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Definitely, writers need rest. I used to find that (call it Writer's Block if you will) that writing to a theme was the hardest task. However, since joining this list and coming up with an *architecture* poem, an *olympics* poem, I was motivated to produce something and did. I was motivated, because in here I felt I had an audience. I found it -worth the effort and now realise that poetry must be practiced all the time. It's only when you are tired, over-worked, or heavily committed to the arts community (as in my case), whatever, that the brain ceases to function. I have decided to go off into the country soon on a writer's retreat to work on my second collection - I surefire hope I won't get writer's block there! I think most writers can, at times, commiserate with this problem, as Emily Dickinson once wrote, 'my life is like a loaded gun.' HH >Hemingway said, "it won't come >anymore." >later--the gun >into the >mouth > >not writing is not good >but trying to write >when you can't is >worse > >. . . the typewriter is silent >and looks at >me . . . > >From "Upon this time" by Charles Bukowski >from THE LAST NIGHT OF THE EARTH POEMS > > >A few days ago I was blocked. I mean there was nothing coming. I could >barely stand to read the newspaper, about the only thing I could do was >listen to music or watch (yecch!) tv. > >I had just finished an assignment that I had to work on over Thanksgiving >and wound up on the Friday morning after. > >And then, there is the Election At the End of the Universe. > >Last night and this morning I was back to normal. Stuff was just pouring >out and I couldn't write fast enough. >Tired was what I was. I think a lot of writers have the wrong attitude >toward block--we tend to view ourselves as some sort of writing machine, >we >turn it on and stuff pops out. > >We might start looking at these fallow periods as periods of rest and >gestation. Rather than Toasters or Microwaves popping out stuff on demand, >we might view ourselves as fine ovens, turning out cakes, souffles >breads--fine dishes that cannot be rushed but must be given time to bake >until done. > >Chris Hayden > >_____________________________________________________________________________________ >Get more from the Web. FREE MSN Explorer download : >http://explorer.msn.com _____________________________________________________________________________________ Get more from the Web. FREE MSN Explorer download : http://explorer.msn.com