Why Writer's Block Ain't No Big Thang
70The mind is a terrible thing. And when you complain and say you are suffering from Writer’s Block, you have already convinced yourself that you have it.
Writers will admit that they occasionally suffer from Writer’s Block, but there’s no magic pill on the market to cure it. On HubPages, it’s easy to see that Writer’s Block is alive and well because the subject is brought up frequently. There are Hubs on Hubbers admitting to having Writer’s Block. At the same time, they are asking for help on how to cure it. You also have the Hubbers writing hubs offering advice on how to beat it.
“There is no such thing as Writer’s Block,” wrote one best-selling author. “A writer who says he has that is just being lazy. If you hire a plumber and he doesn’t do the job, does that mean he’s suffering from Plumber’s Block? No. You simply fire him and get someone who can do the work.”
“It takes time to fill in the blank computer pages. I’m slow at that,” said a famous writer who had taken years to follow up on his successful series of fiction with another best-seller. It was also a sign that his faithful readers never left him.
When the writing is a job with a deadline and money is involved, most people lock themselves in a room and don’t come out until they’ve squeezed some words on paper. Others won’t leave until they finish the project because they need the money to live.
Of course, there are those writers who are willing to take risks with their writing. They are writing that magazine article, online article or novel, but are not guaranteed that these writing projects will sell.
But when you are writing for yourself and marketing what you write, the discipline for your own writing is up to you. And when you are the boss of your writing, as the boss, you can weaken and give yourself time to be a slacker. The world offers you plenty of distractions to choose from.
“I am a writer. I love to write. So why am I not writing anything?” you keep asking yourself.
Come on, now. Think about it. Could it be because you don’t want to write?
When you are looking for the right mood, the right time, and the right place to do your writing, you’re only kidding yourself. As any procrastinator will tell you, there is no such thing. This is a way to avoid writing at all. You can plan all you want, but you won’t do a thing because you have already set yourself up for defeat.
When a writer does not write or practice the craft, there’s nothing wrong with that. If you have a passion for writing, it will either drive you to write or it will remain with you until you are ready to use it. Although writing is a lifelong process, you can set it aside and resume your writing at any time.
Writers will always think that they have to produce copy in order to define themselves as writers. That isn’t so. People call themselves writers all the time. At parties and other social gatherings, isn’t it is more interesting for a non-writer to say, "I am a writer and working on a novel," instead of telling folks you are sitting at home alone, building and operating your Facebook Farmville farm? The virtual farm that can be wiped out at any time there is a power surge? A mindless addiction which doesn’t pay you for sitting there in front of the computer with an imaginary farm?
Don’t agonize over Writer’s Block. Don't feel guilt or blame yourself for being a fool with no writing skills or the ability to create. If writing is part of your job and is considered your “duties as required,” you are either going to write or you won’t eat. At work, you are given assignments and told what to write. There’s nothing creative about this type of writing. You don’t have to think, but you are guaranteed a pay check as long as you produce. This is where your boss has leverage because there’s always something to purchase. After all, the kid needs braces and college. Or the wife or husband absolutely needs that new toy. Don’t forget the cruise next year that is supposed to save your marriage.
But if you are writing for you, and you have writing goals to pump out best-selling books with the option of having them turned into major motion pictures, Writer’s Block won’t do you any good. Writing is a creative, but a disciplined art. If you can’t (or won’t) work on your craft and sit down to write, where does that take you? Writing is not a one-shot deal. If you write a novel, that’s only the beginning. The publisher will want another one out of you to cash in on your name. That’s business sense. The work to turn it into a best-seller involves editing and re-writing so you can sell your manuscript to an agent who will represent you. Or to a publisher. There are other options for writers to take if they are willing to put the book together and do the marketing themselves.
Everyone wants to write that Great American Novel, but very few achieve that goal. Writing is meant for people who are resilient and are go-getters. When they set those goals, nothing gets in their way. Success in writing doesn’t mean being a person who sits back, does nothing and gives into Writer’s Block.
