Writer's Block.

by Gary Walters

So, where you might ask have I been the last two months? Did I land a big time comic job? No. Did my comic book property get optioned for an exciting Hollywood motion picture. Again, no. Did I write a back-up story for the next DC Secret Files issue? Sorry, not quite. I have been trapped. Trapped in a prison of words. Or, rather trapped in a prison of lack of words. I have had... the writer's block.

Once second I was writing the exciting adventures of my comic book character Even Steven. The words shooting from my fingertips like lightnening from Electro. And then... no more. No more words. No more nouns. No more verbs. No more contraptions.

The written word can be a harsh mistress one second she is imparting unto you the gift of fluent wordical beauty. Next then stop doing that.

Now writer's block can be a very personal tramatic experience, but as this column is about my climb up thorugh the ranks of comic book writingdom, I wanted to share, my personal pain, with you and also give you some helpful hints about how to avoid this trap for yourself.

So, what was I writing when this tragedy occurred?

I was well into the second issue of Even Steven and getting ready to put together my submission packet to Image. In the second issue, Even Steven finds himself confronted with an Angel of Light who is actually working against our hero of darkness, thus subverting the Bible genre. The Angel warns Steven that he shalt not be suffered to live as he is an instrument of darkness and not of light. And never shall Even Steven be one of the good guys, for his power lies in darkness. Steven was to turn to the Angel and say back to him... nothing. Nothing came out. I hit a wall. A wall of blocks. A wall of writer's blocks.

I typed a bunch of crap, trying to get over the wall. I had Even Steven say "No way!", "You can forget that!", and "Suck it!" But none of it felt right. None of it felt real. It was a defining moment for the character, him standing up to an Angel with the very power of God almighty, and just needed to feel grounded and real.

So I was stuck. Days passed. Bills piled up. And I just stared at the screen. The cursor blinking just past "EVEN STEVEN:". Blink. Blink. Blink. Blink.

Blink.

Blink.

Blink. Blink. Blink.

So I decided I needed to break through the writer's block?

But how?

I had taken a creative writing course a few years back and the teacher had said that you should try a few things. NONE OF WHICH WORKED FOR ME. But here they are from his syllabus:

1. If you can't write about anything else, try to write about writer's block as a method to get through it.

Tried it. Wrote "I can't think of anything to write" three times and gave up. Stupid idea!

2. Look inside and figure out what's wrong and address any personal problems you might have.

The problem is I can't write!

3. Try talking to other writers and see what's helped them.

No thanks. That just leads to writers stealing your ideas. Believe me, I know. Seriously. Can't talk about it, but believe me.

4. Change your location, change your clothes, change your pencil to a pen or your pen to a pencil. Shake things up.

I'm not writing with a pencil. Then I just have to copy everything over again into the computer. And the computer's in my bedroom, so I can't change my location. I did put on a shirt and pants thinking that would make me feel more "professional". But the shirt was tight and itchy.

5. Try to free associate. Write down a few key words and concepts and the try to associate new ideas and words with them, thus creating new paradigms through associative interpretation.

I don't even know what that sentence means.

6. Don't be a slave to what you've written. If something's unworkable, be willing to give it up and move on.

No way! I'm not throwing out my hard work. Easy for you to say Mr. "I Teach Basic Creative Writing On The Side". These words are all I have! I got bills to pay!

7. Be calm and relaxed.

You be calm and relaxed, you jackass. With your'e stupid shitty retard help!

So... as you can see these "methods" of "help" were anything but.

So, clearly I needed to find my own way out of my block.

So, I sat there and tried to write. Tried to write really really really hard. Urrrrgh. But nothing came.

So, I decided to take a break. Instead of writing I played some video games (Rise of the Imperfects ROXS!) and watched some of my favorite movies (Aliens Vs. Predator, baby!).

The next day it rained. I thought maybe that would get me in the mood to finish the dialogue of our melancholy protector of the night, Even Steven.

So there I was again, trying to write... you ever have one of those days where you try so hard and then the next thing you know it's 3 Oclock in the morning and your standing outside in the rain, crying?

So it was back to my video game and some more movies. Chatted online with some friends (love ya Smurfbamfer492!). Friends are great when you need encouragement. They can remind you just how talented you are and how much the world needs you to express that talent to them. They can also recommend great movies to fill up the time that a writer's block can eat up from your life as a writer.

So I returned back to the script the next day and then, two days later I finally found the words to finish the scene.

PAGE 1 PANEL 4 Seraphamin grabs our hero! CAPTION The angel of God's glory, Seraphamin, grabs our hero viciously! SERAPHAMIN Thou shalt not be suffered to live, foul abomination. Thou art naught but an instrument of darkness, of evil, never can you be a part of us, you can never join the side... of the Angels! EVEN STEVEN Well...I'll just run right out and join the wrestling team. Maybe the prep club too! PANEL 5 CAPTION Seraphamin throws Even Steven to the ground and hits him with a bolt of pure light! knocking him out! PANEL 6 MATTY (cowering) What are you?! CAPTION In fear, Even Steven's courageous pal Matty, cowers in fear. PANEL 7 Seraphamin standing over Even Steven, striking him with a bolt of white heavenly light! SERAPHAMIN This battle is over. Thou hast no chance against me. Prepare to suffer your doom! EVEN STEVEN (Muttering) I've got a bad feeling about this... CAPTION Steven is again struck by a bolt of pure white heavenly light! PANEL 8 Steven reels in pain! EVEN STEVEN Arrrrrrrgh! Ahhhhh! PANEL 9 SERAPHAMIN Not only shalt thou be removed, but so must also be wiped from this earth hence those who wouldst remember thine deeds. CAPTION Seraphamin moves towards the trembling Matty and the still unconcious Estephania! PANEL 10 Exreme close up of Seraphamin's face. SERAPHAMIN Werest thou to renounce all this... I mayhap shalt spare them both. CAPTION Slowly Even Steven heroicly stands to fight again! EVEN STEVEN We are men of action, lies do not become us. SERAPHAMIN No, mayhaps they dins't. True, mine blade wouldst have slewn them anon. But their deaths wouldst have been quick... But now... PANEL 11 CAPTION The Angel of Light moves towards the still unconcious Estephania. PANEL 12 CAPTION Even Steven stands tall and ready to fight! EVEN STEVEN Get away from her, you bitch!

Not too shabby.

So, if it ever happens to you, wear your writer's block like a badge of honor, for only the truly creative will ever find themselves cursed with a lack of ability to make that creativity become good words.

Read Volume 1, Issue 8 of The Tricks of Turning Pro.



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