writers.com newsletter

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Writers on the Net
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Vol. 8, No. 5
May 2005

IN THIS ISSUE:
ESSAY: TOP TEN NOT-EXACTLY-GUARANTEED METHODS OF COMBATING WRITERS BLOCK (WITH COMMENTS) by Sheila Bender
~~CLASS SCHEDULE~~
PUNCTUATION POINTERS: The Comma, Part 3: Introductory Elements
ROOTS: "filibuster"
~~NEWSLINKS~~
QUOTATION

TOP TEN NOT-EXACTLY-GUARANTEED METHODS OF COMBATING WRITERS BLOCK (WITH COMMENTS)
By Paula Guran

There are those who say there is no such thing as "writers block" and others who claim that every writer suffers from the malady at some time or another. If you've ever found yourself stuck, blank, self-censored, or otherwise frustrated by this obstacle, you'll discover a great deal of advice on the subject.

I looked over about 50 articles concerning writers block for this piece and there are probably a dozen books in print on the subject as well. I even found three "guaranteed methods" of defeating this writerly demon available via CD ranging in price from $39.95 to $199.95.

Although there were scores of ideas on the subject, I soon found some that occurred with some frequency. Adhering to the decidedly unproven theory that the most popular methods are the most effective, here are --

THE TOP TEN NOT-GUARANTEED-GUARANTEED METHODS OF COMBATING WRITERS BLOCK (WITH COMMENTS)

1) Write every day
As long as grocery lists, notes to teachers, doodling done in meetings at work to keep you looking alert, checkbook notations, e-mail, IMs, and text messaging are included, we can all manage this one.

2) Schedule your writing
For full time writers, this is called "being awake." For most people "setting aside time each day when you can "sit quietly and write without distraction" is called "fantasy" or "over-medication."

3) Work on several writing projects simultaneously. If you get stuck on one, switch to another.
For those who work on deadlines this can be referred to as "unemployment" and for freelancers, the synonym might be "starvation." Just call up your editors and let them know you'll be working on a libretto for an operetta for a few days and that you will get right back their project as soon as you feel refreshed.

4) Keep a journal.
If you have a particularly interesting private life, make sure you include names, dates, evidence, and other pertinent entries. Eventually your journal can be used for extremely lucrative writing projects.

5) Read.
This way lies madness -- or at least distraction. I read much better than I write. Given the chance I would probably do only the former rather than the latter.

6) Freewriting/stream of consciousness writing/putting down whatever comes to mind.
Okay. I'm writing, no really it is typing, no really this is keyboarding - although "keyboard" originally just meant the mechanism for pianos and organs -- just anything that comes to mind right now. Look like the cat wants in but I don't want to stop the flow. That's right. These words just keep coming the phone's ringing...where was I oh yes, just streaming my consciousness...oh all right already, stop pawing the window, I'll let you in...

7) Get some physical exercise.
Another one we can all do, providing the definition of "exercise" is broad enough and sports like the upstairs/downstairs laundry run and grocery cart marathon, the copying machine squat-and-repair, and the desk chair rolling event are counted.

8) Relax.
Relax? Relax! I AM relaxed! How much more RELAXED do you want? This IS relaxed. For those of you not quite as naturally relaxed as I am, be careful how you attain this state. In the October 1987 issue of the "American Journal of Psychiatry", Nancy J. Andreasen, a professor of psychiatry at the University of Iowa with a PhD in English, published a 15-year study that found that 30 percent of the writers she studied were alcoholics, compared with seven percent in the comparison group of nonwriters.

9) Try writing in a totally different environment.
This, of course, assumes that you are either using a writing utensil and paper (maybe that notebook you are supposed to carry around at all times) or a laptop computer. I don't think moving your desk eight inches or shifting the angle of your screen counts as "totally different." For those of you who *do* go out to your local bistro or coffee shop to write, you can't always expect to be warmly welcomed day after day if you occupy a table for hours without buying anything.

10) Go out and observe people, note their mannerisms and listen to snippets of their conversation.
This is often combined with # 6 or #8, although I see great possibilities if combined with #4. Others may see these possibilities as well and your life could be endangered.

For a very interesting look at the history of writers block read:

Blocked by Joan Acocella (The New Yorker, 2004-06-14 and 21)

For some meaningful hints about writers block, see Overcoming Writers Block

For information about "what writer's block is and isn't, why writers get blocked, and some things that might help you get into, around, thru, or over your own block" see Lisa R. Cohen's "The Writers Block"

PUNCTUATION POINTERS The Comma, Part 3: Introductory Elements

[Comma usage confuses just about everyone. We are tackling commas in a series of Writers.com "Punctuation Pointers" over the next few months. In part one we dealt with lists, in part two (last month) we looked at nonessential clauses, phrases, and words]

Commas are used to set off introductory elements in a sentence. These elements include clauses (adverbial), phrases (prepositional, infinitive, and participial), and single words.