If you’re a freelance writer, you have to produce copy and get your work out there. You need to sell yourself as well as your work. This means you have to convince any type of editor that your work is worth publishing.
What makes you a writer is not wishing you were one. It is not about telling people that you write when you don’t. It’s all about the process, doing it and having something to show for it. It's being curious about the world and wanting to share it with your readers. And as a writer, you read and appreciate the work of other writers.
Are you a writer if you only wrote family history for only your family to see?
If you have never been published, are you still considered a writer?
These days, you are published the minute you hit that computer key. Whether anyone reads your work, become famous or you get paid for your efforts is another story.
Ask yourself if you are a writer. If you are, then act like one. Write, read and keep learning the craft. Once you start telling yourself you have Writer’s Block, you will get your wish. You will be staring down at that blank page or that blank computer screen. You will be paralyzed.
Is there a cure for Writer’s Block? Sure, there is. If you think you have Writer’s Block and can’t write a word or have run out of ideas on what to write about, continue to live your life and do other things which bring you joy. Get out and enjoy other people. Travel and discover the world. If you are a true writer, Writer’s Block is not permanent. It is something you run up against as a writer if you let it. If you cut it loose, it will go away.
Since writing is a creative process, be proud that when you write, not one can write like you. But if you don’t feel like writing, then don’t do it. There is no law that Writer’s Block exists, and if you have its symptoms, that doesn’t mean you have to stay there permanently. Get it through your head that Writer's Block is not your best buddy.
The idea here is to go after the writing and make it happen for you. Don’t just say you want to write and it was a dream of yours since you were a child. Keep writing, and at the same time, boost your creativity with other creative projects which are not related to writing. Learn new skills. The idea is to keep your mind going. Write those entertaining letters and hilarious emails. Surround yourself with other writers and other supportive people. Hang out with people who are movers and shavers and winners. They are the people who set goals and achieve them. By associating with winners, why wouldn’t you become a winner, too?
But when you force yourself to write, the negativity of not wanting to write or being forced to sit down to do it will show in your work.
Do you really have Writer’s Block? Or is this your mind and body telling you to take a break? So take a break from writing and return to it only when you’re ready. To be that successful writer, you have to want to write.
Who knows what you will achieve when your passion for writing hits you full force? Know Writer's Block is there, but also know that you can take it or leave it.
A Note From Arlene: Now that you know how to whip Writer's Block, check out Arlene's Hubs on Hubs. They may help you write Hubs with confidence, so don't keep your readers waiting. Write those Hubs and keep writing. HubPages is a great community for online writers, so take advantage of this site and write away!
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If 'writer's block' is on your mind and you can turn out a really great hub like this, I would like your kind of writer's block. This is really good. I truly happy you are writing meaningful hubs while on your 30/30 day challenge.
K: Thank you for your comments and insights. At times, I do think I have not been diagnosed with adult ADD. Too busy to see the doctor, I guess. Or maybe I don't want to know? I am one to chase. Besides the writing and reading, I love to cook, spin and weave. I knit and crochet to rip. I am a yarn fondler. Any cold or rainy day, I am either spending time in a bookstore or fondling yarn at a yarn shop. Or both. I also copy recipes and patterns for "someday". I copy knitting patterns that are way over my head. This is how I think. I am my beagle dog. If it's there, and I'm interested, I take off. Writing is up to the author, but it's no longer a passion when you beat yourself up when you don't meet your impossible expectations. I don't see myself writing 24/7. I write because I want to write. Otherwise, the chase is on! I refuse to feel guilty about not writing.
Maralexa, Dear Woman, thank you for your comments and your compliments. My case of Writer's Block lasted about 30 years. During this time, I did write. I did have a friend who told me that my letters kept her going when she was away from Sacramento for a year and had to train for a job while living in Nevada. And I have written some hilarious notes and emails. My mama is still on my back for not attending Stanford University. She still believes I can attend and become a nurse. Writer's Block, to me, is simply taking a timeout. Writers will always write, and it's up to them to schedule their writing. I'm not going to whine and cry about not filling pages and pages of copy. If I don't want to write, I won't do it. As my reader, you can tell I am having a tantrum on paper, anyway. When you don't want to do something or be somewhere at a certain time, you won't put out your best effort. Plus, everyone knows your secret. Much better to go out and have fun until you are ready to write.
