Keep Writing · 5:58pm Apr 26th, 2016
I recently got into the Hamilton Soundtrack. (It's amazing, go check it out.) That search led me to a video of Lin Manuel Miranda talking to a group of high school students. Fun fact about Hamilton is that is took Lin six years to write it, so one of the students asked him how he dealt with those periods where he wanted to give up. (Writers Block).
What I loved about his answer is that it wasn't a flowery ode to the joy of being creative, or even practical advice along the lines of take a walk. (I find that I get a lot of thinking done in the shower, it's not good for my water bill).
Lin's response was, "You push through it. Because the alternative is that idea you have stays stuck in your head? Well that sucks. "
I know I have it relatively easy on this site. I may not be a "brand name", and if I started a patreon I'd get maybe one supporter, but I also know that a lot of users would take my statistics in a heartbeat.
I've published a number of stories that have reached the feature box, I've found my work listed in the top five of random users profiles (Always a thrill). Generally when I write something I get validation. So a note from me imploring imploring authors to write regardless of the response reeks of hypocrisy. I understand.
But I've also written things that have gone more or less ignored. I know the pain of working hard on a story only to hear crickets. I understand that too.
Lin is right, the world is better with your idea in the open. The trade off as it relates to you may not feel worth it, re effort to reward. But on balance the World. Is. Better. That's worth keeping in mind. So keep writing.
If you like Hamilton, you should check out In The Heights. That is one of my all time favorite Broadway shows. Great book, great music, great themes.
Dreadnought
Hamilton is one of the best. I never thought about how bad writers block would be over the course of six years.