Writer’s Block

I have never had a problem with writer’s block. Indeed, I would go to writing workshops and it seemed that is all they talked about! I found I didn’t need to know why others were having problems. I am too easily influenced and I didn’t want THEIR problems to become my problems so I would stop going.
 
Recently I applied for a job and felt it only right I mention I have an online presence even it is a tiny one. While in the running for the job, I found I was curbing what I wrote and my world was getting smaller and smaller so writing was becoming, for the first time, more challenging.
 
Then they did their hiring and I wasn’t accepted so things went back to normal. I will never forget that feeling of needing to curb my thoughts to fit the demands of those around me or what I thought might be not the accepted norm for that particular field.
 
I made a vow to never again allow the thinking of others or what I think they might deem as “acceptable” to interfere with what I wanted to write! I have realized I value freedom above all else. Always have and that includes thinking as well as speech.
 
Perhaps one day I shall have to pull in my views and stop having ideas that are outside the box or opinions, however that day is not today!
 
I have worked with kids who have the label ODD-Oppositional Defiance Disorder. Oddly, I have never had any problem working with these kids. I understand an appreciate where they are coming from and many cases, why they have chosen this path. Nine times out of ten, it is by choice, not genetics. Not saying there isn’t the odd child who has a few wires crossed but, in most cases, when looking into their history, there is usually some factor or factors which has led to their oppositional or defiant behavior.
 
In future, if these children can learn temperance and how to be stubborn in the right direction, I can see them making brilliant contributions to society. Wonderful insights and creations. In all these cases, I can’t help feel there has to be an allowance for non-conformity and give credit where credit is due even if it is not done in the most acceptable ways.

I think this can also be applied to writing and writers. Many genres, and many great books were created by folks who were not the norm; who walked to the beat of their own drum and went ahead and produced works of both fiction and nonfiction that were(are) amazing.
 
I hope anyone suffering from writer’s block remembers this. Looks at what conditioning or limitations they are placing on themselves because of outside influences and then can work freely in both thought and words to create what they choose to create and to hell with outside opinions. For some, I know because of the way they were raised, this isn’t always easy, however it doesn’t mean it can’t be done and you can’t be free to write what you want, the way you want!
 
You have as much right to write the way you choose as anyone else and don’t forget that. Have a great day of writing!