“When I’m stuck, I paint or I draw. Or I cook. Or I garden—or I redecorate a room. I get away from words, but not away from creativity. It’s a way to keep those energies moving and alive, without the particular worries about content that writing can carry.
And also, because none of those activities are my profession, they help me relocate the playfulness and pleasure that disappear when I feel creatively anxious or empty.
I also always keep a note nearby: No one has to read a word I write. It’s important to combat self-censoring whenever possible.”
—Robin Black, author of Life Drawing, A Novel (Random House, 2014)
Comments
Jackal_101 replied on Permalink
Stuck
Right now I am righting my first novel. When I get stuck, i put it down for a couple of months and I start writing again. Some times I do not touch it for 3 months at a time. I guess everyone has they way of finishing their story. During the months I stop writing the novel, I try to write short and short short stories. Hopefully after writing those stories, I develope new ideas for my novel.
Rekha Ramani replied on Permalink
poetry- free spirit
I know when my muse is with me. There's an inner rush and I just have to pour it out either on paper or my mac. Sometimes also use the pc if my son lets me. The muse is so important to poets. Have you any poets out there, had a feeling of emptiness, a lack of urge to put your verses on paper? I've had this horrid feeling, that almost tells me that my days as a poet is over!! I feel despair, desperate and a hole in my heart.
Do any of you poets out there want to share a thing or two about your muse?
Be well,
Rekha