Broad Ripple Random Ripplings
search menu
The news from Broad Ripple
Brought to you by The Broad Ripple Gazette
(Delivering the news since 2004, every two weeks)
Subscribe to Broad Ripple Random Ripplings
Brought to you by:
VirtualBroadRipple.com Broad Ripple collector pins EverythingBroadRipple.com

Everything Broad Ripple HomearrowRandom Ripplings Homearrow2007 11 02arrowColumn

back button return to index button next button
Converted from paper version of the Broad Ripple Gazette (v04n22)
Poetic Thoughts - Russell Johnson, writer's block, and me - by C.W. Pruitt II
posted: Nov. 02, 2007

Poetic Thoughts header

Russell Johnson, writer's block, and me

Alan Hague gave me the honor of writing for the Broad Ripple Gazette three years ago. I immediately submitted a stack of columns consisting largely of poems long since written. As the stack dwindled, I began struggling to write interesting and meaningful columns. I would get some inspiration, write a few columns, then struggle again.
I recently spoke to home-grown lyrical legend Russell Johnson while waiting for him to perform at Birdy's. Here is what he told me:
Russell Johnson lyricizing with Lazarus at Birdy's October 20, 2007
Russell Johnson lyricizing with Lazarus at Birdy's October 20, 2007
image courtesy of C.W. Pruitt II


"You must remember that the words are always within you. If they cease coming to you, they will come back when you realize that they are still there. I have gone periods of a month at a time when I thought that I would never write again. You must not be afraid to write through the dark stages, either. Some of the most meaningful material is written in the dark. In fact, that is what Lazarus, my latest project, is all about."
Russell's penetrating insight was very helpful in alleviating my fear of writer's block. And it was physically helpful, too. After all, I finished this column.



cw@broadripplegazette.com
back button return to index button next button
Brought to you by:
BroadRippleHistory.com Broad Ripple collector pins EverythingBroadRipple.com
Brought to you by:
EverythingBroadRipple.com RandomRipplings.com Broad Ripple collector pins