As a writer, there will invariably come a time when you will experience the frustration of writer’s block. Unfortunately, it’s an occupational hazard. It happens to all of us. What makes writer’s block even more frustrating is the fact that it always happens when you’ve got a deadline to meet. The question is: how to overcome this impediment which threatens to derail your writing career?
Well, different writers use different techniques to get their writing back on track. But the methods I find most useful are the ones that inspire me. If the block is only temporary and it’s a beautiful day, then I merely go dig in the garden. (We have a vast garden, which includes a small orchard, so there is always plenty to do.)
Spending time in the garden has a calming effect. It takes away all the anxieties that are contributing to my writer's block. A few hours in the garden not only clears the head, but it also inspires me too. There is nothing more inspiring than looking at the way plants, insects and animals interact with each other. No matter what happens during any given day, the world keeps spinning. And that’s the beauty and the miracle of the world in which we live.
If the block is a little more serious, then I turn to my movie collection. My movie collection is only a modest one, but it does contain a lot of inspirational material. Here are my top eight favorite movies for kicking writer’s block:
1. Balboa (Rocky VI)
2. Jerry Maguire
3. Any Given Sunday
4. Wall Street
5. Wall Street: Money Never Sleeps
6. Working Girl
7. National Velvet (Old but pure gold when it comes to inspiration)
8. Champions
The theme that runs through all of these movies is one of overcoming adversity to achieve success. The first three movies all contain inspirational speeches that galvanize the spirit towards action.
My all-time favorite inspirational movie speech comes from Balboa (Rocky VI) in which Rocky (Sly Stallone) tells his son that if he knows what he is worth, then he should go out and get it. Basically, advises his son not to be such a puss by blaming others for his lack of success. He’s right. If you want to be successful, then you’ve got to get out there and start pitching.
My second all-time favorite inspirational movie speech comes from ‘Any Given Sunday’ in which Al Pachino lifts his team to a victory with awe inspiring and heartfelt vocalization of what it takes to win. What a performance!
‘Jerry Maguire’ is another great movie for lifting the spirits. It is about a guy (Tom Cruise) who follows his instinct for a more compassionate approach to being a sports agent. The movie is not only a ‘feel good’ experience it also restores your faith in humanity.
‘Wall Street’ (I & II) are all about the follies of avarice and unethical practices. The message is simple: there are no shortcuts to fame and fortune. However, there is one quote from ‘Wall Street’ that I just love. ‘There is no nobility in poverty.’ It is a reminder to all that it is up to us to make sure we don’t live an impoverished life. Poverty is not just about a lack of tangible wealth, it can also mean a lack of personal integrity.
‘Working Girl,’ starring Melanie Griffiths, is another ‘feel good’ movie. It reminds you that when you are on the bottom the only place you can go is to the top.
‘National Velvet’, starring Elisabeth Taylor and Mickey Rooney, is a film from my childhood days. A teenage girl winning the Grand National, the most spectacular and dangerous of all horse races, gets your blood pumping. If a teenager can scale the heights of victory, then so can we all.
And last, but not least, we come to ‘Champions,’ which is another Grand National movie. The movie charts the true story of jockey Bob Champion and his fight against cancer. It also charts the story of his mount, Aldaniti, who suffered a serious injury which nearly had him sent to the afterlife. Together, the two of them formed a bond of friendship as each of them struggled to overcome their life-threatening afflictions. Eventually, against all the odds, man and horse overcame adversity to win the Grand National. ‘Champions’ is a moving and inspirational story which resonates with anyone who has had to deal with the inequities of life. It is well worth the watch.
So if you are an author suffering from writer’s block, then check out one or two of the above movies. You might be surprised at how quickly your writer’s block disappears.
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