Writer's Block

Call it writers block, mental fatigue, point of saturation. “Or maybe,” a little voice inside me says, “you simply can’t write. The proof of that, my friend, is that you have never written anything substantial. Accept the fact that you are hopelessly wishing to be what you are not!”
“Be quiet,” I fiercely tell that nagging voice that sounds remarkably like all the naysayers I know morphed into one. “Anyone can be a writer. For the matter, anyone can accomplish anything that they set their mind out to do.”

Strangely enough, I constantly find myself replaying this conversation as I try to balance between two extremes, lack of apparent talent, and deep will to accomplish. Can I achieve whatever I want to? Really? Well in that case, I want to fly. Oftentimes, my Daedalian ideas meet Icarian fate. I want to do and to be, but find myself hopelessly off track. Like my writing. Oh, I have many thoughts in my head. I write epic novels in my brain as I try to fall asleep at night and pen thought provoking articles as I shower. I view myself as a modern day Homer but never committed my magna opera to writing. There is always something out there to distract me. I push things off and eventually my grand thoughts dissipate like unenthusiastic participants of a boring board meeting; quietly tiptoeing out so their departure is unnoticed.

A noted lecturer once explained that the biggest challenge we face today is a lack of focus. Our generation suffers from mass ADHD and is too easily distracted. We are so busy multitasking that we fail to create a final product. We are neither here nor there.

Distraction, my friend, is my doleful diagnosis, with writers block being but a symptom. I can do anything I set my heart and mind to do provided I stay the course. Like stray hairs on an eyebrow, my ideas are many and do not always follow a straight line. I must choose my goals and stick with them. I have buckled myself to my chair and promised myself I will not lose concentration. My phone is off and the room is quiet. I will stick to it and finish this article! I will focus! I will be a writer!