Words count (essays on writing, craft, anti-craft, book business)

The Penguin Book of Prose Poetry helped me out of my pre-writing panic

Words Count | Kathryn Mockler on Pre-Writing Panic

Apr 17, 2023

Pre-Writing Panic

A couple of months ago I was invited to write a short fiction piece for an online journal. I happy agreed because I loved the project.

But when I sat down to work on something for it, I was gripped by my familiar and what I now call my pre-writing panic. I wouldn’t call it writer’s block—although perhaps that’s what this is. It doesn’t quite feel as serious as writer’s block, but it certainly is annoying!

I just finished writing a book of short stories! I know logically that I can write something, but this always happens when I’m expected to write something.

My Fix

My fix for this state is to recognize it and not freak out, and then do what I always do—read something that will get me excited about writing!

Last night I chose to read the Penguin Book of Prose Poetry (2019) which was just about the most perfect thing to read with its juxtaposition of voices and styles. Some prose poems were more prosaic, others more lyrical. Some of my favourite pieces include “Blue Dog” Luke Kennard, “Conversation About Home (at the Deportation Centre” by Warsen Shire, “Rape Joke” by Patricia Lockwood,” and excerpt from Citizen: An American Lyric by Claudia Rankine, an excerpt from The Weather by Lisa Robertson.

Anyway it’s a great anthology!

And, yes, I did get my story written too!

Do you get a pre-writing panic? How do you get over it? Share in the comments.

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