neither do I. I'm not even sure whether that phrase is Latin. Whatever the case, I just found another snippet of good advice on how to write every day. And, since you're really interested now, 'Nulla Dies Sine Linea' means 'never a day without lines'.

So, write every day. In a handwritten or computer journal. Record your memories. Create characters; dispose of some. Keep it private or make it public. Let's all do it.