Sunrise/Sunset: A Constant State of Writer’s Block

Originally published on October 9th, 2016

Sunrise/Sunset is a series of writings where I write about something in the morning and then write about the same thing at sunset. Hopefully pictures accompany it, but who knows. 

7:03 am - I recently learned that Aaron Sorkin (creator of The West Wing, Newsroom, and Sport's Night) lives in a constant state of writer's block. (http://parade.com/54106/erinhill/parade-rewind-with-aaron-sorkin-im-almost-always-in-a-state-of-writers-block/) As someone who has trouble coming up with ideas, it's comforting to know that someone who has written/directed several successful tv shows and movies is always dealing with a sense of not knowing what to do next. I'm the same way. This morning I woke up with the familier feeling of "I have nothing new to offer. My thoughts are not unique. I have no new ideas." This way of thinking has plagued my world for years now, and I doubt it will ever completely leave. Whether it's writing something for this website, a poem, or a song, I am constantly thinking that what I am saying has already been said, or maybe I'm just preaching to the choir. 

When it comes to writer's block, it comes around especially when I'm writing stories. Last May, I had an English assignment to write a short story, and I missed the first two deadlines because I couldn't think of an idea. I had come up with something, and had written a few paragraphs before a friend of mine said it was a little too reminiscent of "The Tiny Wife" by Andrew Kaufman (excellent book, by the way. I highly recommend it). My teacher was constantly reminding me of deadlines, and I was constantly writing ideas in a notebook and promptly crossing them out. A blank piece of paper had become my home. It wasn't until I heard the word "talisman" that the idea for the story began to form. Once I had the idea, I wrote a ten page story in one evening. It took me an incredibly long time to get over that case of writer's block, and it came back the next week when I was trying to write again. This morning, I opened up my computer to write this post, and was once again greated with a blank screen. I had no ideas. So, I decided to write about having writer's block. 

8:26 pm - Well, it's been over thirteen hours, and the idea of writer's block has been on my mind all day. I think I have come to a realization: Feeling that I have no new ideas is no way to live. If everyone felt that they had nothing new to share, where would we be in life? We would have no new scientific discoveries because everyone would assume everything had already been found. We would have no new music or art because every musican and artist would figure that people would think they were just copying someone else. On another note, we all have something new to share. Our brains are so unique that no one is capable of having the exact same thoughts as everyone else. We all having something new to share. Showing the world our ideas is scary (I would know, it's what I'm doing right now and it's terrifying), but so worth it in the end. Writer's block is a part of the creative process, and no matter how incredibly annoying it may be, it makes the end result all the more worth it. Aaron Sorkin, with all his writer's block, has created something that few others would be able to accomplish. If he can do all that with writer's block, we can all make something with our ideas. 

6:34 pm

For the Love of Luna Lovegood

Originally published on October 13th, 2016

I came late to the Harry Potter party, but I am so happy that I eventually made it. Today I picked up the last book in the series, and I must admit that I'm slightly worried about how everything will tie together. These books have brought me to places in my mind that I didn't even know existed, and have helped me understand things about myself I hadn't yet been aware of. But aside from those things, these books have helped me come to terms with the parts of myself I had never liked very much. Luna Lovegood is sometimes looked on as the outcast, the weirdo, and the one who doesn't really understand the "real world." I was always this person, and it wasn't until a couple years ago that that kind of went away- but I still find myself identifying with her very much. I wrote a poem a few months ago called "Dear All the Luna Lovegoods", which has been posted, and in it, I mention the many ways being considered a Luna is a good thing. Right now, I'm going to talk about some of the reasons people didn't like her, and why those are still amazing things. 

1. She was "too imaginative"

Well, uh, when did having an imagination become a bad thing? Luna believed in the impossible, and, although sometimes lacking proof, stood by those beliefs. She also used her imagination as a means to be supportive to those she loved. Remember the lion hat? Yeah, who else supported a house they didn't belong to? Also, I find it especially interesting that Harry and Hermione didn't like her that much at first because of her quirks considering they hadn't been a part of the wizard world for that long, and who were they to know what existed and what didn't? Imagination is a beautiful thing, and believing in the impossible isn't all bad either. Luna seemed to be the only one at Hogwarts who was okay with being a little quirky and imaginative. 

2. She was "always around"

Yeah, but she also fought the same battles as the others, and saved people. Luna was a comfort when that was needed, and could cheer everyone up easily. She made people happy, whether they wanted to feel happy or not, but she also knew when to be serious and to genuinely listen to people who really needed to talk. 

3. She wasn't "as important" as the rest

To play devil's advocate for this one, I didn't know Luna existed until my school had a spirit day where groups dressed up as characters from books/movies/tv/etc., and I was told that I reminded someone of Luna Lovegood and should be part of the Harry Potter group. I had to do my research on the character, and immediately fell in love with her, which is probably what makes this last point so frustrating. Sure, Luna didn't appear until Order of the Phoenix, but she makes up for the lack of time with her amazing characteristics. She fights in the big battles against the Death Eaters just like the rest of them, and is part of Ravenclaw, which we all know is really the best house (it's possible I was sorted into Ravenclaw and am unapologetically biased).

Put simply, Luna Lovegood was the best. She was kind, funny, imaginative, and just as important as the rest. If I could tell my eight-year-old self anything, it would be "be more like Luna." You may not be appreciated quite yet, but one day you'll find that the quirks you have will be the things you come to like most about yourself. So, to all the Luna Lovegoods, keep being quirky. Be as weird as you can, and always be kind. Not everyone will like you, but that's okay, because you like you, and that's all that should matter.