Dear Writer’s Block, it’s not you, it’s me… Over the last few weeks, I’ve been thinking about it, and there’s only one conclusion: You are not right for me. You keep me from getting my best ideas out. You stop me from doing the work. You steer me towards procrastination. And that can’t be. So I’m saying goodbye now. I don’t ever want to see you again. Ever.
I used to call upon you often. Use you as an excuse not to write. I thought “I’ve got writer’s block, nothing I can do about it but wait”. And I’d go off to Facebook or to checking my email for the 20th time that day. Or I’d think about you and despair, wishing you’d go away.
Those days are gone. Parting ways with you will allow me to write always, independent of “inspiration” or lack of it. I will keep a list of ideas, so I can grab one and just start writing. I will start my novel as soon as I decide on the genre and outline it. I’ll keep organizing my second non-fiction book, and planning the third. And I’ll resort to writing prompts if only to practice my writing muscle. So, you see, there’s no excuse for not writing.
I don’t feel sorry for you since I’m sure you will never be out of work. There will always be people calling for you. Some of them will in time, like me, realize they don’t need you. But others will cling to you and keep you close. Too bad for them as they’ll have much more trouble being writers. I don’t know if I’ll ever be one full time, but I know that, without you around, my chances increase.
I will keep trying to write every day for as long as I can. I know I will come up with an idea for my first fiction book. I will also keep working on my non-fiction and publishing new books. I will do my best to make a living out of writing, and I’m sure you’ll be watching, but from a distance.
We spent too much time together, too many hours of wasted productivity, of sitting around looking at a blank screen. Now we part ways, I remind you, it’s not you, it’s me.
(originally published at Page Nut in 26/08/2016, as part of a writing prompts challenge. This one stated “Write a letter breaking up with Writer’s Block, starting out with, “Dear Writer’s Block, it’s not you, it’s me …”)
Image by Thought Catalog
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