It’s here again. That dreaded disease called “Writer’s Block” aka FEAR. I guess it’s no wonder this fear would present itself at the end of a six month writing spree to which I failed to finish the overly high goal I set for myself. It’s hard to think of convenient excuses like personal woes that are currently dominating my concentration or lack of funds etc. All of these are true, but it boils down to an innate feeling that as I age becomes the forefront for my existence. Too deep? I agree, it is, but in retrospect… I am but a molecule on this earth and there are much bigger problems on the plate. Maybe I’m being subjective, but I realize that my FEAR isn’t about not being able to write, but what happens after I finish writing. My plight is beyond the obvious goal of success, whatever form that takes is irrelevant, but none the less, I have a deeply rooted personal journey that’s just arrived at the start line.
Basically, I’m tired. Tired of this daily thought: “How will this story get accepted?” In essence, that reflects my daily thought of: “How will I be treated today?” or even more explicitedly… “How many people will look at me as a stereotype?” Any person of color or woman knows what I’m referring to. That ugly beast called racism and its cousin bias. Those two are the root to all our actions, how we think and most importantly how we will survive on a planet that doesn’t really belong to us. Now back to this FEAR. It’s real talk because as each story (all about diversity) is packaged and ready to be brought to life via some form of public distribution (a journey in of itself), the sad truth is that the stance I’m adopting will most certainly put me in a box. Now the question is… Am I truly ready to be put in that box? No, but you can damn sure rest assured that I won’t stay there.
So, if you are like me and can’t find a cure for your own personal writer’s block, here are some thoughts to wrap your blocked head around:
1. Your purpose is most likely greater than that to which you fear.
2. While you’re sitting blocked, some other writer or filmmaker is writing and successfully marketing your story.
3. If you can’t live with this statement being made about you: “She or he had so much potential” … then WRITE/CREATE and prove them wrong.
