The Simple Solution

I recently visited the Library of Congress in Washington, DC.  There are 3 buildings, the Jefferson, the Madison and the Adams, that make up the LOC.  Probably the best known is the Jefferson.

There's an underground tunnel from the Jefferson building that leads to the Visitor Center for the US Capitol building.  After visiting the new Visitor Center, I went through the tunnel and into the Jefferson building.

During this visit, I discovered all the media displays - there's a room devoted to comedic legend Bob Hope and other displays such as the Thomas Jefferson library.  You can view the incredible architecture leading up to the viewing area for the reading room.  Only a certain few get to read or research in the reading room.  Have I been in there?  Yes.  I was with a Researcher friend at the time.

One of my favorite parts of the Jefferson building is the gift shop.  Maybe I like gift shops, maybe I don't but this one has all sorts of unusual things for sale.  The last time I was there, I picked up a small booklet designed for writers, designed for fending off writers block.  What it really is, is a small bound journal.  It has a small pocket in the back for notes or keepsakes and certain parts of the paper are perforated for tearing out the sheets.

I do use it.  I do write a sentence or two in it about every day.  Has it helped me with writer's block?  Not so much, I don't usually suffer from that because I'm usually writing something, anything in the capacities I work in as a writer nearly every day.

I did come to this conclusion:  to stop writer's block, why it's simple!  To stop writer's block, just stop writing, don't be a writer!

There, the secret is out, the cure is easy.  Stop writing as a writer?  Not hardly!

Keep writing, keep reading, keep jotting those notes down, those words when you feel it, see it, dream it, but just keep writing.

Hi I'm LB Sedlacek

Hi, I'm LB Sedlacek

I'm typing this on a train - this is going to be the beginning of my YouTube Channel.  Why a YT channel?  Why would anyone want to see me reading my poetry?

Why not!

Actually my budding filmographer thinks I need one.  I prefer to write poetry.  But poetry readings and slams are quite popular too.

So check back here for the link, when the channel is up and ready.  And if you're reading this or watching this, here's my impromptu poem composition ....for the YT channel ....on the train


A Train Poem
By LB Sedlacek

There's hot chocolate, hot tea or coffee
Pepsi too - the drink of the Carolinas
And that's where we're heading
Past the Potomac River
Through the hills of Virginia
On this bright sunny day
But we are cool and comfortable
On the train, this train
Our car between the Luggage car
And the Snack car
The Cafe Car menu glares at
Me from the seat back in front
I have the foot rest down
My seat back and my complementary
Pillow riding on the gently rolling
Train scooting down well-worn tracks
We always miss the train ride when it ends
Our destination may arrive too soon!

Hope you enjoyed this quick composition!
Back to riding the train.

I'm LB Sedlacek.

Writer's Block is Not an Option!

If you're a writer, you've heard of writer's block and most likely have experienced it.  But what if you want to have writer's block?

That's unheard of, right?

I sometimes get tired of writing.  I get mad at writing - a difficult thing to do because I'd rather write just about anything than to have to say it.  I'd rather read than talk and I like to read most anything on any format doesn't matter where and yes I read billboards.

I self impose a writer's block of sorts on myself all the time because I want to give myself an excuse, albeit not a very good one, to not write for awhile.  I write poetry, fiction, business writing, advertising, memoir materials all the time.  I'm never not writing, bad grammar here in the sentence and all.  Sometimes, though, I wonder is it worth it?

That's when I set up the block.  I set myself up to not write.

I must warn you, not to try this, though, if you are a writer because well ...it doesn't work!  Just this morning, I told myself no more writing, pretend you have writer's block.  Here I am tonight, writing.  I've written a couple of pages in my latest memoir.  I came up with tag lines for a marketing exercise for a group that needs slogans.

I can't not write.  I have to write.  Like the famous quote by Rilke, "confess to yourself that you would have to die if you were forbidden to write."

Apparently, writer's block for me is not an option!

Need a good book? How about the dictionary?

With a love of words, comes a love of learning new words.  A dictionary is one of my favorite books.

You can just flip pages and read a page.  Read words.  Or skip around.

You may even learn a word or two that's new to you.

Words - I paint with words

I love words.  Love to read.  I love to see words on anything.  I'll read anything.  That doesn't mean I'll read any kind of book, article, etc.  It just means I read postage stamps, menus, billboards, the fine print, whatever it may be.  I just like words.  I paint with words.  I usually write poetry, but I've written short fiction, novellas, plays, business proposals, business letters, grants and articles.

Writing is cathartic to me.  It is also something I don't find difficult.

Some people struggle with writing notes, thank you's, any kind of card or summaries.  I find that easier than talking.

There's just something about words.  Words are grand!

Intro

I'm a poet.  I'm a writer.  I love to write.  I love to read.  Sometimes I want to write about things that don't really belong in a poem, story, etc so I thought I would just do them here on a blog.  -LB