Writing Through the Blues
"You're taking care of yourself. And you have to do that before you can take care of anyone or anything else. So give yourself a break and wallow in those blues for a while."

by Kyle Looby< />

Have you ever had the blues? You know, the kind that keep you in bed all day. The kind that make you feel like not doing anything, let alone writing. Having the blues is different from having writer's block. When you're blocked, you want to write, but nothing comes when you sit in front of that blank screen. Or maybe you have some ideas, but you just can't get the words out right. But when you have the blues, you have no inclination to write. And this can be very troubling, especially if you're on deadline or if you really need to write for the money. But fear not, for you can bring an end to this desperate situation. As a writer who often has the blues, 

I can give you a few tips on writing through the blues. 

Take care of yourself

Give yourself one day to do absolutely nothing, if you can. Don't write, don't clean, don't even get out of bed if you can manage it. If you have a job outside of the home, take a day off. If you have family responsibilities, promise the kids and spouse that you will be feeling better soon, and do as little as possible. Don't let anyone guilt trip you and make you think you're being selfish because you really aren't. And certainly don't make yourself feel guilty. You're taking care of yourself. And you have to do that before you can take care of anyone or anything else. So give yourself a break and wallow in those blues for a while. 

Don't write 

Once you've given yourself a little time to indulge in some self-pity or self-commiseration, try to get back into your routine, but don't write. Go back to work, take care of your house and family. But whatever you do, don't even think about writing yet. If you force yourself to start writing too soon, you might just end up viewing writing as yet another chore that has to be done, rather than something you do because you love it. So give yourself a few days to just do your regular stuff and put the writing on hold for a short while. 

Figure out the problem

If after a few days you still feel too blue to write, you need to figure out what exactly the problem is and deal with that first. This may entail some meditation or deep thinking on your part to see what's at the root of your troubles. If you need to talk it out, turn to family members, friends, other writers (who have most likely been through the same thing), or find a good therapist. The bonus with therapy is that you not only find an unbiased ear to listen to your troubles, but a lot of grist for the mill can come out of therapy sessions. You may find yourself becoming an even better writer, like Keaton Porter, a Midwestern writer, "Although sometimes in the deepest depths of [depression], I get some really poignant insights that make my writing even better." And don't rule out the possibility of medication. If you have the blues for more than a week at a time, call your medical practitioner to see if you need an antidepressant. You just can't write if you're too depressed.   

Write a bunch of gibberish

 When you feel ready to get back to writing, don't take on a task that is too big or you could end up right where you started. Joy, a freelance writer, suggests journaling, "I have found that most of the time, my blues are due to other issues fogging up my brain and stopping the creative flow. 

Sometimes, after I've written in my journal my mind is clear from the problems of day to day life and now I'm ready to get back to work. It's similar to how you feel after you say something out loud that you've been keeping inside for a long time. It may not change the problem, but you feel better just to have gotten it off your chest."    

Michelle Smith, a freelance writer from Chico, CA suggests using brainstorming, "I write a word and draw a circle around it. Then, I draw 5 short lines and put a circle at the end of each. I write 5 words inside the circle and then 5 more lines, and on and on. It sounds silly, but it's kind of fun and it works to give me some ideas." But don't start writing that next article or book until you've gotten back into the practice of writing for yourself.   

Ready to get back to work? 

If after doing a few writing exercises, you feel your creative juices flowing again, go ahead and start doing some "real" writing, whatever that is for you. Start a new article or story or finish the next chapter of your book. Start with a small goal, maybe just write a few sentences or paragraphs, then let your work sit for awhile. Don't take on too much at once or you risk feeling overwhelmed. Start back slowly, adding a little more to your writing goal every day. Pretty soon you should be back up to speed. And if you start feeling blue again, just repeat these steps. 

For the majority of writers, the blues do come to an end.    

Dealing with the blues is no fun, but if you have a little patience with yourself, you can pull out of it. Just try to remember when you are in the depths of darkness that you are not alone and there is a light at the end of the tunnel and maybe some great new ideas for your writing waiting for you. 

 ***** 

-- KL
©2000 Kyle Looby