Hi Arlene......we all need a break sometimes. What I do is while I'm away from the computer, if I think of something that will make a good hub, I write it down where ever I am. Sometimes, the idea is appealing and other times its just plan garbage. I think its okay to rest our minds.
Hey, marellen! Thanks for your comments. Looks like you have a system that works for you. I have my writer's journal and happily scribble away when I travel. I will draw in it. When I'm at home, I will write my ideas in it or write on the nearest legal pad. The problem is, when I suffer from a senior moment and misplace my writer's journal, I'm in trouble. I also label files with the title of a story idea and put them on the desktop of my computer for down the road. But you're right. Some ideas are great, and some of them are garbage. But there's always something in the rubble. Otherwise, it's just as easy to put them in the trash and find something else. Writing is one big puzzle and a great chase. Only a writer can experience its rewards. Can't beat that!
Great hub, Arlene. And with that, I am signing off Hubpages for the rest of the day (yeah, right) to work on my novel!
Hi, Deborah. As a writer and attorney, I am sure you are writing all of the time. My goal when I went to college a zillion+ years ago was to write that Great American Novel. But things have changed. The first Mac didn't come out at that time, but when it did, I learned how to use it while writing for my job. Computers are magical when you don't want to write on legal pads. Today, there are so many ways to publish. But at the same time, writers make money any way they can. When you are a writer, writing will always be a part of your life. My brother is the one who locks himself in a room whenever he has spare time to write. After work, holidays and vacations, he is agonizing over not filling those pages or computer screens. I write when I feel like it. I am at the kitchen table or sprawled on my sofa because my laptop allows me to do that. I know it sounds dangerous to just write when I feel like it, but that's when I want to write. And, I do accomplish more without thinking about it. I won't feel guilty or beat myself up because I'm not writing every day. When you don't want to write and force yourself to do it, you'll be writing crap, anyway.
Hey Arlene...I had something great to say here...but somehow...I'm blocked? Excellent look at what ails us all on occasion! Voted Up and everything!
Thanks, again! You know, ThoughtSandwiches, I just stepped out to do some shopping, and I come home to all these Hubs. I see, you have been very busy and have not been suffering from Writer's Block. I don't have Writer's Block, either. I need to sit down and write. Looking forward to reading what you've put out there. A girl can't leave the house and HubPages. Always have something brewing on HubPages.
'Tis True... complaining about it and and claiming that you have it is the first step toward giving it more energy...
Yes, Rachelle! If I had Writer's Block, then that means I've had it since the 1980s. But I've been writing all along. Even if it means short stories, contests, letters, and emails. I thought I was going to write that Great American Novel, but I won't be writing it until I do sit down to write it. Right now, I am writing for the pure joy of it. I am retired and do have the time. It's up to the writer. I look back and had all kinds of things going on. If writing is so important to you, just like everything else, you will do it. Until then, live your life! That's the only way to go because your life experience will only enhance your writing. Thanks!
So so true, I need to invent a devise that hooks to your inner thoughts and records all the data swarming around up there, till then I got this pen and paper thing down pretty good.
Hi, jenubouka. I keep a writer's journal all the time. Sometimes, I misplace it, so there goes my notes when I need them. I like writing on legal pads with a nice pen, then transferring the info to my laptop. Most of the time, I'm using the laptop because I write too big. I use the Bubble Method at times, but I'm too cheap to buy the big pads for the bubbles. Instead, I squash all of my ideas on small bubbles. These can cover a piece of typing paper. The idea is to write, but not beat yourself up for not writing regularly. For HubPages, I want to do it all--Hub Hopping, reading Hubs and writing Hubs. Don't want to miss a thing.
