Writer’s Block? ME?

Image by Steve Johnson from Pixabay

3,

2,

1,

write.

Right?

If only it were as easy as that.

I work in a cyclical business. Certain times of the year are reliably busy — “back to school”, fiscal year end, strategic planning season. And in between there are the lulls, when contractors like me have stern talks with ourselves about how there will indeed be work again. Stop catastrophizing and enjoy the break. Do something for yourself while you can, until someone else’s deadline comes around (as it inevitably will).

Some time ago I decided these slower work periods would be a good time to exercise my writing muscles. As I move closer to retirement, I want to spend less time working and more time on “my” writing. These gaps in the action seemed like an obvious place to start.

So.

Write.

Get on with it.

(Author stares at the blinking cursor and blank page.)

My apparent lack of inspiration is not a new feeling.

Years ago, I enrolled in a creative writing class at a local university. I was spending my workdays doing “beige” writing — institutional documents, quasi-legal tomes that had no personality, opinion, or personal point…