Tuesday, March 4, 2008

The opposite of writer's block

I have metaphors and symbols skittering through my head.

The sky like construction paper cutouts.
My memories soaked in honey, artificially saccharine.
The bottom of my jeans wet, their dampness against my ankles reminding me of fresh air and the smell of grass.

But my eyes force me to push the abstract out of the way, to focus on the concrete. My fingers are heavy against the keys.

Instead, terms like "treatment efficacy", phrases like "moderate risk to re-offend", appear on the screen, highlighted by a blinking cursor that sneers at me. 

The tick of the clock also taunts me. "It's nearly 2am," it scolds me. "Stop babbling on about literacy devices and get to bed."

The profound irony of all this is that when the words have time to flow again, my well is likely to inexplicably run dry.

24 comments:

Eleni Zoe said...

"The sky like construction paper cutouts"

That's lovely.

captain corky said...

I think we could all use 5 more hours a day. Do you know where I could get some time?

Maxie said...

I think spring makes it easier to write. It helps me out at least.

Ant said...

Is this your final write-up or just an intermediary report thing?

Anonymous said...

You are just a phenomenal writer. Have I ever told you that??

Tina Poe said...

I love this, I'll read your random metaphors any day.

t.b.f.love. said...

Lovely imagery! I hope you get the time to let your writing flow soon, without research papers getting in the way.

A Margarita said...

And doesn't it always work out that way?

Jess said...

I keep tons of draft posts and documents everywhere with scribbled notes. It's because I'm a pack rat in every facet of life. But it's good. It's a backup spring for when the well runs dry.

cdp said...

This gave me chills and goose bumps.

Teach me to write like you do. Please?

Miriam D said...

sometimes i feel like i'm tripping when I read your metaphors.

that's a good thing :)

Anonymous said...

"My memories soaked in honey, artificially saccharine."

Your words speak to me more than you could ever know. Gorgeous lady. I'm so glad we got to talk last night.

Yoda said...

LU factorization.

That's what's blinking on my screen for the past few minutes mocking me.

megabrooke said...

That's always how it is! When we have the words we don't have the time or the opposite. Blah!

This? Was wonderful though, so thanks for a little sumthin sumthin.

Anonymous said...

You're an amazing writer! I cannot manage that on my blog, but aspire to it in my papers for class. Although writing about theories of social support does not generally lend itself to waxing poetic. Too bad!

Katelin said...

Oh I love it.

Tonya said...

ah, all the ideas in the world but no time to write. i usually neglect work and write anyway. ha ha. i'm sure it will come to you when you need it again.

Essentially Me said...

Ah the life of a grad student. So glad that's over and done with for me. And I doubt your well will run dry. :)

Unknown said...

i really, really liked this post. you are truly talented.

KA said...

you could try to save them as drafts and stagger their release, maybe?

Could be fun.

brandy said...

Loved every single word in this. Sigh. I think Spring is here- suddenly I want to write more and sleep less. Which is sort of working out, I am sleeping less... but more writing? That's not happening.

The Author Of This said...

Totally relate to this feeling. Although, I get loads of ideas of what to write during the day when I'm almost a million miles away from either keyboard or pen. As soon as I get home, I have utter brain shut down. Soooo frustrating!

Jocelyn said...

You're too poetic and gifted to EVER hold a job, methinks.

eric1313 said...

I think you are doing just fine, Princess.

By the way, let me know if my own ruminating back here in the archives gets old. I do try to crack you up to make up for the bother. And it's wonderful practice, writing to an audeince of one. Especially one with such awesome powers of geekdom

Here's a writer's trick for you: Let the inspiration come to you. You don't create the inspiration, you just write the words and craft the idea to it's final shape. Let the ideas flow from life all around you. Yes, it's like the force. Let it flow from the world that you interact with. Luminous beings are we, not this crude matter...

OK, OK, quoting Yoda with that one. Plato, Budha, Yoda--they're all means for George Lucas and I to reach our devious ends...

Sorry to have forgotten to post last night after I said I'd have one. I was caught up in visiting people who I haven't talked to in ages. But I have one now. So see you any time--tonight, tomorrow, next week. Just glad to be back in a familiar zone, you know?

And sorry about the bla bla loser stuff at the guest post blog. I was having a rough time, but I felt better as the night progressed. You know how it is...

I'm not worried, just sayin'.

Have some wonderful dreams that don't involve work or school or latness or anything annoying like that.

Peace out.