blah! blah! blah!

As a writer I've never had a problem with ideas. I took a class with Angela Hunt and liked the way she expressed her idea process. She said that she was never without ideas. "Instead of wondering what I'll write about next, I feel like all these ideas are circling around my head like planes at an airport. They wait for their chance to land and unload all their potential."


Sounds good to me. I have so many notes for articles and books it's crazy. It's been hard for me to understand when other author friends express writer's block.


But....now I think I understand. Writer's block comes in many forms. It may be a lack of ideas or it may be a lack of writing skills. It may be procrastination or it may be just frustration.

For me, writer's block comes more in the form of writer's Blah. Ideas are still plentiful, yet I've sat at my desk for hours without writing two words. I have an idea....I have a plan....but the hands just aren't moving.

There may be reasons for my lethargic behavior. I've been sick and my energy level is still very low. Deadlines are pressing and even though I know I should be busy - like a teen that's overwhelmed during finals week - my head just doesn't want to do the work. I'm forcing myself to get it done - and I know that's what needs to happen - but the "joy" I've experienced before isn't there.

Now what? I don't want to go through this journey feeling like I've lost the enjoyment of the process.

Sometimes when our brain is too tired to participate, it's best to just walk away. What? You've got deadlines and you're going to just walk away?

Yep....I'll just walk away. I looked at the sky and breathed in the fresh spring air. Yesterday, I took a garden tool and made about 25 stabs at the garden. Not enough to get sweaty. Not enough to take up the entire afternoon. Just enough to free up my mind.

Then, I sat on my porch swing and thought about my children. I sipped at a glass of ice water and drug my feet on the porch.

Finally, I prayed and asked God to help me to focus. It was just enough. I took a few more deep breaths before going inside. I settled into my desk chair, said another quick prayer and finished my first deadline.

Whew! That was a close one.

God loves you and has called you to write.

Debbie