Introductory ADVERB CLAUSES modify verbs, adjectives, or other adverbs, usually answering one of these questions: When? Where? Why? How? Under what conditions? To what degree (How much)? They begin with subordinating conjunctions like those listed below:

after
although
as
as if
as long as
as soon as
because
before
if
in order that
since
so that
than
though
unless
until
when
whenever
where
wherever
while

-- When she was asked, she would not respond.
-- Wherever she went, she seems to have survived.
-- If you knew no better, you would think nothing happened.

Introductory PREPOSITIONAL PHRASES begin with prepositions like those listed below. The comma may be omitted if the phrase is short.

aboard
about
above
across
after
along
among
around
at
before
behind
below
beneath
beside
besides
beyond
but
by
concerning
down
during
except
for
from
inside
into
like
near
of
off
on
out
over
past
since
through
throughout
till
to
toward
under
underneath
until
up
upon
with
within
without

-- After the expedition ended and her crew dispersed, she collapsed.
-- During the aftermath of the disaster, a storm broke out.
-- At the end of the evening, we were all exhausted.
-- In the middle of the night, we heard screams

Introductory PARTICIPIAL PHRASES begin with a word that ends in -ing, -ed, or an irregular verb.

-- Running away from the living dead, she tripped and fell.
-- Trapped by the collapsed bridge, the soldier was unable to escape.
-- Written in the dim past, the mysterious book held many secrets.
-- Hoping for the best, she pleaded for the jewel's return.

Introductory INFINITIVE PHRASES begin with the word "to" and a verb.

-- To succeed as a wizard, one must learn the spells.
-- To make the cut, one must persevere.
-- To win the crown, she must prove loyal.

Introductory WORDS can be assigned to several categories such as adverb (often, but not always, having an -ly ending), adjective (as when a participle is used to introduce a sentence or clause), noun of address (names), and transitional (like (gee, sure, yes, well, no, in fact, first). They, too, get a comma to set them off from the main part of the sentence.

-- Yes, I've heard of trouble in the village.
-- In fact, the rumors frightened me.
-- Unfortunately, he found the treasure before we did.
-- Defeated, he abandoned the quest.
-- Gosh, we must not be is Kansas anymore.

You've probably been confused at one time or another by a hard and fast "rule" about introductory elements and commas. The problems come when people try to boil complicated guidelines down to simple "rules." Such rules frequently apply but they do not always apply. Comma use with introductory elements has a great deal to do with how these elements modify and, in some cases, how strong a signal the writer wants to send to the reader. Explanations of all this can get confusing to lay people like me who aren't quite sure if they understand the difference between a clause and a phrase.

If you would like to understand more about the subject (or you want to fight it out with someone who insists that there are unvarying rules about such things), I recommend you take a look at Tina Blue's articles on Commas with Introductory Adverbial Elements that begin here: http://www.grammartips.homestead.com/adverbs1.html

The Purdue Online Writing Lab also has cogent coverage.

As long as you understand it is not a commandment sent down from some nonexistent grammar gods, comma usage with introductory elements can be summed up with the following:

You should USUALLY use a comma after an introductory element. You MAY omit the comma, however, after a short introductory phrase as long as the meaning of the sentence and the writer's intent remains clear. When in doubt, use the comma.

It will probably get you by 90 percent of the time.

ROOTS
"filibuster"

You've probably been hearing the word "filibuster" quite a bit lately as both a noun ("a tactic for delaying or obstructing legislation by making long speeches") and a verb ("to obstruct legislation with a filibuster"). The word originally referred to a pirate or lawless adventurer, one who pillages and plunders

In the sixteenth century the word "vrijbuiter" was introduced into the Dutch language. It meant, literally, "someone who takes booty freely" (*vrij* = "free" + *buiter* = "plunderer" ). English, French, and Spanish all adapted the handy term. In English it became "freebooter", in French it became "flibustier", and in Spanish, "filibustero." English then took filibuster from the Spanish as well and filibuster and freebooter were used synonymously.

In the United States during the eighteenth century, there were those who illegally formed private armies and plotted to invade territories beyond U.S. boundaries. Most of these expeditions were into Spanish colonies bordering the U.S., but Venezuela and British Canada were also targets. These machinations were labeled with a variety of phrases including "Aaron Burr scheme" and "buffalo hunt." But when Venezuelan native Narciso L�pez's tried to take over Cuba in May 1850 and again in August 1851, new terminology was needed. Somehow, the press seized upon the word filibuster, and it rapidly took hold. It became so common that Harper's New Monthly Magazine soon pronounced filibustering was destined to "occupy an important place in our vocabulary."

At some point "filibuster" was used in to describe disruptive debating tactic -- legislators "pirating" debate , perhaps about the same time as its application to military adventurers. By the 1880s had settled into its present sense. Sen. Strom Thurmond (search) talked against a 1957 civil rights bill for 24 hours and 18 minutes - longer than anyone has ever talked about anything in Congress.

Note: This etymology is derived, in part, from Manifest Destiny's Underworld: Filibustering in Antebellum America by Robert E. May (http://www.ibiblio.org/uncpress/chapters/may_manifest.html).

QUOTATION:

"I think writer's block is simply the dread that you are going to write something horrible. But as a writer, I believe that if you sit down at the keys long enough, sooner or later something will come out." -- Roy Blount, Jr. (1941-)

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