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Merry !@#! Christmas: Writer's Block Edition

by Izzy Wed Dec 24th, 2008 at 02:43:07 AM EST

I took this photo of an ancient writer with his tools at the Louvre.  

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That's right.  It's a writer.  In a glass box.  In France.  You'd think something would practically write itself.

I got nothin'...


And it's not for lack of trying, I just... can't think of anything.  I mean, I want to write something.   I keep intending to write.  I've even made all sorts of promises to certain people that I'll be posting this or that.  And Jerome's been literally begging in IM, it's just sad.  But I sit down to write and... nothin'.

Oh, "just post a shoe blog" everyone says, like it's so easy...

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And I actually did try to research a pancake blog, but fate stepped in.

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So you can see my problem.  I've barely even been commenting - and I miss you guys!  Look how the kittens have grown since my last post!

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And I practically let this whole historic election slide by!  We're in a financial meltdown the likes of which... and I've been predicting for... I mean, this is right up my alley!  I should be ranting like crazy!  It's ridiculous!  

So anyone got any suggestions?

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OH!  And Merry !@#! Christmas, everyone!  I can't believe I forgot the main part!  I may indeed be a hopeless case...

Maybe we can eventually make language a complete impediment to understanding. -Hobbes
by Izzy (izzy at eurotrib dot com) on Wed Dec 24th, 2008 at 02:45:21 AM EST
So pick up a bottle from behind the saloon bar, hold in big fist, pull out cork <squeak>, pour <glug glug glug> a generous half-glass brownish slugaroo, knock back in one, grimace but only just, wipe mouth with back of hand, feel the mix of capillary lotion and weedkiller scald the oesophagus and enter the stomach in a fiery ball, emit sharp sigh of satisfaction <haar>.

If you can't rant after that, there's no hope for humanity.

Merry !@#! Christmas, Izzy!

by afew (afew(a in a circle)eurotrib_dot_com) on Wed Dec 24th, 2008 at 03:20:24 AM EST
Oh, as everyone saw in Paris, I have no problem ranting in person, it's just writing it down that's the trouble...

Plus, I'm not sure I can make a big fist, afew, but thanks for the advice and the xmas wishes!

Maybe we can eventually make language a complete impediment to understanding. -Hobbes

by Izzy (izzy at eurotrib dot com) on Wed Dec 24th, 2008 at 03:43:19 AM EST
[ Parent ]
Just fake the big fist. Even the drink can be tea.

It's the ritual that counts, you know that.

by afew (afew(a in a circle)eurotrib_dot_com) on Wed Dec 24th, 2008 at 12:53:14 PM EST
[ Parent ]
I want to come to LA and then go to some ghost towns in Nevada and then go to the grand canyon trekking and back to LA.  I don't know when. Is that nearly a plan?

Do you know of any good ghost towns?  Are there still bandits out there and tumbleweed?  Do you want to visit any with me, will they inspire you?  Does Speedy Gonzales ever visit Nevada?  Could I win a jackpot in Las Vegas, or get spotted in Hollywood and given the leading role in a brave new indie film?

Izzie?

by In Wales (inwales aaat eurotrib.com) on Wed Dec 24th, 2008 at 04:28:56 AM EST
or Izzy even.
Izzy??
by In Wales (inwales aaat eurotrib.com) on Wed Dec 24th, 2008 at 04:29:17 AM EST
[ Parent ]
Yes!!!  And we'll go to Disneyland and hide till it closes and live in the Swiss Family Robinson Tree House!  I can't wait!