I agree, completely. There were a few other sites with the same concept per say, but since connecting to other hubs and hubbers, this is the only site I am focused on. The possibilities and information is endless and having 10 plus years behind me in my profession helps the hubbing aspect
Hey, jenubouka, thank you for your comments. I wouldn't mind having your culinary experience and being able to write about it. I wanted to write that Great American Novel, but things have changed for me since graduating from college waaaaaaaay back in 1981. These days, you don't have to focus on one thing. I don't feel guilty for not working on that novel because I have other writing projects that I can chase after. When it comes to money, writers do anything they can. At this point, I'm not concerned about the money because I am retired and have time to work on the craft and write. If I'm going to wake up in the morning and work until midnight with the writing, that's good enough for me. I do enjoy HubPages. It is way better than my last experience with The Other Guys. So as long as I enjoy being here, I'm staying. It's a very supportive group.
I agree on the support this site offers. I love how everyone pays it forward with their knowledge and expertise.
And we love seeing our work out there without waiting on an editor or publisher. We can also design our own Hubs. It's all a kick in the pants.
I know right? Editors can crush your hopes and dreams, plus re write your life's work, just to make a buck.
I dated a copywriter a long time ago, and he was great at hacking copy for two dailies. But he was chain-smoker and thrived on the stress. He didn't write. Editors usually don't write, but when an editor is good at what he does, he will catch the writer's or reporter's mistakes and maybe make you look better. Recently, I worked with a few online editors. When you deal with online editors, it's awkward. You can't walk into their office and tell them what you feel. Or say something like, "Can't you leave that in?" You can't give your input unless you happen to like punching in these rambling emails. Even then, you don't know if your emails are read. I am not intimidated when it comes to confrontation, but what are you going to do when you live on the West Coast and your online editor works on the East Coast? When I first started as a reporter, I remember when the editor of the newspaper would occasionally sit down with me and have coffee. And since she was there with me, I knew she was truly interested in what I was doing. I miss the face-to-face of talking to a real person about my writing. But at the same time, you have to go with it. And, when an editor hacks your work, you either accept it or withdraw it. As a writer, you at the mercy of an editor. Hopefully, it's not hacked up so much that you don't recognize the piece.
The chain smoking, thriving on the stress sounds like the restaurant business, hilarious. That's why I am trying to make a living writing about it. 14 hour days on your feet, 125 degree environment not to mention working with all men. Who whine worse than any woman i know.
I hope you do publish the next great American novel someday, we need a new timeless author
I usually just take a break and do something fun, and before you know inspiration strikes.
jenubouka, I am fascinated about the restaurant business because out of all the jobs I've held, I never touched on it. All I know is that it takes that special person to do that kind of work. I would love to try it. Wanted to when I retired, but there was no way Comp would allow me to train for a job that would keep me on my feet for hours. Might as well go back to prison with all the standing, walking and climbing stairs. I am such a ham that I would want my customers to watch me work, but when you dine, you never see the one who creates the memorable meals. That would be interesting to be around a lot of men whine. It's not very becoming. I agree. I would be amused to hear a man whine and complain, but not when they run in packs. Thank you for your comments and the compliment. I wouldn't mind being the writer who writes the Great American Novel, but I am also The Queen of Distractions. I am in my early fifties, and lovin' it. So as I chase after distractions, as I've done throughout my life, I do know I have to make an effort to sit down in front of my laptop or get going on the stack of legals pads to write that book. Then edit and market it. Right now, HubPages is something to look forward to. Thanks! So you keep writing about what you know about the restaurant business. And, I will be sure to read your book!
My, my, my, Karen. You are one of those rare writers who don't get carried away and are able to bounce right back to the writing. Lucky you! I chucked the writing in 1981 and wrote a little bit here and a little bit there. I went though about a dozen jobs, the San Francisco Earthquake, a marriage, a divorce three days before 9/11, another marriage, traveled, learned how to ride horses, etc. In other words, I chased anything which interested me and lived through some landmark events. Didn't regret it. As far as it goes when going after something fun and remembering to come back, you are my hero. Thank you!
