I wake to bitter sea spray, a writer’s blockade. An act of war, I’m sure of it, and the chains rattle cheerfully above the crimson page. My dignified literary devices are sinking. But, this type of torture terminates if not maintained.
And the ships that block my view of the horizon are taking on water. There hulls grounded on the rocks of my adventures. Inner Critic, loses her rudder and starts leaking. This paper blockage will never hold, and I breach it with childlike creativity.
Sure, the sea will sweep over some silly pages. Heavy hulls happen like writer’s lulls. The stone fleet that weighs me down will some day wash ashore. But these are merely artifacts.
I am a rebel port, unable to be sieged. Be a blockade runner like me; the gaps are wide enough for all who are brave enough to steer straight through into the open sea.
A writer’s blockade,
wade on in, don’t be afraid;
the tides change again.
Frank is hosting Haibun Monday and tonight’s topic is writer’s block. Tell us what you do to overcome barriers to your writing.
Artwork: Clear as Mud by Marty Branagan
To scuttle them—a pirate deed—
Sack them, and dismast;
They sunk so low, they died so hard
But gurgling dropped at last
Their ghosts in gales repeat
Woe’s us, Stone Fleet!
And all for naught. The waters pass—
Currents will have their way;
Nature is nobody’s ally; ’tis well;
The harbor is bettered—will stay.
A failure and complete,
Was your Old Stone Fleet.
“The Stone Fleet” by Henry Mellville
Karen, I love where you took this. Aye Aye Captain!
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Wonderful flow.
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An act of war … brilliant
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Thank you, Misky. 😀
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I love your photo image and your tale of writer’s block!
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Thank you, Dwight. Looks scarier than it is, no?
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you are welcome!
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I love that you took it to sea. Well done.
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Thank you very much. The flow, that’s one of the things I love the most about writing.
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Amazingly creative piece, K. Loved it!❤️
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Thank you kindly, Grace. I’m so glad you enjoyed this one.
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I truly did. My pleasure.💕
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As wonderful an extended metaphor of writer’s block as I’ve seen! Brava!
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Thank you kindly, Frank. This was a great topic to gather all kinds of great ideas to overcome the obstacles of writing. Much enjoyed.
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Excellent…sail on!
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Thank you, lynn. Will do. Here’s to all sorts of seas and tides of life that lie ahead to inspire new stories.
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This is so positive and enabling. I love your warlike attitude. Down with the inner critic!!
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Thank you. 😉 I’ve learned to stare down that inner writing critic. Believe me, it backdowns every time. Your writing is mighty. I’m sure it can conquer any barrier.
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I love the extended naval metaphor, K! You have reminded me that I do sometimes have blocks when trying to carry my novel forward to where it’s going. For those times, there is poetry 🙂
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Absolutely agreed. Poetry carries me through even the roughest patches of my writing.
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Great Haibun – and I love the determination not to be defeated, your call for bravery, running that writer’s blockade.
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Why thank you. “Thou I be little, I am fierce.”
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K.,
Wonderful haibun. The ship of Inner Critic: I love that. And you’re definitely a blockade runner.
pax,
dora
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Thank you, Dora. Ditto.
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The analogy worked perfectly! “Blockade runner” would look good on a resume!
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Love it… some really brilliant flotsam
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That’s very good. Loved it.
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Thank you. ☺️
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terrifically defiant piece, brimming with imagery; my favorite: ‘I am a rebel port, unable to be sieged’ —
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This is unreal. Your imagery and metaphor are fantastic, KH. I’m jealous… if you tell me that you wrote this during a period of writer’s block, I may get upset with you!
❤
David
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Out at sea. How many of us feel about writing.
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Great swashbuckling writing…! But war…yes…
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Many thanks. I prepared to do battle for my prose. 😉
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