Pushing Past Writer’s Block

John M. Brewer

Pushing Past Writer’s Block - The Discipline of Inspiration

by Jennifer Lieberman

Have you ever been stuck in a story and still forced yourself to stare at a screen for hours to fulfil a required time limit of ‘work’? Or have you ever forced out pages of nonsense to feel like you were being productive only to delete them soon after? I don’t know about you but I hate when I’m told that to be a writer I have to write everyday. The advice usually comes with a required page amount (5-10 pages a day) or a time requirement (2-5 hours) and although I know it’s well meaning, I just don’t buy it.

I don’t write every day. There, I dared to say it; what many writers are afraid to admit. Granted I wear many hats, and have another career outside of writing, but so do most of us. Sure, we’d all love to get to the point in our careers that all we do is write, but that isn’t the reality for most writers and creatives in general. My writing style and forms fluctuate from plays to scripts, poetry to books; no matter what I’m writing, the process of conjuring worlds, characters, arcs and emotions is the same. Some of us write intuitively where we don’t know exactly where we’re going when we sit down and some of us need to have everything mapped out. No matter what your process, I’m sure you’ve had those moments when you just don’t know what comes next...and if you haven’t you’re a superhero of your craft and please share your secret.

Although I’ve been stuck many times in the past, I’ve never had writer’s block, at least I refuse to call it that. What I refer to as writer’s block is when one is stuck and chooses to have a battle of wits with one’s imagination to bleed a stone. I simply refuse to do that. I don’t see the point of fighting with myself, that only fuels my doubt and discouragement. I know that one day or one week of inspired writing or being in the zone will yield a better product than weeks or months of forced writing. So, during these times of feeling blocked I choose to take a much kinder and gentler approach. I walk away. I walk away from the screen, from my desk, from the story and I let it breathe. Let me be clear, I’m talking specifically about the process of creating new ideas, not about being lazy during editing.

The most important thing to focus on when we get stuck is to stay inspired, not necessarily about the project at hand, but to stay inspired creatively. Staying inspired is part of the process many of us take for granted when we are pushing towards a deadline or trying to wrap up a draft. Staying inspired in the process is just as much a discipline as forcing out the arbitrary ‘obligatory’ pages or hours a day. We don’t need to be physically writing to be writing. Story blocks have a way of working themselves out when we give ourselves permission to walk away. Ever notice once you give up on finding your keys they magically appear?

There are so many ways to stay inspired that have nothing to do with staring at the screen, or picking up a pen (yes, I’m old school and still put pen to paper). Most times when we feel blocked, the greatest gift we can give ourselves is permission to walk away and be in process. The definition of process is for you to decide, but it has to do with feeding your imagination. It can be research, it can be listening to music or watching a great movie. It can be going to a museum, an amusement park or the beach. What gets your juices flowing? Painting? Playing an instrument? Exercise? Sex? Connecting with nature? Going for a great meal? A good laugh with friends? The possibilities of what we can do to stay creatively charged are infinite and nurturing our imagination is key. How can we inspire others with our work, when we’re not inspired by our work?

In Julia Cameron’s The Artist’s Way she talks about the ‘artist date’, insisting that once a week we take our inner child out to fuel our imagination and creative life, maintaining that all creativity

is generated from our inner child. This is not meant to be a work exercise, it’s meant to be indulging in some sort of frivolity that our ‘grown-up self’ wouldn’t normally entertain as a reasonable use of time. Have you ever done something like that before?

I like to take Cameron’s idea even a step further...What about taking one of your characters out on a date? Crazy right? But think about, dressing up like one of your characters, interacting outside in the world, speaking as if they would? Maybe go to attractions your character would choose to go to in your city or town, eat what they would eat, engage in an activity they would find joyful. Or even just take them to the grocery store. Imagine what kind of ideas would come flooding through you once you got inside and under your character’s skin.

