I sat down today to write a post and found myself blocked. Nothing interesting came out. I scratched whole paragraphs, started over multiple times. Got frustrated until I remembered what Juan José Campanella, the director/co-writer of the Oscar-winning El Secreto de Sus Ojos, said at a screening I attended: There’s no such thing as writer’s block. There’s always something in your head, he said, it just may not be any good.
But the trick is to keep writing, so I did. I recorded whatever random thoughts flitted through my brain. Then I looked at what I wrote and decided to post it as is.
Ever have days like this?
I don’t feel like writing right now. Who’s making me? I don’t have to write anything if I don’t want to. This sucks. It’s a nice day. Wish I were outside.
Hey, the dog next door is quiet today. Wonder if the cops came out to give the owner a warning. Wait a minute. It’s TOO quiet. What happened to the dog?
Why do my thighs hurt? Oh, yeah, those new squatting exercises. I need a new chair. Did I take my calcium supplement today? I want some cheese. My bones will be brittle when I’m old. I’ll drink a glass of milk with my cheese.
I’ll watch some TV. Maybe that will inspire a post. Oh, Friends! Chandler’s so thin! Why is Jennifer Aniston’s hair brown? Joey never should’ve happened. Courteney Cox looks even hotter now than she did then. Her hair sure is black for someone non-Asian.
This coffee tastes funny. Husband says we’re out of regular so it’s extra bold decaf. Isn’t that an oxymoron? Heh heh. Love the word “moron.” Definitely funnier than “idiot.”
OK, back to work. Why did I just lose a Twitter follower when I wasn’t even tweeting?
What the hell?! Michelle “Bombshell” McGee and a Tiger Woods mistress might get their own reality show? What is happening to America?? I can’t even deal with this.
Focus, focus. Blog post, need one. Maybe something will come to me if I take a break. Mmm…soup.
It’s 11 p.m.! Gotta hit the sack. But I still have no blog post! Hmm. What if I make up some lame excuse to run this BS as a post?
18 Comments
debbied
April 20, 2010 at 7:43 amOhmyGod, PCN your post is so timely and so is Juan Jose’ Campanella’s quote. I’ve recently gone back to school which means readings, and postings, and writing–oh my! Many times I sit in front of my computer, write, delete, write, delete, write, delete ad nauseum…. Then I look at the clock, see how much time has ticked away and then furiously try to get something, anything down. I watch myself get distracted–gee, let me just get on the internet…what’s U2 doing these days, what’s happening at Popculturenerd.com, who’s doing what on Facebook? And, then I remember what I once heard Gregg Hurwitz say, “if you want to write you have to put in the seat time”. Now, granted I’m just writing for school–it’s not a novel or blog, but the principal is still the same. And so I sit and stare at the screen and write and delete and write and delete….
Christine
April 20, 2010 at 8:18 amOh, yes, completely in touch with this post! HA! Your food break is healthier than mine though; I’m usually most likely to whip up a batch of chocolate chip cookies.
le0pard13
April 20, 2010 at 9:09 amI like it! To a certain extent, it’s like a sneak peak into your mind without that title, PCN. And, that is an excellent quote by Juan José Campanella (so, too, is the Gregg Hurwitz one, Debbie). Thanks for this.
p.s., isn’t that a shot of an old white plastic iMac? I remember those!
Jen Forbus
April 20, 2010 at 10:40 amHa! I use to have my students do an exercise like this in English class. I think we called it free writing. It was torture to get them to keep writing because they were convinced that they “couldn’t think of anything.”
And it’s like an ADD stream of consciousness. This is similar to what my thoughts are like. Except mine would have far more “Oh for the love of Pete”s in them!
I also love the word “moron.” Definitely better than “idiot.”
Donna
April 20, 2010 at 10:55 amGreat stream of random thoughts + your humor shines through! I do this in my journal sometimes + reading the outcome can be an eye opener. And you’re right…JOEY should never have been a show. Let us know about the dog, too! Lol!
Poncho
April 20, 2010 at 12:22 pmI just had a huge laughter fit! People are staring me at my office right now. I guess they think I’m the ‘moron’.
Great post, PCN. Lame excuse or not, this was amazing.
Shell Sherree
April 20, 2010 at 5:45 pmI feel strangely comforted right now, PCN! Aside from the dog. I’m worried about him, too. I love the word moron and now I love heh heh far more than hee hee. Enjoy your extra bold decaf… and I’m off to do something I have a feeling I’m meant to be doing right now.
Naomi Johnson
April 21, 2010 at 6:33 amYep, this is how I imagined your brain worked: Like a constant barrage of three-rail billiard shots. With tequila shots on the side.
Rodney North
April 21, 2010 at 7:23 amYes.
Ybnorml
April 21, 2010 at 1:41 pmI’m sitting here with two writing deadlines thundering over my head and can’t seem to get started. Can you hear the ominous boom of thunder and a creepy Danny Elfman score playing in the background? I can’t seem to get started so I do what I always do to get my creative juices flowing – I read my favorite blogs of course. (Yours is always my number one stop!)
How perfect that your latest musing is my current situation. Seems your brain works like mine. My thought process is like that commercial for Bing.com http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=i1AwFY6MuwE&feature=related. I’m getting close to running around my office screeching like the lady at 38 seconds screaming Cawcawcawcawcaw!
Of course there’s always my husband’s explanation that I’m just a serious procrastinator – verging on professional really – and I’m looking for any reason not to work.
Whatever…just glad to know I’m in such good company as you PCN!
Pop Culture Nerd
April 22, 2010 at 10:18 amChristine, Donna, and Shell—After 2 blissfully quiet days, the dog was back, barking at the wind and threatening to eat all the other dogs in the ‘hood.
debbied & Ybnorml—We need to have a procrastination party, with prizes for the person who can do it the longest and with most creativity.
Poncho—When I asked my husband if allowing people to see my thoughts might make them think I’m crazy, he said, “Or give them a good laugh.” Not sure if that’s a compliment but I’m glad it was the latter for you.
Naomi—I don’t play pool or drink. Is your analogy a good thing?
Jen—It’s scary sometime when I look at my stream of consciousness, but it is a good exercise to keep writing no matter what comes out.
le0pard13—I’m good at keeping my butt in the chair…and surfing the ‘net and daydreaming and checking my inbox, anything BUT writing. And yes, that’s an old plastic white iMac. Because of you, I’m now getting a new one.
Rodney—Good.
Naomi Johnson
April 22, 2010 at 11:07 amPCN, does the name “Ricochet Rabbit” mean anything to you?
le0pard13
April 22, 2010 at 11:10 amPCN is way too young for that, Naomi. LOL!
Pop Culture Nerd
April 22, 2010 at 12:30 pmIt’s not so much my age as the fact I wasn’t born here. I sometimes don’t get pop culture references to things before ’75. My husband will sing a childhood ditty he assumes every kid knows and I’ll look at him blankly.
Naomi Johnson
April 22, 2010 at 11:17 amOh, yeah, there’s that.
Naomi Johnson
April 22, 2010 at 1:30 pmYou should always claim youth, PCN, especially when someone else offers that as a reason!
Pop Culture Nerd
April 22, 2010 at 1:33 pmOh, OK. In that case, what are billiard balls? Who is Nixon? Is Kajagoogoo a country? I WAS born yesterday.
Naomi Johnson
April 22, 2010 at 3:25 pmMe, too. Never heard of any of them.