Writer's block...

[jay]

Or specific-kind-of-writing block, at least... I have a simple, three-page drilling proposal facing me which I should be able to write in a few hours. It has been there for 11 days. Granted, I was in DC for three days of that, but still... I can't... get... the... words... to... flow... there. Haven't written much here in my journal, either.

And my four-month-overdue journal article for Meteoritics, on the Haughton Crater aeromagnetic images... sigh. It doesn't help that I type with one finger, 5-7wpm. A 3000-word article, even if I could dictate it in my sleep in ten minutes, requires at least 12-15 hours of patient right-index-finger-pounding. Low bandwidth. No distractions of any sort. Same writer's block issues. (shakes head) Must focus, not answer email, leave cellphone at home, not skim LJ, not let JL know I'm still alive...

Comments

[brooksmoses]

A number of the writers on rec.arts.sf.composition still write at least some parts of their works with pen and paper -- not necessarily because of being slow typists, but sometimes just because the different nature of pen-on-paper writing helps them work around writer's block, or because they find their thoughts flow better that way.

I wonder if that would help in your case. If it does, I'd imagine that getting written text transcribed would be a bit easier than dictated text. (And, at the very least, even if you have to retype it yourself, it may help you get past the writer's block and still be a net win.)

In any case, the writers that write this way seem to be of the opinion that it's crucially important to have a good pen to work with. I've found that it makes a difference for me simply in the fact that I get hand cramps with a standard ballpoint but don't get them nearly so bad with even a cheap decent rollerball.