Granted, this idea may be a little too radical for some, especially if your character isn’t human. In that case, what about doing this exercise in your home? Yes, I’m suggesting crawling around the floor or pretending to fly or whatever it is your non-human character would do. Watch a movie or a documentary or youtube video they would find interesting, choose an activity they would choose to explore. What sounds would they make? How would they interact with everyday objects? If the idea of embodying your character is still too much for you to digest, what about getting dressed to the nines for no reason, and going to some fancy places you would never go? Or going to a regular place you would go to dressed radically different? The point of the exercise is to get away from your habitualself; if you want something new, you have to do something new. Make sense? No matter how much resistance you have to this idea and the amount of excuses you can come up with to talk yourself out of it, if you embrace these suggestions the profound amount of ideas and inspiration you will be flooded with will outweigh your doubts tenfold. Just keep in mind, this is meant to be a FUN process, don’t do something that will give you anxiety, the point is to feel joy and excitement. Remember, the magic always happens when we take those steps beyond the threshold of our comfort. Don’t worry about being disciplined about your writing, the discipline of staying inspired is always the most important part of your work.

JENNIFER LIEBERMAN is from Maple, Canada and holds a Bachelor of Arts in Philosophy from York University in Toronto. She has appeared in over thirty stage productions in Toronto, New York City, Los Angeles, Europe and Australia; including her Award-Winning solo-show Year of the Slut, which her Amazon #1 Best Selling novel Year of the What? was adapted from. In addition to her performance career, she has penned a number of screen and stage plays; her short films Leash and Details which both screened at the Festival De Cannes’ Court Métrage among other international film festivals as well as the wacky web-series Dumpwater Divas. Jennifer is also the founder of Make Your Own Break and has helped over 100 creatives bring their own productions to life. More information can be found about Jennifer at: Home (jenniferliebermanactor.com)

H. Doyle smith

Being the son of a Southern Baptist minister, H Doyle Smith has had an early start on reading the Holy Bible. Having read it five times even before he left his teen years, and adding fifty years of further meditation, has given him profound understanding of what needs to be introduced in his book The Bible Is a Single Book. Having grown up in a religious environment, he is familiar with various denominations, including Baptist, Methodist, Episcopal, Roman Catholic, Orthodox, and Mormon. These denominations are composed of Christians who live up to their faith.

At present, he is a member of a Lutheran church and very much involved in the men’s prayer group. He is also a lay reader and a former tenor in the choir.

Most people think the Bible is simply a written recording of anecdotes of God and his interaction with humans and the testament of his power. That is, however, not all of it. The Bible Is a Single Book undertakes the project of explaining the outline and theme found in the Bible.

The Bible is more than just the collection of sacred texts. The scholars have excluded the apocrypha, purposely preserving the teachings that are constant throughout the books in the Bible. The scholars have observed a system. The Bible Is a Single Book undertakes the project of explaining the outline and theme of that system found in the Bible. This will pave way for readers to be further enlightened when studying the Bible for their salvation.

by H. Doyle Smith had been exhibited in 2022 American Library Association Annual Conference Washington D.C. June 2022

David D. SCHEIN

David D. Schein is a Professor and the Cameron Endowed Chair of Management and Marketing for the Cameron School of Business at the University of St. Thomas-Houston. He is also an author, speaker, attorney and consultant. He speaks on human resource and business matters for industry groups throughout the United States. He is also known as a political and business commentator through his regular webcasts, Saving America and Business Law 101. He is frequently quoted in national and regional publications with his views on numerous hot button issues. Dr. Schein focuses on practical, common-sense solutions. Dr. Schein’s new book, Bad Deal for America, was released in on President’s Day 2022 and became a Number 1 best seller on Amazon. His first book, The Decline of America: 100 Years of Leadership Failures, was released by Post Hill Press on Presidents’ Day 2018 and has garnered numerous favorable reviews. BA, University of Pennsylvania; MBA, University of Virginia; JD, University of Houston; and Ph.D. University of Virginia.

Uncaged welcomes David D. Schein

Welcome to Uncaged! Your latest book, A Bad Deal for America is a nonfiction look at the politicians and how our tax dollars are abused by the government. Can you tell readers more about how you researched all the information in the book? Have you always been interested in the political world?

This is my second non-fiction book. I focus on gathering the research to be consistent for each politician featured in this book. As a university professor, I have students who help do research under my direction. This shortens the time it takes to get the book finalized and printed. My policy is to read everything that my researchers provide, so I am not relying on their interpretation, only the locating of the material itself. My interest in politics goes back to high school, so it pretty close to “always.”

