I was awake at 5:50am. I followed the domestic trail, breakfast and ablutions. Now I write. No. I am typing this trying to explain to myself and to anyone who is cursed with a creative mind. That you and I can follow the ‘ruts’ we have made. That road we travel looking for stories and comedy.
But Today
I don’t want to travel along the ruts. I’ve been writing Jelly Trumpet for 3 – 4 years and nothing else (apart from my business copywriting). I’m not tired of Jelly Trumpet. All is going well thanks to my main collaborators, Mr b and Claire. I need something else.
I usually start a Saturday posting promotional stuff for the show on social platforms. I don’t want to today. I also thought I’d return to my book ‘The Sacred Band of Zombie Fighters’ but nope, not happened.
“What about something new, Jim?”
I have journals stuffed with ideas yet I don’t want to start. There’s nothing wrong with taking a break. That’s what I am thinking of doing with my day. Perhaps a little domestic action or giving the garden a tidy.
The Medicine Journal – Writer’s Block
When faced with a block like this you have choices. You can ‘dog it’ out and work through it. You can take a break or ask another question.
The Medicine Journal is a device I’ve been using for years. It is a record of each writing session. What worked, why did it work, stuff to improve on. I’ve noted several times what works for me ie getting to the happy realm of consciousness where we play and laugh to ourselves.
If you record what you do to Unblock the block and if this works then you have greater power over yourself.
Most of the time it is simple things that work. Going for a walk, reading a favourite book, going and chatting with family or friends,
IF that doesn’t work what is the next step?
The Right Question
I had a look, painfully long stint over a scene in a play. I worked on this scene for 5 – 6 Saturdays (my main writing day). The problem was I have actors playing different characters. Therefore some combinations wouldn’t work in the way I wanted as an actor can’t play two characters at the same time (of course, they can. But that’s not what I wanted for the scene. I came up with all manner of diagrams. Well, he can meet him but not her and she can’t meet him…
I was so absorbed in “Who can meet who?” Eventually I realised this was the wrong question (too much detail). So, I broadened the scope of my question. That question was simple: “How do I make this scene funny?” BOOM!
So, I wrote the scene easily because I asked the right question.
Back to Today
My question, the one hanging in the front of my mind when I woke up was “What am I going to do today?”
That’s the wrong question.
The question I am now asking has lifted my mood and makes me smile inside. I have the question and the answer.
“What do I WANT to do today?”
The answer: “I want to have fun. I want to play. I want new ideas for Jelly Trumpet, for my book, perhaps shoot my mind into a new direction.
Playing the “What if?” Card
That’s what I’m going to do now. I also give myself permission to be rubbish.
I intend to write the ‘What if? Card’ in another post now.
Remember to keep a journal, realise that ‘what if’ is the most powerful trigger for creating and if you are growing in anxiety because you don’t want to ‘fail’ the give yourself permission to fail?
Better check out my ‘9 Trumpets of Creativity’ tool!
Stay fruity,
