The idea for this came to me when reading "Presto City" by John Moe in "What to Read in the Rain - 2011 - An 826 Seattle Anthology By Famous And Not-Yet-Famous Adult And Young Writers".
I am not quoting verbatim from his article but applying only his idea to my own.
So you have poet's block, or writer's?
You are at your desk. Nothing will come. Not even a good opening line or originating idea. There's nothing to write about, you think. I'm finished as a poet. The well is dry. I'm out of inspiration. I just as well give it up.
Try this. It works anywhere, but not when your are driving your car.
Look at something. You'll think (in your present state of mind) that it's bland, no happenings, the same-o, same-o!
Now close your eyes for 5-10 seconds, move your head a little right or left. Open eyes. Notice that the view has completely changed. New things. A spider building a web on the wall. A picture you all but forget about. A vase with long memories forgotten. They are still there painted in blue and gold.
Close them again. Do the same. A plant that needs water waving for attention. A book on a shelf you've not read yet. A post card tacked under the wall phone. A fly. A baby picture from ages past.
Try this away from home: at the store, the parking lot, in your parked car. On your daily walk.
You see things in pictures separate from other pictures you've just seen. You can write poems about these pictures or use them for originating ideas.
You can always get the view (picture) to change.
New sights, new sounds, new hues of color, new movements, new thoughts and inspirations.
Go to your child's room and do this. You'll see views that become pictures. Pictures you may not have seen before.
Road block solved.
Give it a change.
Practice!
I am not quoting verbatim from his article but applying only his idea to my own.
So you have poet's block, or writer's?
You are at your desk. Nothing will come. Not even a good opening line or originating idea. There's nothing to write about, you think. I'm finished as a poet. The well is dry. I'm out of inspiration. I just as well give it up.
Try this. It works anywhere, but not when your are driving your car.
Look at something. You'll think (in your present state of mind) that it's bland, no happenings, the same-o, same-o!
Now close your eyes for 5-10 seconds, move your head a little right or left. Open eyes. Notice that the view has completely changed. New things. A spider building a web on the wall. A picture you all but forget about. A vase with long memories forgotten. They are still there painted in blue and gold.
Close them again. Do the same. A plant that needs water waving for attention. A book on a shelf you've not read yet. A post card tacked under the wall phone. A fly. A baby picture from ages past.
Try this away from home: at the store, the parking lot, in your parked car. On your daily walk.
You see things in pictures separate from other pictures you've just seen. You can write poems about these pictures or use them for originating ideas.
You can always get the view (picture) to change.
New sights, new sounds, new hues of color, new movements, new thoughts and inspirations.
Go to your child's room and do this. You'll see views that become pictures. Pictures you may not have seen before.
Road block solved.
Give it a change.
Practice!