How do you come up with the title to your books?

Part of my writing style is that everything I write is in my head and then when I sit at the keyboard, it kind of flows out. I conceptualize the book and the title together. Today, as I look at future books, I am more concerned with successful marketing, so I may take a different approach on book titles in the future.

What behind-the-scenes tidbit in your life would probably surprise your readers the most?

I work all the time. Some writers set aside a particular time to write. I have a full-time job and a couple part-time jobs, so I tend to the work first, and then turn to the writing second. By putting in very long hours 7 days a week, I am able to accomplish more than other people.

What are some things you like to do to relax when you aren’t writing or working?

I work out at the gym every other day and then do a stretching program on the alternate days. I play tennis once or twice a week. I also attend theater and opera performances, so that provides a little break in the action.

If you could have one all-year season, which would it be and why?

Probably Spring, I like the mild weather and the days getting longer each day.

Do you prefer ebooks, audiobooks or physical books? Are you reading anything now?

Depends on what I am researching or reading. For research, I prefer electronic copies. I blow them up so I can read them quickly. I read a huge amount of material on the computer screen. When I am in my car, I listen to audio books, usually mysteries. I am also reading several hard copy books right now, including “Freedom Forge,” about WW II and US industry.

What would you like to say to fans, and where can they follow you?

I appreciate each and every person that takes the time to read either a hard copy or ecopy of my books. I am trying to put together a cast to read/perform Bad Deal for America, so I hope to have an audio book by the end of the summer.

Enjoy an excerpt from: Bad Deal for America

Bad Deal for America David D. Schein Non-Fiction Political Humor

The stakes have never been higher. Americans concerned about inflation, the runaway National Debt, and the downward trajectory of our government must demand positive change now. It is nearly too late to turn things

around. Political divisions are at an all-time high. Politicians are playing a shell game, repeatedly upping the ante in their public discourse and cashing in their chips while ensuring the cards are stacked against the American taxpayer. Dr. David D. Schein casts the die in “Bad Deal for America,” spotlighting a deck of 26 Republican and 26 Democratic lawmakers who have been using Washington, D.C., as their own personal casino. Part satire and part exposé, Dr. Schein’s new book follows the money through the smoke and mirrors of interviews and public statements into politicians’ pockets as they cash in exorbitant sums, leaving taxpayers wondering how they missed the trick.

Excerpts

Marjorie Taylor Greene Congresswoman from GA 14th District since 2021 1 year in DC | DAVID D. ScHEIN |

“Vaccinated employees get a vaccination logo just like the Nazi’s forced Jewish people to wear a gold star.” (05/25/21) https://twitter. com/mtgreenee/status/1397150992341377027

“You ran a Nov 3rd election that was stolen bc you idiots at the SOS mailed out millions of absentee ballots to anyone and everyone while GA was an open state.” (01/17/21) https://twitter.com/mtgreenee/status/1350812454918496257

[Holding AR – 15] “I have a message for Antifa terrorists - stay the hell out of northwest Georgia.” [Cocks rifle.] (06/05/20) https://patch. com/georgia/dallas-hiram/gop-house-candidatewarns-antifastay-hell-out-nw-ga

“Squad’s worst nightmare” [Posted meme on Facebook of her wielding AR-15 next to OAC, Omar, and Tlaib.] (09/04/20) https://www.buzzfeednews.com/article/juliareinstein/marjorie-taylor-greene-qanon-gunfacebook-squad “[The question is] paranoid and ridiculous. Fake news is always looking for the next conspiracy theory. Go back to bed.” (09/04/20) https://www.forbes.com/sites/jackbrewster/2020/09/03/trump-backed-qanon-candidateposts-meme-showingoff-gun-and-urging-offense-against-aoc-the-squad/?sh=75441ed96aca

“Trump won” [wore mask with “Trump won” written on front on the House floor on her first day in office.] (01/04/21) https://thehill.com/homenews/532534rep-elect-marjorie-taylor-greene-wearstrump-won-mask-onhouse-floor

