This Is My Writer's Block
It's Been Going On For Weeks
Introduction
I keep having days where nothing seems to grab my attention. I have been through loads of Vocal prompts here
You may think it is odd that I can still publish when I feel that I have writer's block, but I do pride myself on being able to write about nothing.
So, How Do I Combat This?
I know many people take a hiatus, but these days, my only Vocal income is from reads, and they don't come from other Vocal creators, so I have to share further abroad in non-Vocal groups, where I do get unexpectedly high responses.
If I get more than five comments on a Vocal story, that is very unusual, and to do that, I need to post something vaguely controversial.
I have to send thanks to my Muse, and The Glittering Fox, and music in general for giving me inspiration to write, and just listing these is giving me ideas.
I am putting together a forthcoming book featuring my poetry and stories inspired by the work of Angie Livingstone, The Glittering Fox, so it is not like I have nothing to do.
This is my last piece inspired by her work, with links to her site:
Although I have entered all the current Vocal Challenges, I feel if I enter any of those, I am just being lazy and cheating, so I keep shying away from them, although I have given in to temptation a few times.
I have also entered all the current Unofficial Challenges that I know about, which you can find here:
Conclusion
So maybe I have solved my writer's block. I published a drabble earlier, and now this article. Poetry and Microfictions are always good to make you feel you have achieved something, and there are all these Communities that have no minimum word limits:
So I need to get on with our book, and I have an idea for a playlist piece, so writer's block seems to be cleared, and writing this has helped.
Thank you for reading and putting up with my whining, my wonderful friends.
I was listening to "Empty Pages" by Traffic on my record player yesterday, so that is appropriate for this piece.
About the Creator
Mike Singleton π Mikeydred
A Weaver of Tales and Poetry
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Creationati
Call Me Les β₯ Gina β₯ Heather β₯ Caroline β₯
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More stories from Mike Singleton π Mikeydred and writers in Writers and other communities.
Center Stage with Gina C.
*** I'm keen to republish the interviews I did for my series with Vocal creators. It's been a few years and I thought it might be nice to revisit these wonderful conversations. I'll be releasing them one at a time for a few weeks/months.
By Heather Hubler4 days ago in Interview
Comments (29)
A smooth and easy flow here Mike...a seamless read. I enjoy when writers share their thoughts in a way that is clearly understandable and relatable. Congratulations on the top story!
Back to say congratulations on your leaderboard placement πππβ₯οΈ
When I have writers block I think of it as an input over output problem. If the words aren't coming, I take myself away from the screen or notepad and try and find something that will nourish my creative urge, rather than trying to milk it dry. An art gallery, a film, a short story, a walk in nature. We can't create from nothing. We're not Gods, just simple writers. And sometimes, just writing about writing is the way through - as you showed here.
Ahh yes. Sometimes itβs time for thinking, or simply for making some headspace. Iβve been absent from Vocal for about a week. I needed to take a brake from frustration. I think it worked. And yes, sometimes writing whatever cures writerβs block. And sometimes you just need a brake to look at the flowers and nothing else.
I feel like the best ideas always comes to us in the most unexpected ways. Actively looking for it can make you feel like itβll never come. I hope you take the time to relax and destress whenever you get a writers block.
Wooohooooo congratulations on your Leaderboard placement! ππππππ
Try compiling a draft doc on google to keep all ur ideas and just select one and start typing
I'm gonna be honest - I haven't logged on to my Vocal account in well over a year. I've been in school and just plain busy, but I followed a whim today, and I'm glad that I did, because I MISS writing and this was a great article to read :) Thank you for sharing!
I can relate. I suffered from a FIVE YEAR writer's block. No shit. Talk about depressing..I thought so often that I should just give up. Like you, I tried to write stuff here and there, but it just dragged on. Prior to that I had published four novels. Then..nothing. But then, at the new year in 2024, it just, lifted. And I started writing on a whole new level. Finally published my fifth book (non-fic this time) this past March, and I've been on it ever since. Just started tossing some short stories up here to get some of them out of my hard drive, I literally have millions of unpublished words at this point (I won't claim every one of those words is gold though lol..there is a lot of carving to do to make decent sculptures out of these), and I'm really excited to re-connect. Thanks for this, and for the list of unofficial contests. I am off to check that out now. Feel free to read some of my stories if you like, I would be very happy to see my view count go from 5 to..you know..more than 5. Wondering where you go to bring eyes in here? I tried it on facebook and substack but didn't get much response yet. I do get readers of my non-fiction on substack but I am struggling to find a fiction crowd so far.
Writer's block is no fun! I hope your new ideas are going well! Congrats on the Top Story!
Congrats on top story mate! Definitely well deserved!
Mikeydred - Who 'you' at a loss for words @ 1000+ Stories. But, I GiT it. I like to develop nothing into something as well; that's what's fun. Best, jk.in.l.a.
Comes to us all, then we write about it and find inspiration. Congrats
Whining can be a good thing. As we've seen it was the thing that got you out of writers block. The thing that got you a Top Story and 16 comments instead of 5, mine might make the 17th. Well done for continuing to contribute to the vocal community, even when you have nothing controversial to publish. Good luck on your fourth coming book featuring your poems and stories. ((I've joined your VSS group and sent you a friend request. If my memory serves me, you mentioned this group to me a while back. But Facebook wasn't allowing me to log in, so I wasn't able to join until now.)) I find this piece both helpful and relatable. I usually don't enter unofficial challenges, only because I get enticed by the Vocal challenges. Maybe even the combination of just not having the time for both, so it's like an either or thing. Maybe sometime in the future I could tip the scales a bit. Now that I think about it, I think the problem lies with my inconsistent approach to vocal. That of which I am working to correct. So maybe I will have the time for both so long as I stay consistent. Getting that rhythm going, might make things easier. Congratulations on your Top Story Mike πππβ€οΈπ€
Think about whatever got your attention, or go on your nerves, or made you emotional the day before, and somehow work that into a story? For fiction, try out Reedsy Prompts, or Writing Battle, their prompts get you started, and the feedback is nice.
Congrate
Informative & inspiring! Thx 4 sharing Mike!
Back to say congratulations on your Top Story! ππππππ
Congratulations for the TS, Mikeydred!
Yay! You got Top Story! Congratulations π
I keep listening to either Regina Spektor or Luther by Kendrick Lamar!! Great insight brother on this horrendous creative stoplight called writers block
Mike, you are one of those writers who uplifts me when I am feeling down, and I thank you for that. Congratulations on your top story! Also, thanks for introducing me to Angie Livingstone (The Glittering Fox).
You are always inspiring writers!!! Congratulations on Top Story β€οΈβ€οΈπ
Happens to us all, all Mike. I have been away for the last couple of days because my mind has been elsewhere. Hope I can get my mojo back.
But I wonder, if you don't write anything when you have writer's block, what wpuld happen? Like would it stress you out? Make you anxious? Is that why you always try your best to write something despite having writer's block?