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November 20, 2004

breaking through writer's block!

While doing some research on writer's block for my book, I came across a brilliant McSweeney's article by John Warner titled, perfectly, Breaking Through Writer's Block.

And oddly, this little tidbit, while rather tongue-in-cheek, is along the lines of what I'm looking to suggest for writers:

"Suggestion two: Turn your computer keyboard upside down.

This is a modern variation of a classic, but little known method. With the publication of Ulysses, James Joyce believed he'd written the definitive statement on the English novel. Unfortunately, he now had to top himself. After years of frustration, in a fit, Joyce switched the positions of all of the keys on his trusty Smith Corona and began transcribing the recipes in the original Betty Crocker cookbook. The resulting nonsense was Finnegan's Wake, a book often purchased, but seldom read, a smart author's home run.

Don't be afraid to experiment with techniques of your own. Desperation is the mother of invention, and if you think you have a future as a writer, you're nothing if not desperate."

And that's what really caught my attention...don't be afraid to experiment with techniques of your own.

And yes, I am rather desperate.

Posted by crystallyn at November 20, 2004 01:55 PM

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Comments

I'm stuck too :(

Posted by: Shanna at November 21, 2004 06:36 PM

I'm no writer, but I know procrastination, and when I'm looking to procrastinate, I go to 43folders.com for some tips on how to stop it. Maybe this link will have a few tips for you?

Posted by: Sean at November 24, 2004 08:37 AM

Whoops. No HTML. Here it is:

http://www.43folders.com/2004/11/hack_your_way_o_1.html

Posted by: Sean at November 24, 2004 09:54 AM

I always knew there had to be an explanation for Joyce.

Posted by: Resurgere at December 5, 2004 08:22 AM