This is weird. Never, ever in my life have I suffered from writer’s block. Quite the contrary, usually I write too much, and wind up having to hack and delete to get things down to a length that people can at least suffer through.
In high school, I was the one in the classroom that when the teacher said, “Write a 500 word essay on Does a Duck Have Lips” I would ask if it was OK if I took it to 1,000 words. My senior thesis advisor in college — who I had for Advanced Writing the previous semester — said, “Jay, it’s supposed to be 25 – 30 pages, please keep it under 40” (it came in at 39 pages, once I widened the margins past generally acceptable limits).
But for the past several days, the words have been difficult. Tonight they dried up completely. Normally I sit at the keyboard and words just fall out of my head faster than I can type. Oh, I have things to write about — real estate is a never ending source of material. There are typical client questions, terminology, even (ugh) statistics. I could write about the Fed cutting interest rates 50 basis points today. Actually is was a globally coordinated rate cut by six central banks — the Federal Reserve, European Central Bank, Bank of England and the central banks of Switzerland, Canada and Sweden all lowered rates by half a percent. Should make for scintillating reading.
But despite reading many stories about the rate cuts, I can’t seem to get out what I want to say about it.
Hence this mind-numbing, meandering sorry excuse for a post. Google “Writer’s Block” and you’ll get 3.3 million pages to read. But I don’t need to read, I need to write.
Therein lies part of my problem. I can’t explain it, but I’ve always needed to write. Yes, I write on this blog to get business, market and promote my business, to (hopefully) educate others, and to learn. But I also blog here because of this odd compulsion to put words on “paper”. Most people look at me like I have two heads when I say that. What can I say, it’s goofy, but it’s the way I am wired.
So when I can’t write, it feels….. like something is missing. Incomplete. There’s an unsatisfied urge. It’s almost like going hungry. If I weren’t all clogged up at the moment I could probably explain it better.
My lovely wife said, “Just take a day off. Walk away from the keyboard.” But I can’t. Well, I may be forced to because if I keep writing drivel like this the reader base may run away screaming and start seeking out sharp objects. Francy also said, “Don’t write about having writer’s block, it’s horribly boring”.
And she’s right about that!
These last 471 words (don’t obsess on word count!) took me almost an hour to write. Normally this would have taken 10 minutes. This is just a bit worrisome. It’s not normal. I’ve deleted more sentences than I’ve written which is totally abnormal for me. This post sucks, but it doesn’t suck as bad as sitting and staring at an empty screen.
If anyone has a tip or two about what has cured your writer’s block, I’m all ears. I did find two great posts by a couple of bloggers I respect immensely. Darren Rowse at Problogger wrote Battling Bloggers Block and Merlin Mann at 43 Folders penned Hack Your Way Out of Writer’s Block. They are both jammed with tips and ideas for breaking the block. We’ll try some of those over the next few days, attempt to not stress out too much, and assume the block and haze will lift sometime soon.
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Jamie Geiger 10.08.08 at 10:22 pm
Have been there for awhile, so just going to my engineering mind and posting statistics- I think the state of the economy, elections etc are zapping all of our attention and energy, rending us “pre-occupied” and uncreative.
Jamie Geigers last blog post..Phoenix Real Estate- Phoenix Market Statistics Sept 2008
Linsey 10.08.08 at 10:48 pm
When someone says, “Don’t think of a pink elephant,” immediately you think of a pink elephant. It’s not dissimilar. As soon as you think about it as writer’s block, it’s writer’s block. It’s not. It might just be temporary boredom. Who knows.
Somehow, I don’t find myself too concerned about a skilled and prolific blogger like yourself coming up with material or inspiration. You don’t get great readership by accident.
Trust Francy. Take a quick break. We’ll be here when you get back.
Heather Elias 10.09.08 at 5:54 am
(grin) I feel your pain! Writing is the most fulfilling thing for me; I’ve often joked that writing is like having a baby, it comes when it is ready and not before. You can’t force it! =)
Lately when I’ve gotten stuck, I’ve asked myself “what exactly are you trying to say” to clarify what’s in my head. It helps some of the time..
If you can write a post about writers block, does that mean you don’t have writers block anymore?
You’ll be fine. Just sit down and start typing. It will come..
~Heather
Heather Eliass last blog post..LoCo Photo: It’s Definitely Fall!
Dru Bloomfield 10.09.08 at 6:15 am
I would like to be more prolific, and am always amazed that you can write as much as you do.
Chris Brogan keeps it simple with 10 Blogging tips (http://www.chrisbrogan.com/10-blogging-tips/) and 20 Blogging Projects for You (http://www.chrisbrogan.com/20-blogging-projects-for-you/).
