Lately my memoir is just stuck. I’ve hit a difficult chapter on failure and poor decisions I’d rather not face. Reaching into the darkest recesses of my memory, at a time of renewed struggle, has not been easy.
Usually, I’ve bounced between two works when I find the words are not coming. Stephen King’s On Writing and Thriving as a Graduate Writer. The former, fun for me, practical, direct. The later a foray into academic writing with editing tips applicable anywhere. I also try a long walk or a deep podcast like Radiolab or This American Life for inspiration. Nothing seems to work for this hurdle.
So, where do you go and what do you reach for when the words just won’t come?
If you can afford it, talk therapy might help. In my experience, a good therapist is good at asking the questions that make it easier to put difficult memories into words, words that make it easier to think about the memory in a verbal context with other ideas that have also been put into words. Or in other words, to process them.