Constipation... Another Kind

Ever get constipated? You know that feeling when something inside you wants to bust right out…but can’t? That overwhelming sense that in order to continue with life as you know it, you HAVE to drop everything and let whatever it is loose?

TMI? Not at all.

I’m referring to what happens to creative folks all the time - creative constipation. That moment when something comes into that brain of ours and never really leaves until we push it out. And it’s a gnawing sensation that could last just a matter of minutes, or eat at us for decades.  

It was a few nights ago when trying to fall to sleep that I found myself in the wraths of creative constipation. For there I was, trying to catch up to the sleep that my wife seemed to be enjoying, when out of nowhere an idea for a novel slapped me across the face. Try as I might, I couldn’t stop mentally writing out the plot, its characters, and even a very rough outline as the minutes quickly turned into hours. And no matter of how many contortions I worked my body into, none seemed to fit just right in order for me to get the shut-eye I so badly needed. It was then I realized that the only way to deal with the dilemma was to either get up and start writing, or just get up and go into work early.  Work won out – since knowing that if I were to start writing that the process wouldn’t have stopped.

So yes, we creative folks get constipated… a lot. We never know when it’s going to strike, but eventually when it does we try to be prepared. Prepared to lose some sleep. Prepared to quickly jot something down. Prepared to adjust our schedules – making time to let it all out.

Here are a few of the ‘signs’ to watch for whenever a creative person is dealing with this aliment: 1) When talking to them and they have a glazed look in their eyes? Constipated.  2) If they seem lost by wandering around with no certain direction? Constipated.  3) If they look as if they are wearing the same clothes as the day before? Yep, they are probably dealing with a case of creative constipation.

Oh, as for my recent bout? Since finding it difficult to take the time to write, I have added the idea for that certain story to the many others crowding my mind.

So, needless to say, I will be staying constipated for a very long time!