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Deadly Writer's Blocksby Daniel M. Jaffe(Fiction writer Dan Jaffe listed these "Seven Deadly Blockages" and the cure for each at the "Blocked and Breaking Through" seminar at the Boston Graduate School of Psychoanalysis. Dan was a member of the Boston chapter until he moved to the West Coast.)Dry Mouth: A condition where I have no text in progress and no ideas. CURE: I carry index cards with me everywhere I go and jot down ideas as they come, which I keep in a notebook that I can go to for ideas. Doldrums: An output frustration problem in which I am writing but don't like the quality of the work. CURE: I go through a checklist of weaknesses in my writing that I know I have in order to see if any of those are the problem. If that doesn't work, I show the piece to another writer. If that fails, I throw out the work, which liberates me to go on to something new. Jigsaw Puzzleitis: In which I have lots of wonderful bits but they don't fit together. CURE: I know these disparate bits occurred to me for some reason, so I keep going to see if a pattern emerges. Or I go to another writer, who may see what ties the pieces together. Devil Made Me Do It: A self-censor problem when I find myself writing sexual or violent material and feel uncomfortable that it's coming from me. CURE: to be shameless and get it out, realizing that just because I write it doesn't mean I have to submit it for publication. Heart of the Matter: A kind of insight anxiety. I avoid writing because I'm feeling anxious and don't know why. CURE: I force myself to sit and write, because I maybe getting to something just below the surface that's important. It's not like not wanting to go to your therapist appointment because you know there's something key you need to talk about. Self-Competition Anxiety: I fear that I won't be able to repeat a success, especially after another writer has praised my work, or a piece has been accepted for publication. CURE: I remind myself that not every piece has to be my best. Some of the work of even the best authors does not stand out. Broken Metronome: Rhythm blockage, in which I don't have the energy to write because I've been writing more than I'm used to and my creativity is becoming drained. CURE: to give myself a vacation by not writing for a day or two. Home | About NWU | Events | Issues | Get Involved | Benefits | Links | Submissions | Contacts
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