Sometimes you need to walk away
Published by on April 4th, 2008
I have been writing less lately, around here and elsewhere. TableRappers is an experience in wading through treacle right now. I could not call this a case of the infamous ‘writers block’, it’s more a case of discovering a segment of the story that was less well formed in the first draft. This has resulted in much more requiring attention over the past couple of chapters than previously.
The great positive about a weekly episode regime is the pressure to somehow complete the writing and recording each week. The downside - and at this point it feels like a very heavy downside - is making a public commitment to the path of the story. Once published, a scene is out there, in all its missplaced and ill conceived glory. If this were merely a written piece, then I could pass by for now, opting to return to fix a problem or two after more work has been done. True, there is - and will certainly be - some changes to the written book when compared to the audio, but the audio cannot be changed within the bounds of its current incarnation.
So for the past two days I have intentionally avoided writing. This morning, I am reaping the rewards of that brief hiatus. All thinking about the story switched from my conscious to my subconscious, and now that background process has started to offer the results of its work. The next stage of the story is laid out, the scenes have been set, and all the while I have not consciously worked it out. All I have to do is write.
I¬† would use this technique quite deliberately over the years in developing creative design solutions for clients. The old advice to “sleep on it” is a valuable but frequently ignored tool in problem solving, providing one can come to terms with the notion that valuable work can be accomplished without enforced and directed outward conscious effort.
Banging ones head against a wall generally results in a headache and a blood stained wall - and an incomplete solution.
2 Responses to “Sometimes you need to walk away”
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April 4th, 2008 at 10:04 am
A friend when asked why he was banging his head against a wall (literally), turned round and said, “because it feels good when I stop”.
- Neil.
April 4th, 2008 at 11:58 am
I really sympathise with you on this. I have been working on a lecture for some time and want to get it finished but its got to be of the same quality as everything else and its got to be correct, and the self imposed pressure is huge.
I am coming to think that anything of quality that we produce can often come accompanied by a level of self-doubt that needs to be overcome as well! Its the struggle to lighten up the world with creative fire!