Oh to work in the restaurant business does take a different kind of breed. The stress, the pressure, the restaurant packed on a Friday night, the rails so full the tickets coming in are falling to the floor, screaming and yelling. Trying to feed 250 people all at once. I do love it, most of the time. You are on your feet 10 to 14 hours a day, sitting down to a meal is unheard of. You would love it, because all you are around is distractions. I myself find it hard to sit down and do just one task at a time. In the chef world, you are required to use your left and right brain at the same time, crunching numbers, food cost, labor cost, the at the same time, trying to create art on a plate that will be gone in less than 20 minutes of creation. Babysitting the boys, listening to their complaints, yelling to clean up after themselves. Dealing with the customer who is trying to get something for free, asking for tarter sauce to go with their 40 dollar Columbia basin salmon entree, that was prepared to perfection but they don't know any better. Wait a minute think I got hub coming on. I recommend you read Anthony Bourdain's Kitchen Confidential. That is a true step inside. My book would be a little bit more humorous.
You already have my attention, and I want to read more. I can only tell you are passionate about what you do. These days, I will be out and about, and all people talk about is when their next break will be. I read Gabrielle Hamilton's book, Blood, Bones and Butter. It moved, and I could not put it down. I guess it helps when you have an M.A. in literature like she does. I will take your advice and get the book by Anthony Bourdain for my literary fix on the culinary world. Last time I checked, there were three memoirs by chefs, and I picked up Hamilton's because her book has a red jacket--my favorite color. I could not decide which of the three, so that's how I did it. I bet all your friends and family are always asking for cooking advice or for you to cook for them. Unless, of course, restaurant skills run in your family. Fascinating. I think the world is ready for a more humorous type of book like you were talking about. Hamilton seemed to me like the most unlikely person to become a chef, but I liked the fact that she worked so hard to get where she's at. And, she had a sense of humor. Knowing the profession, you would be doing us a favor with your POV. I am tired of Food Network celebrity chefs with the line of pots and pans being sold in places like Kohls. I would welcome work by a real, living and breathing chef who is without the television hype.
Hi Arlene, your words are so true. Writer's Block and Creative Block is an illusion. I admit that I've done the same thing by getting frustrated and distracted myself with excuses; but then sat down and wrote text, only to surprise myself with what I've produced. Then other times I'm sitting there typing away merrily for hours without a care in the world! I admire your honesty in your hubs and it really shows that you are a resilient writer. Many thanks!
Thank you for the hype comment, I call them sell-outs, you will never see my name on a box of stock in the store, nor some over priced cookware. eh-em R.R. The very reason I chose to work in the kitchen was to hide from the public, the food doesn't talk back. I am the sole chef in my family,and yes I do get questions how to cook this, or what should I do with that. And am more than happy to oblige. My favorite place is my local grocery store, the manager is my speed dial #1 and knows my voice.
If you get the chance, I did attempt to write a humorous ditty about working in the kitchen. Your input would be greatly appreciated, though it is the laughter I hope you get out of it.
P.S. A great cookbook author to check out is Donna Hay. She keeps it savory, sweet, and simple.
I finally found your comment! Anyway, just to let you know, I like finding good reads on the restaurant industry because it is a total mystery to me. I had to hustle as a guard, but I can tell you some of the most successful people working around inmates used to work in restaurants. They easily blew things off, but kept a sunny disposition. The question is: were those people really RARE in your business??? Or am I only seeing what I want to see? Hahahahaha.
Yes for the most part. The higher the rank the worse it got, I have little tolerance for slackers, whiners, or the now the phone tech craze, always on their phone, texting, or whatever you can do with the damn things these days.
