Comments for Men with Pens

Comment on The 2-Word Solution for Every Blocked-up Genius by David Masters

David Masters — Wed, 23 May 2012 07:42:37 +0000

Terror. Yep, I know that feeling. My writing sucks. Yep. Know that one too.

Oh, and thanks for acting the foil to my rather mean gag! Maybe we could launch our own two clown act?

Comment on The 2-Word Solution for Every Blocked-up Genius by David Masters

David Masters — Wed, 23 May 2012 07:31:26 +0000

I wish I’d thought of putting it that way – start small. Do something tiny. My favorite practice for making sure I write every day is my one sentence journal. Seriously, aside from breaking both your arms and losing your voice, all on the same day, there’s no excuse.

Comment on The 2-Word Solution for Every Blocked-up Genius by Carrie

Carrie — Tue, 22 May 2012 16:52:09 +0000

Loved this post, David. I had my pen all ready to write down the two words, and laughed out loud when I read them.

I have to admit that I learned to ‘Stop It’ the hard way. After graduating with a degree in English Lit, I felt lots of pressure to write something serious and significant. I even had a few months in which I had the chance to do nothing but write, and I didn’t write a word. I was terrified anything I wrote would pale in comparison to the books I’d read in school, and of course, it would have.

Once I accepted that my writing would suck until I got better at it, the English Lit spell was broken and I started to write. I always make myself feel better by saying, “You’re only going to get better.” Now I’m going to add “Stop It,” to that sentence as well. Thanks!

Comment on The 2-Word Solution for Every Blocked-up Genius by Todd Gray | Bold Interventions

Todd Gray | Bold Interventions — Tue, 22 May 2012 16:45:24 +0000

Absolutely wonderful advice David, every skill is mastered by being put into practice. If one wishes to become the next best great writer of all time, they will probably need to start small by writing and publishing small works on a regular basis… and then maybe after some time and perfecting of their talent, they will publish larger works that fulfill their lifelong dream of being a “writer”.

Comment on The 2-Word Solution for Every Blocked-up Genius by David Masters

David Masters — Tue, 22 May 2012 06:34:26 +0000

You’re welcome, Julie! The problem with canons is they tend to explode and make quite a mess. Or do I mean cannons?

Comment on The 2-Word Solution for Every Blocked-up Genius by David Masters

David Masters — Tue, 22 May 2012 06:30:23 +0000

There are times every day when I feel like I’m not good enough!

When you have the curse you force the words out and, frankly, they’re often terrible. But when you stop and listen to yourself – really listen – you discover what you want to say, and the words flow effortlessly from your fingertips.

Comment on The 2-Word Solution for Every Blocked-up Genius by David Masters

David Masters — Tue, 22 May 2012 06:24:16 +0000

Yes, the advice applies to any kind of writing – blog posts, novels, articles, copy, emails even. Thanks Marc!

Comment on The 2-Word Solution for Every Blocked-up Genius by Clara Mathews

Clara Mathews — Mon, 21 May 2012 23:50:58 +0000

Thanks for the excellent (and humorous) advice. This will help me when I am block by the ‘writer’s curse” of feeling that I am not good enough.

Also, I love that you used Dickens as an example. He is one of my favorite writers.

Comment on The 2-Word Solution for Every Blocked-up Genius by Julie

Julie — Mon, 21 May 2012 19:38:11 +0000

Thank you for a laugh-out-loud moment! You put it very well: “masterpieces” were not necessarily created as such and the writers we look up to might have had more mundane preoccupations than making it into the literary canon… Hacks of the world unite!

Comment on The 2-Word Solution for Every Blocked-up Genius by Marc Ensign

Marc Ensign — Mon, 21 May 2012 19:01:55 +0000

Where were you this weekend!?!?!? I had an awful writing weekend because the pressure was on for a big article. I don’t think I wrote 2 coherent words in all the time I sat staring to the computer. I think this is the big takeaway for me: “So stop it. And just go write something you enjoy, and write it well.” – I really needed this, thanks!