(Sometimes Called “Writer’s Block”)
What if I decide I have nothing more to say? … What if it’s all been said, in many cases better said than by me? Is this where I am today?
I usually don’t feel this way. But writing must be entertaining on some level. Even if I’m not reaching a known audience out there – or an unknown audience, for that matter – I must at least entertain myself with my writing! That’s the minimum requirement.
I asserted in my last post that I’m not trying to persuade my readers, but shouldn’t I at least try to entertain them? “Give it time,” I tell myself – the weekly production schedule of the Arlington Community Learning writers’ groups was just a tad too ambitious for me. Two weeks is better, or maybe three. The basic structure of all Warp & Woof posts (always around 1000-1200 words) is essentially the same:
- Lead – what’s motivating me to write?
- Hook – a phrase, slogan, quote that got me going
- Research – intended mostly as my check on bullshitting!
- Style – don’t aim too low or too high (sole arbiter is me, of course)
- Conclusion – middle may wander, but conclusion must circle back to lead.
One difficulty I face is the balance between reading, or intellectual activity, and experiences. At times like these, I feel the balance is out of whack. One possible solution: HAVE MORE EXPERIENCES! Witness my last post, “Why Do I Write?”, and this one, for my quandary. Consumption of only intellectual content gets somewhat tedious … even for me. Creative nonfiction writing is one thing, dry academic exposition something else. If I want to deal with some deep metaphysical, or historical, subject, best I find a way to couch it in everyday language. Think about that hook. The advantages of writing about personal experiences include less need for research – this post, for instance, does not contain a single Wikipedia link! If I’m bullshitting you, I must be bullshitting myself as well. But creative nonfiction is not fiction. I’ve always thought that creating characters, and great plodding story lines, was too much of a challenge for my imagination, or attention span. I never thought I was capable of a novel.
The main source of what we call “writer’s block” is coming up with that lead paragraph. What is it that you WANT to write about? What do you feel qualified to write about? My experience with Warp & Woof has always been that once the lead is cemented, the rest of the piece flows rather easily — even to a more-or-less justified conclusion. It’s that lead that presents the greatest barrier. That’s why I begin with an extensive outline, once my topic is selected – I don’t follow that outline as the piece develops, but that’s okay. Right now, I’m reminding myself of my outline for this piece: I’m on Roman Numeral III, “Do I Really Have Anything to Say?” I mostly ignored Roman Numeral I, “Quality in Writing,” and instead wove the content of Roman Numeral II, “Entertainment Value of Writing,” into the first four paragraphs above. That’s how I roll.
The slightly anti-climactic conclusion of my last post was that I probably write mostly for self-satisfaction. My goal in Warp & Woof cannot be teaching – I’d need an audience for that – and this burden of humility I’m feeling today makes me question whether there is much beyond entertainment value in any writing, anyway. But I have strong constitutional prohibitions against self-promotion – at least via money. It seems that promotion by paying somebody for it flies in the face of that current humble posture. Somebody else would have to endorse me with THEIR money, a contribution. At least that would mean THEY thought I deserved a greater audience! Some things do jump out from my meager stats, however (both WordPress and, lately, Medium). It seems clever titles, and subtitles, are worth more views, if not reads (most viewed post on Medium so far: “The World in 2124 … I’m Cautiously Optimistic”). Since I get no comments from readers, there is no input about my style, or the inherent entertainment value of my subject. We’ll see if “A Sudden Attack of Humility” does the trick this time. There are some 25 or so followers of Warp & Woof on WordPress – this post will appear in their inboxes. I’m not publishing this one on Medium.
Speaking of Medium, I read their Daily Digest – sometimes – but, based on the pieces proffered (via algorithm), I have to say that much of it is BAD! I write better than many Medium contributors. I know that Medium has a huge following, but that doesn’t necessarily mean the quality of its content is great. Since this post is basically inside promotion for my blog on WordPress, I think I should keep it there alone. “People like me” are my self-defined audience for Warp & Woof, and I will follow writers on Medium who seem to fit that definition. But I do concede the best, most entertaining, of them are established authors – not unknown amateurs like me. I like Cory Doctorow, George Dillard, Avi Loeb, and Will Lockett. They each have clearly defined areas of interest, more focused than mine. I tend to be “all over the place” with my five different Warp & Woof pages.
So long as I can occasionally step back, in a spirit of humility, and understand that others may be just as capable of expressing their feelings, knowledge and experience as me, I can probably avoid a serious attack of NPD (narcissistic personality disorder). The evidence is overwhelming that you’re never too old to learn new things, despite a comfortable relationship with your own wisdom, and that you should concentrate your attention on others, more than yourself. As much as self-satisfaction may be my primary motivation for writing, it does need to be good enough to entertain somebody else. I just wish somebody would tell me that, occasionally … and with enough authority for me to believe them!
— William Sundwick
Warp and Woof 