I think the worse ego's are the people with the money to open a restaurant but have NO idea how to...That my sister is a whole other entity in itself
I never thought about any of that because I am just one of the masses, watching the perfect restaurant crew on TV. I always wanted to see Bobby Flay throw tantrums at one of his staff. There is something wrong, here. At least, working around food and needing to get it out, I'm sure that's plenty of stress. That's what I hate about television--it's an illusion of everything being just fine and dandy. Anyway, I never thought of having to work with someone who had the money to open a restaurant and not knowing a thing. How awful! I can only imagine the frustration of trying to communicate with someone who has money. People with money have loads of problems. The ones I know are so insecure and not open to any suggestions. Fragile when it comes to egos, so I waltz away from them and go do something else. I could not imagine working on a project with them AND their money.
To see Bobby Flay outside his fluffy cloud of the edit room may actually make the pompous ass humble...TV can edit the raw truth or stretch it beyond the norm. Hell's Kitchen. Your right about the insecurity, these wealthy believe since they have the money they have the knowledge and are too into themselves to ask or learn. Then blame us, the chef's lack of experience. Then my feminism screams, maybe you should of not spent 12,000 on stem ware this month till your profit margin held itself in the black for six months... Then I say to myself, that's it, I buying a taco truck....
When I retired, I wanted to sell the Filipino lumpia and pansit (the tamer office potluck food people always ask me about when they figure out I am of Filipino descent) from a taco truck here in Sacramento. Rehab wouldn't buy training me or letting me work in one because their reason was that it was a lot of heavy lifting (pots and pans) and standing (8+ hours) a day. I would have loved to try, anyway to satisfy my lifelong questions about making and serving people food. I know it's not a picnic as it seems, according to my friends who have had years and family in the business. Sacramento, unfortunately, keeps tabs on its taco trucks and has them move every half hour.
that would be an epic idea you have there... That is an interesting fact about the taco truck rule, here in Yakima they are all stationary, and there is about 15 of them, which for this town, is alot. They offer the most authentic and cheap food around.
Since I am quite a bit of a ham, I would miss out on talking with people while working in the kitchen. If I lean on anything and start talking with someone or a group of people, forget it. But I think most of that comes with retirement.
Actually working in the kitchen is probably one of the most social gatherings there is. your co workers become like family, for you work side by side, literally for 12 hours a day. Then you have the front of the house to engage with, plus the customers love it when they get to come back to the kitchen and see all the chaos.
On one of my cruises, I took their kitchen tour, but it was all about the head chef from Italy who was pushing the cruise ship cookbooks at the end of the tour. I didn't need to buy one. They were expensive, and without even knowing it, I bought a copy for less than 25 cents at a yard sale fundraiser long before I took the cruise. I was so disappointed that that the cruise ship cleared out the kitchen for the tour. I don't know where they put all those kitchen workers, cooks and chefs in that shiny, spotless, stainless steel kitchen. All I saw was this one chef in white, and he was sitting at this fancy marble cutting board, cutting up pineapple. He never looked up at us. He kept chopping. This would have been a good time for a little chit chat, but maybe he was told not to take any attention from the star chef, who was autographing books and didn't speak one word of English.
Oh so typical, this kind of bs floors me. Here is what you should of seen: 20 kitchen workers, talking almost yelling, dirty aprons, about 7 cutting boards with prep pans filling the prep tables, everyone having a sense of urgency in their eyes, the crew dodging the tour yelling "behind you", and the chef should of threw you all an apron lead you to the line, and walked you thru one of the prized dishes in the cookbook, and there is the use of very fowl language one can not help use when working in a kitchen, we are worse than truck drivers.
This guy probably never even got dirty, most likely doesn't even know the staff's names. That's Karma for you, washed up overpriced book, that has no value
The chef did have a lot of books to sell. But if you opened the book, the recipes were based on recipes that weren't exactly his. Yes, it was glossy and way over-priced. But you know tourists. They will buy anything. That book looked familiar, so I kept walking. I wouldn't want to try and duplicate what I had on the ship. I couldn't do it, anyway. When you're away from home, all you want is to experience excellent food and a dining atmosphere. But I've had some cheap people I know visit New York City for the first time and only ate at hot dog stands to save money. One woman went to the deli and saved the wrappers to her salads so she could duplicate them at home. If that's not cheap and stupid, I don't know what it! Not me! I would try a bit of everything.
