Shelly Hickman

I have not written anything substantial since last summer, but somehow I’ve managed to reach a second chapter of something, I’m not quite sure what yet, and this is proving to be much harder than I remember. 

Have any of you seen the movie “Paper Man” with Jeff Daniels? If not, I highly recommend it. There is a returning scene in that film where Daniels, a writer, is sitting at his typewriter, (yes, an actual typewriter because he prefers it to a computer) and he has the worst writer’s block imaginable. I have looked all over the Internet for that video clip because it is hilarious. We hear his thoughts turning in his mind, over and over again, as he tries to land that perfect word he is searching for, but it is always just beyond his reach. Each time he returns to his work, he is stuck in the middle of that same, God forsaken, unfinished sentence, and he just can’t seem to push past it. I know it doesn’t sound very funny, but if you have ever been in that spot, I am sure it would make you laugh. One day I’m going to find that clip, even if I have to buy the movie and cut it out myself.

Since I wanted to provide a visual of how I’m feeling right now, I’ll have to settle for this. It could easily be me, staring at my laptop screen.

Or perhaps even this, since clearly I’m allowing myself to become distracted from the task at hand. Look at the hot dog as a symbol for Twitter, Facebook, Google Earth, whatever.

If you choose to comment, please know I’m not trying to draw anyone away from their writing. (Who am I kidding? Misery loves company.)

Okay, my friends. I’m off to face my writer’s block. Adieu!