(no subject)

[sun_set_bravely]

Why is it that I've written three plays now, but every time I think about sitting down to start a new one, my whole creative being freezes up and shrinks away from the pen and paper?

Writing sometimes feels like reinventing the wheel every time I want to do anything. Poems, short stories, plays... what's that great piece of advice? Shitty rough drafts or something like that. Just sit down and write. Write.

Okay, going now.

Comments

[mikecheck.livejournal.com]

do not fear the blank page.

[sun-set-bravely.livejournal.com]

It's not so much the blank page as the blank mind.

Good advice, though. Once I get started, I remember that it isn't as scary as I thought it was. I'm always amazed at the amnesia that happens between writings.

Jump in that deep end.

[gmoneyjonesiii.livejournal.com]

That's right, man; Stephen King advises that the hard part is not so much the initial writing, but the rewriting that requires concentration. I've found this to be true with my concert reviews of late, scribbling individual thoughts longhand while I'm there and having to form it all into something intelligent when I get home. Is it any wonder I'm now four reviews behind in posting to LJ?

I've found that emotional drive has a big part in writing plays (probably applies to any writing, but I brought some examples for plays, so HA!). I wrote my first play, redout., primarily because I had to; it dealt indirectly with a lot of emotions I was feeling at the time about being stuck in a place I physically didn't want to be. I had to get it out, not just for an assignment grade, but for my own emotional health.

I started on my second one, Carmen Miranda In Ethiopia, but never finished it because I graduated and moved out here. Suddenly, I no longer was in a position where I had to write or die. I had a fairly happy home life. I had "free time". I solved a lot of personal problems by changing locations. And suddenly the impetus to squeeze the pain out wasn't so great any more.

So there it is. Inspiration can pull you along, but I've found that it usually kicks you in the ass first. Your personal life may be more satisfying now than it was then.

Or not; just a thought. However, I do know that I was feeling extremely uncreative last week and the week before on LJ, and things seem to be picking up again. These things come in phases. Last week I was begging for more surveys so I wouldn't have to make real LJ entries, now things might be turning around. I betcha the door to a new piece of writing will open up one of these days. You just can't jiggle the handle in the meantime, I've found. "A watched pot," and all that.

Hoo-ha.