Petre Samson 10.09.08 at 7:59 am
Gr8 find. Nice to read this article.
Shialesh Ghimire 10.09.08 at 9:12 am
I hear ya Jay. I too have faced these issues. In fact - like Dru - I wish I was able to write more - it seems like I do have ideas but the act of actually writing it down creates a block sometimes.
However, I do think Francy may have a point - walking away for a day or so and allowing your mind to clear would probably help. But then again like Heather said above - if you’re writing about this stuff you don’t have writers block! Just sayin’
Steve Belt from Phoenix Area Real Estate Blog 10.09.08 at 10:52 am
Well, Jay, you know I’m not a writer, but if you figure it out, please clue in Christoph.
Personally, I find with the dramatic fall in both the stock market and the housing market, it feels to me like my blog are rather small in the grander scheme. Plus, I know that as I watch 30% of my net worth disappear in barely longer than a blink, it makes writing a heck of a lot more difficult. We have recently had to make far more difficult decisions than what to write about on the blog today…and if you are weighed down by that, writing about anything is indeed difficult.
Steve Belts last blog post..Fair Housing Laws: Understanding Protected Classes
Kim Wood 10.09.08 at 11:31 am
Dru pointed me in your direction after I sent a tweet complaining of writer’s block a little bit ago. I know it can’t be forced - but it’s so frustrating when you want it “NOW” !!! I want it to come NOW!
(I’m just behind in my reader, or you would have given me more to think about….
I liked what @LisaSanderson said, “Quiet your mind. Go for a walk. Meditate. Yoga. Anything to clear out the thinking. Then the writing will come.”
Kim Woods last blog post..Top 10 Tips: Sell Chester County House
bill from IT Governance 10.09.08 at 12:24 pm
Writing about writer’s block would appear to be a good way to get out of writer’s block!
Chris P 10.09.08 at 1:21 pm
Wow, that really was unexpected. I normally just play with my kids, or do something so that I can relax, and try not to think about writing. Also, my daughter has a story starter kit, sometimes I’ll grab it and write something totally stupid, just to get the juices going. Good luck getting out of the funk though!
Chris Ps last blog post..NFL Week 5 Thoughts and Predictions
julie 10.09.08 at 2:35 pm
I troll the latest headlines in various papers around the world to get new ideas. Sometimes I write about the headline…other times it just sends my thoughts somewhere else and suddenly I have an idea. Other times, like right now, I just read all my feeds and decide not to write anything! Helpful isn’t it?! But if you REALLY had writer’s block, you wouldn’t have written anything at all, I am thinking. And this was actually a good post - something we all can relate to and comment on. I don’t think real estate blogs always have to be about real estate.
julies last blog post..Forget the market - Focus on the Deal!
Charleston Real Estate Blog 10.09.08 at 4:49 pm
Jay, I’m surprised with your concept of random musings that you might ever have a day like this. But, having said that, I wrote a post a while ago about having nothing to write about and that was in fact a post; so you see, just like me, you did write something about nothing, maybe you’re just having a Seinfeld moment.
MG from The Arizona Housing Bubble 10.09.08 at 4:53 pm
I hear ya Jay, it’s pretty easy to fall into writer’s block. Sometimes it’s being over-inundated with material (bailout, global rate cuts, new programs), and sometimes it’s just the brain needing some rest…
Few good movies have come out lately. Maybe take an early lunch and go slack out at 10-11 when the movies open and sit back and enjoy some mindless entertainment in a nearly empty theater? That seems to do it a lot of the time.
Whatever you do though, get out of the house. Get some of that natural Vitamin D from that bright dot in the sky
MGs last blog post..How Has YOUR 401k Performed With Regards To Year-To-Date Earnings (Or Losses) In 2008?
Justin McHood 10.09.08 at 8:52 pm
“I took off for a weekend last month
Just to try and recall the whole year
All of the faces and all of the places
Wonderin’ where they all disappeared
I didn’t ponder the question too long
I was hungry and went out for a bite
Ran into a chum with a bottle of rum
And we wound up drinkin’ all night!”
— Jimmy Buffett
Jeep + Northern AZ + Francy + Weekend = Cured.
Just a hunch.
Justin McHoods last blog post..Chandler Arizona Mortgage Rates for October 7, 2008
Candace Robinson 10.10.08 at 12:11 am
I agree with Justin & Francy - take a little time and rejuvenate your thoughts. I’m thinking a little beach, little umbrella in a frosted glass and your sweetheart on your side. Best ingredients for a successful recipe. It’s just temporary, Jay couldn’t never be lost for words or ideas! We will wait for you.