“President Trump will remain in office. This Hail Mary attempt to remove him from the White House is an attack on every American who voted for him. Democrats must be held accountable for the political violence inspired by their rhetoric.” (01/12/21) https://twitter.com/mtgreenee/sta-

“On January 21st, I’m filing Articles of Impeachment on President-elect @JoeBiden.” (01/14/21) https://twitter.com/mtgreenee/status/1349519602888355840

“She’s a hypocrite. She’s anti-American. And we’re going to kick that bitch out of Congress.” [Referring to Nancy Pelosi.] (08/12/20) https:// www.foxnews.com/politics/gop-primary-winnermarjorie-taylor-greene-pelosi

“That’s another one of those Clinton murders.” [Referring to JFK, Jr. plane crash death in 1999.] (11/01/18) https://www.youtube.com/watch?t=18 50&v=jhe9Fd6YRyA&feature=youtu.be

“The idea is clean energy to replace coal and oil. If they are beaming the suns energy back to Earth, I’m sure they wouldn’t ever miss a transmitter receiving station right??!! I mean mistakes are never made when anything new is invented. What would that look like anyway? A laser beam or light beam coming down to Earth I guess. Could that cause a fire?” (11/17/18) https://www.mediamatters.org/facebook/marjorie-taylor-greenepennedconspiracy-theory-laser-beam-space-started-deadly-2018

Nancy Pelosi Congresswoman from CA 12th District since 1987 Speaker of the House 2007 – 2011 & since 2019 34 years in DC

“What is this, a banana republic?” (06/03/20) [Report was false.] https://www.nbcnews.com/politics/congress/ what-banana-republic-pelosi-unloads-trumpover-gassingprotesters-outside-n1223346

“The Chinese, they said, prefer Biden — we don’t know that, but that’s what they’re saying, but they’re not really getting involved in the presidential election. Russia is actively 24/7 interfering in our election. They did so in 2016, and they are doing so now.” (08/09/2020) https://www.politico.com/ news/2020/08/09/pelosi-russia-china-election-392798

“The racist, homophobic attack on @JussieSmollett is an affront to our humanity. No one should be attacked for who they are or whom they love. I pray that Jussie has a speedy recovery & that justice is served. May we all commit to ending this hate once & for all.” [He staged attack.] (01/29/19) https://www. businessinsider.com/nancy-pelosi-deletes-tweetsupporting-empire-actor-jussie-smollett-2019-2

“I didn’t know you were Catholic.” [Said to congressman who kneeled to beg her not to vote for the bailout bill] (09/25/08) https://www.nytimes. com/2008/09/26/business/26bailout.html

“Can we drill your brains?” (08/26/08) https://www. politico.com/blogs/politico-now/2008/08/pelosi-toprotesters-can-we-drill-your-brains-011290

“You’ve heard about the controversies within the bill, the process about the bill, one or the other. But I don’t know if you have heard that it is legislation for the future, not just about health care for America, but about a healthier America, where preventive care is not something that you have to pay a deductible for or out of pocket. Prevention, prevention, prevention—it’s about diet, not diabetes. It’s going to be very, very exciting. But we have to pass the bill so that you can find out what is in it, away from the fog of the controversy.” (06/20/12) https://www.washingtonpost.com/blogs/post-partisan/post/pelosi-defendsher-infamous-health-care-remark/2012/06/20/ gJQAqch6qV_blog.html

“I take responsibility for trusting the word of the neighborhood salon that I’ve been to … many times. It was a set up. I take responsibility for falling for a set up. I think that this salon owes me an apology.” [Caught without a mask.] (09/02/20)

https://nypost.com/2020/09/02/nancy-pelosi-refuses-to-apologize-for-salon-jaunt-says-she-was-set-up/

“To minister to the needs of God’s creation is an act of worship. To ignore those needs is to dishonor the God who made us.” [Quoted fake bible verse at least 11 times on Congressional record.] (2002 - 2018) https://www.businessinsider.com/ nancy-pelosi-quotes-a-bible-verse-that-doesnt-existisnt-in-bible2019-2

Pushing Past Writer’s Block

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John M. Brewer