The Writer's Curse | The Odyssey Online
Start writing a post
Entertainment

The Writer's Curse

And how am I supposed to break it?

18
The Writer's Curse
Emma Saska

SCENE: An idyllic unidentified kingdom, specifically a lovely chateau where a young woman sits, writing, by a window

CHARACTERS: Our heroine, the Storyteller, named EMMA; the villain, a stout, stubborn creature named WRITER'S BLOCK; supporting characters currently unnamed

PLOT: A crafty wizard has sent his best curse, Writer's Block, as an obstacle to keep the land's Storyteller from getting everyone to their happily ever afters.

OTHER RELEVANT INFORMATION:

First, a little background about the heroine (a.k.a., me). I think my journey to being a writer started years ago, probably when I was four and would create stories for my Barbie dolls. Those stories would last for days and my mom would have to step over everything when she came to tuck me in at night because my dolls would have adventures all across my room. If my friends came over to play, I'd often dictate what their dolls had to say or do, all to fit in with my storyline. I've only truly thought of myself as a writer since I was maybe around fourteen or fifteen, even though I had been writing full-blown stories since I was ten. I've definitely known that I wanted to major in creative writing since I was sixteen. My life has been busy since I started college, but I was always able to fit in short writing sessions here and there, especially my first semester when I was taking only fourteen credits.

But lately, particularly last semester and then this summer, I haven't felt those little bursts of inspiration that would drive me to carry a notebook everywhere I went. I'm lucky if I can write 500 words a week these days when I used to write 50,000 words every November (thanks to National Novel Writing Month). And I don't understand it.

I hear all this advice, saying that writers should write every day, even if it's only 100 or so words; that we should write anything, even if it doesn't fit with our current work-in-progress; that we'll grow rusty if we don't write regularly. And you know what? All that advice scares me. It needles at me every day, especially on days where I don't write anything. It makes me worry that maybe I'm not cut out to be a writer after all. I'll wonder what I've done wrong, if I'm doing something that's blocking the creative juices. Every time a well-meaning friend asks how the writing or my book is going, I have to put on a brave face and say, "It's coming along." Most of all, though, I wonder if I'll ever break through the writer's block.

Like I said, I can sometimes write about 500 words a week, but the week before last? Besides blog posts (both for here and my personal book blog), I wrote nothing. A couple weeks ago, I did a promptathon with one of my best friends and I actually wrote stuff, but I don't see any of those little pieces turning into something bigger.

And that book I mentioned? I've been writing it for almost two years. It's undergone a lot of idea changes and reworkings, but it's nowhere close to finished. I feel like I'm at the point where I should put it aside and start another project, but it won't let go of me, even if I can't figure out what it needs. It's like a possessive ex who won't let me move on.

I don't have a concrete answer on how to break the curse of writer's block. Believe me, if I did, this would be a much more positive post. I want to be that brave warrior princess/writer who slays the dragon that is writer's block or who breaks the curse by being herself. But right now, I'm not. I'm at the point in the story where the hero is downtrodden and feels like all hope is lost. All I can do is hope and pray the climax battle with writer's block is coming soon and that I'll soundly defeat it.

Report this Content
This article has not been reviewed by Odyssey HQ and solely reflects the ideas and opinions of the creator.
Adulting

18 Things I Want To Do Now That I'm 18

I'm technically an adult, so I'm legally required to live a little, right?

1493
Happy Birthday Cake

For the entirety of my high school career, I was always seen as the goody-two-shoes. I never got in trouble with a teacher, I kept stellar grades, and when I wasn't doing extracurricular activities, I was at home studying. Even when I did go out, it was usually with a bunch of fellow band geeks. The night would end before 11:00 PM and the only controversial activity would be a fight based on who unfairly won a round of Apples-to-Apples when someone else clearly had a better card (I promise I'm not still holding a grudge).

Now that I'm officially an adult, I want to pursue some new things. I want to experience life in a way that I never allowed myself to do prior to entering college. These are the years that I'm supposed to embark on a journey of self-discovery, so what better way to do that than to create a bucket list?

Keep Reading...Show less
Featured

10 Life Lessons from Christmas Classics

The holiday classics that shaped my life

903
10 Life Lessons from Christmas Classics
Flickr

The holiday season is full of stress, debt, and forced conversation. While we rush through the month of December, it's important to take a step back and enjoy the moments before they're gone. Most families love to watch Christmas movies, but these beloved films provide more than entertainment. Here are 10 life lessons that I've learned from the holiday classics we watch every year.

Keep Reading...Show less
Featured

15 Mind-Bending Riddles

Hopefully they will make you laugh.

200082
 Ilistrated image of the planet and images of questions
StableDiffusion

I've been super busy lately with school work, studying, etc. Besides the fact that I do nothing but AP chemistry and AP economics, I constantly think of stupid questions that are almost impossible to answer. So, maybe you could answer them for me, and if not then we can both wonder what the answers to these 15 questions could be.

Keep Reading...Show less
Entertainment

Most Epic Aurora Borealis Photos: October 2024

As if May wasn't enough, a truly spectacular Northern Lights show lit up the sky on Oct. 10, 2024

20806
stunning aurora borealis display over a forest of trees and lake
StableDiffusion

From sea to shining sea, the United States was uniquely positioned for an incredible Aurora Borealis display on Thursday, Oct. 10, 2024, going into Friday, Oct. 11.

It was the second time this year after an historic geomagnetic storm in May 2024. Those Northern Lights were visible in Europe and North America, just like this latest rendition.

Keep Reading...Show less
 silhouette of a woman on the beach at sunrise
StableDiffusion

Content warning: This article contains descriptions of suicide/suicidal thoughts.

When you are feeling down, please know that there are many reasons to keep living.

Keep Reading...Show less

Subscribe to Our Newsletter

Facebook Comments