Candace Robinsons last blog post..Freeway Restrictions in the Phoenix Valley (Oct 10-13)
Tina Fountain from Atlanta Real Estate 10.10.08 at 8:04 am
Jay - now you know how most of us feel! I’ve found that when I’m having a hard time coming up with something to write it’s easier for me to write about an experience that I’ve had. I suppose it’s because I’m not having to create, but simply write about an event that I actually experienced.
Tina Fountains last blog post..Marietta Luxury Home Price Reduction
Marianne Snygg 10.10.08 at 8:41 am
Jay: Steve has hit the nail on the head! If you’re very prolific and all of the sudden you’ve got nothing, (which, btw, your blog was still interesting and helpful) perhaps there’s something else on your mind…like this stock market and credit mess. We’ve all lost money that none of us can afford. That’s got me stymied. Where the heck is the bottom of this??? It’s stressing me, and it’s all I can think about. It’s what my last blog was about and look, I’m writing about it here too. Ug!
Ok, I need to take the walk and not blog for awhile!
Marianne Snyggs last blog post..My Guitar Lessons
Jonathan Dalton 10.10.08 at 10:14 am
I’m upwards of a month myself … it ebbs, it flows … it also depends on the topic. I can slam out a wire story on a hockey game in 13 seconds but right now, on real estate, not sure what to write.
It could be that it’s not us. These days, how do you make enough sense of what’s happening to be able to write about it?
Jonathan Daltons last blog post..Sorry, But I Can’t Help You
Chris Butterworth 10.10.08 at 2:52 pm
Jay -
you remind me of a Saturday Night Live skit from a few (several) years ago, when they did a parody of Stephen King typing away at about 500 words per minute. Every 30 seconds or so he would stop, and bang his head in utter frustration, saying “Oh no, writer’s bloc, no! no! no!”. Then he would immediately resume typing at a frantic pace!
Maybe a little more caffiene & swearing, and a walk around the block?
Brian Requarth 10.10.08 at 5:21 pm
Jay, I only wish I had writers block because that would mean that I am a writer! I just read your last post, you’re back. If it happens again…try skydiving http://www.phoenixskydiving.com/.
Elaine Reese 10.10.08 at 5:32 pm
Well, it’s comforting to hear someone else has problems with the writing. I try to keep my posts as positive as I can, because people are getting enough bad news on the TV. Given the stock market and the politial fiasco, it really is hard to focus on spinning positives about the real estate market.
I couldn’t help but think about Seinfeld as I was reading your post - a post about “nothing”. Just look at how many comments you’ve received.
Elaine Reeses last blog post..Lovely 3BR home for sale in Stratford Woods
Jay - The Phoenix Real Estate Guy 10.11.08 at 8:49 am
Thanks so much for all the great suggestions and show of support folks. The haze seems to be lifting slowly. It sort of freaks me out because I’ve never remotely had a problem like this.
This little “post about nothing” did help, but it took an inordinate amount of time to write. That’s better than not being able to write at all. Yesterday’s post was a little better.
I don’t think my brain is broken. As many have suggested, it may just be all the… “stuff” that’s going on in the world right now. Difficult to get one’s arms around all that.
John Wake from Scottsdale MLS 10.11.08 at 11:43 pm
Gawd, I’m jealous!
“Normally I sit at the keyboard and words just fall out of my head faster than I can type.”
And they probably fall out in complete, well formed sentences.
I always had a feeling that you could just pour out posts like water from a pitch.
I like to read and study stuff and if I still have any energy left, write a one sentence post with the my conclusion.
[Yes Jonathan, one sentence posts are still legally considered "posts" in most states.]
Oh yeah, and it still takes me a long time to write a post.
John Wake´s last blog post..FDIC policy - A good tranche of bad loans considered less risky than actual good loans!
Jeremy 10.12.08 at 2:39 pm
Well, for having writer’s block, you sure wrote a lot! You were probably just tired. When I’m tired I have a hard time thinking of things to write about, or talk about….. so I take a nap if I’m tired, maybe take in a movie or go for a walk if I’m NOT tired. Or maybe call up an old friend or a relative I haven’t spoken to for a while. Chances are they’ll say something that will spark a creative thought that leads to writing!
Jeremy´s last blog post..Parthenogenesis
Ned from Baltimore real estate investing 10.12.08 at 3:14 pm
I try to go for a walk every day. I enjoy walking because it is a great way to relax and time for me to think. I find ideas flow when I am walking and often my best posts come out of ideas that come during a walk.
Try it. It is an enjoyable and healthy experience even if you don’t get any writing ideas
Ned´s last blog post..Evictions Made Easy