Maybe we can eventually make language a complete impediment to understanding. -Hobbes
by Izzy (izzy at eurotrib dot com) on Wed Dec 24th, 2008 at 04:34:50 AM EST
[ Parent ]
YAY!
by In Wales (inwales aaat eurotrib.com) on Wed Dec 24th, 2008 at 06:26:27 AM EST
[ Parent ]
Oh, and this site will be invaluable:

http://www.ghosttowngallery.com/index.html

Maybe we can eventually make language a complete impediment to understanding. -Hobbes

by Izzy (izzy at eurotrib dot com) on Wed Dec 24th, 2008 at 04:36:35 AM EST
[ Parent ]
OMG wow, I so totally have to go to some of these places. With my wide angle lens and the soon to be mine D700.  * drool *

Oh great.  We might even come across murdered bodies thrown out in the desert.  Is that why they are called ghost towns?

by In Wales (inwales aaat eurotrib.com) on Wed Dec 24th, 2008 at 06:25:36 AM EST
[ Parent ]
Wow, the cats have become big. Merry Christmas or whatever Izzy. :-)
by Fran on Wed Dec 24th, 2008 at 11:57:01 AM EST
Big?  Oh, Fran, you have no idea!  Our little Moog has become quite the kitty-cow.

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Arp's still maintaining his youthful figure though - here's one where you can actually see him.

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Happy holidays to you, too!

Maybe we can eventually make language a complete impediment to understanding. -Hobbes

by Izzy (izzy at eurotrib dot com) on Wed Dec 24th, 2008 at 02:47:59 PM EST
[ Parent ]
They look to be waiting for christmas food.

Hapy cristmas to Izzy and family. furry and otherwise.

Any idiot can face a crisis - it's day to day living that wears you out.

by ceebs (ceebs (at) eurotrib (dot) com) on Wed Dec 24th, 2008 at 03:01:57 PM EST
[ Parent ]
Are you sure those are really cats? Where are their LOLcaptions?

... and Happy !§@$% Holidays back atcha!

The fact is that what we're experiencing right now is a top-down disaster. -Paul Krugman

by dvx (dvx.clt ät gmail dotcom) on Thu Dec 25th, 2008 at 05:21:11 AM EST
[ Parent ]
LOLcaptions?!?  I can't write LOLcaptions! Didn't you read that I'm blocked!  Way to twist the knife, dvx...

But merry Christmas and all that anyway...

Maybe we can eventually make language a complete impediment to understanding. -Hobbes

by Izzy (izzy at eurotrib dot com) on Thu Dec 25th, 2008 at 05:27:46 AM EST
[ Parent ]
Write them? Someone has to write them? I thought cats were born that way.

The fact is that what we're experiencing right now is a top-down disaster. -Paul Krugman
by dvx (dvx.clt ät gmail dotcom) on Thu Dec 25th, 2008 at 07:35:39 AM EST
[ Parent ]
Joyeux %@#! Noël, Izzy!

"Dieu se rit des hommes qui se plaignent des conséquences alors qu'ils en chérissent les causes" Jacques-Bénigne Bossuet
by Melanchthon on Wed Dec 24th, 2008 at 12:01:05 PM EST
I'm so glad you thought to class up the joint with a little international flava!  Feliz %@#! Navidad, Melanchthon!

Maybe we can eventually make language a complete impediment to understanding. -Hobbes
by Izzy (izzy at eurotrib dot com) on Wed Dec 24th, 2008 at 02:52:42 PM EST
[ Parent ]
Happy Chrsitmas Izzy. comments don't have to be smart or learned, after all, look at all mine. Has a single one ever contributed to the sum total of human knowledge or happiness ? No, my stuff is closer to birdsong; lots of noise, little substance.

So...tweet tweet. It ain't that hard.

Missing
           you

keep to the Fen Causeway

by Helen (lareinagal at yahoo dot co dot uk) on Wed Dec 24th, 2008 at 02:38:43 PM EST
Now don't sell yourself short, Helen!  Besides, you've been extremely helpful.  You wore the only shoe bloggable shoes in Paris.

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Maybe we can eventually make language a complete impediment to understanding. -Hobbes

by Izzy (izzy at eurotrib dot com) on Wed Dec 24th, 2008 at 03:01:45 PM EST
[ Parent ]
there. See !! It's not that hard.

keep to the Fen Causeway
by Helen (lareinagal at yahoo dot co dot uk) on Thu Dec 25th, 2008 at 06:41:45 AM EST
[ Parent ]
</writer's block>
by Metatone (metatone [a|t] gmail (dot) com) on Wed Dec 24th, 2008 at 03:34:11 PM EST
</trying to think of suitable holiday greeting>

Maybe we can eventually make language a complete impediment to understanding. -Hobbes
by Izzy (izzy at eurotrib dot com) on Wed Dec 24th, 2008 at 07:10:45 PM EST
[ Parent ]
Merry Christmas, Izzy!