Oh man that is funny! my motto in life and eating is I will try it once even if I have to close my eyes...
Being of Filipino descent, but born here in the U.S., I always got teased about eating dog. Oh, hell no. Then I get to HubPages, and I see recipes for dog meat stew and dogs hanging like duck in Chinatown. Recently, there was that disgusting balut--which my folks called that duck embryo boiled like eggs. The writer was trying to pass it off as something to give you that slam-bang sex life. Where I grew up, we lived close to Locke, a historic Chinese town in the Sacramento River Delta. I asked my mom, "Do they eat cats? Because they have a lot of cats running around there." She goes, "No, I think the meat is probably too tough and stringy." Yeah, that's my mom. I will try anything when it comes to food, but forget the maggot sandwiches at the recent California State Fair, bugs, horse, possum, squirrel, etc. Forget the rodents with the tails! And that goes for the cheap food in New York City when you've got all these restaurants to choose from! How can you not visit a few restaurants as a treat? But noooooooooooo! She wanted to see where John Lennon was shot and go to the Trump Tower dressed as a country bumpkin. Fool!
That is too funny, I am literally laughing out loud. I don't want to say this but if you like halibut or ahi, chances are you have consumed a maggot remain or two, and worms. Halibut is known for parasites, and I had ahi tuna poke on my menu and was having it flown fresh, or I thought, from Honolulu and when I cut the loin open, creepy crawlers oozed out, freaked me out and ticked me off. I have had squirrel, alligator, snake, crickets, grasshopper, and yes the tequila worm. Now I knew about the dogs, we have a situation here in my town, we no longer eat there, don't tell me 4 stray dogs in a chain linked fence in the parking lot are your pets man, I know better.
Maybe if I was raised in these places where the natives were used to it and ate these "exotic" food, I would think nothing of eating what's there. I do eat raw fish, but you are right about parasites. I went to the marketplace in the Philippines on a regular basis while staying with my grandma. I remember walking past a fish vendor as he cut open one of his fish. It was filled with worms. Fishing for trout and other fish, I gut them myself and have found some goodies, too. If I had to butcher my own meat, forget it. I grew up on a pear orchard, but I've seen countless farm animals being slaughtered when I was a kid. I don't eat goat. All my friends from childhood were slaughtered in front of me. There's nothing I hated more than that. I got tired of watching and hearing animals being led to slaughter. I would flunk 4-H and feel like some kind of traitor, so it's good I moved away from the country long before joining. I don't have to name an animal to get attached to it. I feed an animal, and that's it. There's the connection right there. I'm a seed gatherer. I don't have it in me to slaughter animals, but my friends who raise sheep and rabbits for fiber think nothing of "thinning the herd". I missed out on that type of farming gene. Plants, you can yank out of the soil and never think of it as murder. We have this master butcher here in Sacramento who does wonders with smaller pigs. I think he does a lot of his work in his apartment and also teaches the art of butchering. Ewwwww.
Oh that is soooo gross, I was raised on a farm as well and saw a couple of cows meet their maker, back then I really didn't have an emotional attachment, though now, I am with you, I want to save the animal kingdom. I will have a pet cow someday, and she will have a name, and be spoiled rotten.
K. Burns Darling Level 5 Commenter 8 months ago
Great Hub, and you are in my opinion absolutely right. I do occasionally suffer from what some may call "writer's block" and usually it is rooted in one of two things....If I am hard at work on something and suddenly find that the words won't come, and I am writing and rewriting the same line or paragraph over and over again, then it means I have been at it too long, have been looking at it too closely. It is time for me to get up and walk away, take a break, do something else. This works 99.9% of the time and I come back refreshed and seeing the project through new eyes. The other reason isn't as easily cured, but is curable all the same, (although I don't know if you would call it writer's block as much as you would call it ADD), I sometimes suffer from Don't Know What I Want to Writeitits, or Lost Interest-in-ititis...I have found that the only way to cure these two maladies is to hunker down and push through it. Voted up, useful, interesting.