The dull drone of the computer fan hums a melody over the rhythmic ticking of the wall clock; the scent of coffee punctuates the surrounding air as finger hover over the dimly lit keyboard. On the screen is an open word document as blank as the face gazing back at it. The cursed disease known as writer’s block is now in full severity as the cursor flickers idly, waiting for some topic...any topic. Several halfhearted attempts have been deleted and brought back to the piercing blank white space; politics and religious meandering falls flat as the backspace key is again held.
After several attempts, the computer is left for a brief, head clearing walk; perhaps this can bring about an idea, but even after 2 miles and a trip to get more coffe, the slate remains painfully blank. A sense of hysteria begins to set in, the realization of a deadline looms on the horizon like a great black dragon towering over a woefully outmatched knight, and the feeling of despair creeps into the pit of the stomach. Frustration builds and gives way to rage and screaming at the still blank screen, followed by the inevitable plea bargaining with every known deity for even the smallest hook sentence.
Hours pass and a state of coffee induced delirium breaks way to slumping over the desk in defeat. The clock reads 2 minutes until midnight, and still no progress has been made. A fitful sleep is achieved, moving between the desk and poorly made bed that stands as a testament to the process being undertaken. Dawn breaks with the rumble of a thunderstorm and din of rain upon the roof; a morning cup of coffee is set next to the computer along with a slightly renewed hope for success. After an hour, 3 more ideas have been scrapped, and a threatening repeat of the prior day seems nearly inevitable. The door is shut firmly and temples are rubbed miserably to start a dull trudge into the persisting rain; an exasperated sigh emerges as the last lights of hope seem to darken with the incoming thunderheads.
Water beads of soaked hair as laments are made about the futility of writing and the agony of the process; then, as if lightning striking the horizon, an idea flashes ever so suddenly. The door is flung open as a race to the keyboard begins, fresh coffee is poured as fingers began to tack away at the keys while laughter ensues at an idea just crazy enough to work. What better to write about then writing itself? What better to put into words the hurdles of formulating them to begin with? A devious smirk forms as renewed vigor soon fills the pages with flowering sentences and structure, similes and metaphors comparing writing to knights and dragons gives a final product that brings overwhelming relief. The work is submitted to the editor, the dragon has been slain and the self proclaimed hero can now rest easy--at least until his next deadline.