Come, my friends, 'Tis not too late to seek a newer world.
by poemless on Wed Dec 24th, 2008 at 05:26:12 PM EST
Merry Christmas!  Try to stay warm!

Maybe we can eventually make language a complete impediment to understanding. -Hobbes
by Izzy (izzy at eurotrib dot com) on Wed Dec 24th, 2008 at 07:09:28 PM EST
[ Parent ]
Hi Izzy. Merry Christmas!

Hey, Grandma Moses started late!
by LEP on Wed Dec 24th, 2008 at 06:07:02 PM EST
Thanks, LEP, merry Christmas to you, too!

Maybe we can eventually make language a complete impediment to understanding. -Hobbes
by Izzy (izzy at eurotrib dot com) on Wed Dec 24th, 2008 at 07:09:54 PM EST
[ Parent ]
Writer-in-a-glass-box haiku:

Cross-legged I sit
Under unrelenting stares.
No words. Dry pen. #!%&*

Merry Christmas, happy holidays all.

by Mnemosyne on Wed Dec 24th, 2008 at 07:24:02 PM EST
Oh, I wish I could give you multiple fours for this!  I think I'm gonna frame it.  Thanks!!  And hope your holidays are happy, too.

Maybe we can eventually make language a complete impediment to understanding. -Hobbes
by Izzy (izzy at eurotrib dot com) on Wed Dec 24th, 2008 at 07:43:04 PM EST
[ Parent ]
Merry !^**# Christmas back at you.

Being made of stone,

I imagine our scribbler friend here seldom gets writer's block. I find I can either engage people face to face or I can write. For me, they are two different mindsets. Good luck there, Izzy.

You can likely tell from my prose I'm around people all day.

"It Can't Be Just About Us"
--Frank Schnittger, ETian Extraordinaire

by papicek (papi_cek_at_hotmail_dot_com) on Thu Dec 25th, 2008 at 01:10:50 PM EST
Hmm, that's an excellent point - I have been very social lately... maybe I need to blame everyone for sucking the soul out of me and quite speaking to them for awhile!

Maybe we can eventually make language a complete impediment to understanding. -Hobbes
by Izzy (izzy at eurotrib dot com) on Thu Dec 25th, 2008 at 04:23:14 PM EST
[ Parent ]
NO, Izzy, that's a cop-out.  The only real antidote to writer's block, totally independent of anything else one does, is writing.  period.

for example:

OK, sorry.

"Life shrinks or expands in proportion to one's courage." - Anaïs Nin

by Crazy Horse on Thu Dec 25th, 2008 at 04:42:58 PM EST
[ Parent ]
I dunno, CH, this sounds suspiciously like one of them catch-22 thingies...

Maybe we can eventually make language a complete impediment to understanding. -Hobbes
by Izzy (izzy at eurotrib dot com) on Thu Dec 25th, 2008 at 04:51:44 PM EST
[ Parent ]
Well then, i always found FEAR to be the great destroyer of writer's block.

Actually, just writing shit helps, because then you're angry enough at what you wrote to write something good.

Or you could go old school, and have your butler chain yourself to your desk.

"Life shrinks or expands in proportion to one's courage." - Anaïs Nin

by Crazy Horse on Thu Dec 25th, 2008 at 06:01:02 PM EST
[ Parent ]
Merry Christmas (belated) Iz.  I guess my plan to STOP nagging you about writing didn't work either.  ;)

I hope you and your whole household, human and feline, had a wonderful holiday.  

by Maryb2004 on Fri Dec 26th, 2008 at 12:29:32 PM EST
Thank you, maryb!  I hope your holidays were wonderful as well.  But, y'know, I kinda miss your nagging.... feel free to start back up any time!

Maybe we can eventually make language a complete impediment to understanding. -Hobbes
by Izzy (izzy at eurotrib dot com) on Fri Dec 26th, 2008 at 03:43:50 PM EST
[ Parent ]


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