Exploring other media to conquer writer’s block

So, earlier this week, I had a case of the blahs. I suppose I didn’t technically have writer’s block–the problem was more that I didn’t want to do anything, not that I couldn’t write–but the results were the same.

My muddle

My best friend phoned. I told her my sad story. I didn’t want to write. I felt uncreative and just foggy in the head. She suggested I do something different, maybe go for a walk. Just don’t even try to write. Reboot.

The way out

For some reason, I’ve been getting back into art gradually over the last year. As a child and teen, I loved art, but like many people quit when I realized my mediocrity.

My collage poem.

I’ve been taking a lot of photos lately, even framing them and displaying them in my home. I’ve done a bit of sketching, as well, although that tends to send me back to a place where all I see is my lack of skill instead of getting pleasure from exercising what skill I have.

Anyway, after my phone call, I was itching to make a collage. I didn’t give into the itch right away, but as my kids settled in for homework this evening, I grabbed a couple magazines and a pair of scissors. 

Writing that isn’t writing

At first, I aimed to transcribe a chapter of Psalms, but then I started writing an original poem of my own. My brain just arranged the words I was clipping in my head. It was like I tricked my brain, which had no desire to write, into creating literature through paper, scissors, and glue stick. It didn’t feel like writing because I never typed words or wrote longhand.

It’s a bit hard to read the poem in the photograph, so I’ll transcribe it here:

Not first-rate poetry, but therapeutic. I felt so much better when I was done. Like my day was not a wash. I’d accomplished something.

Have you ever remedied writer’s block by delving into your artistic side? Have you tricked your brain into rebooting? Please share your experience in the comments.