Gloria Watkins (Using the Pseudonym of "Bell

¶ … Gloria Watkins (using the pseudonym of "bell hooks"), Watkins presented the readers a detailed narrative of what it feels like to have writer's block and the reasons why she keeps on having it whenever she feels the urge to write about somebody or something else, and most especially when she wants to write something about herself, her inner feelings.

She gave the readers some possible reasons why this happens, that is, why do writer's block happen during most important times, whenever memory recall of all important events in our lives are needed. Watkins solved her dilemma through contemplative thinking, wherein she traced her childhood experiences and significant events in her life to truly understand the origin of her recurring problem. The first reason that she gives the readers is that "[t]here was clearly something blocking my ability to tell my story.

Perhaps it was remembered scoldings and punishments when mama heard me saying something to a friend or stranger that she did not think should be said." Watkins, through this statement, starts her journey to her childhood life, and gives us an idea how this could be a plausible reason to understand and possibly solve her recurring problem.

Another reason that Watkins presents is that her childhood memories also resulted to inhibitions in her being a writer; she could not truly write what she was feeling or thinking because "I did not want to be a traitor..

And yet I wanted to be writer." Her inhibitions also serve as a possible reason for her recurring writer's block, and she acknowledges the fact that her problem was also her fault, since she was torn between keeping her good relations with her family (by keeping the family's secrets) and her ambition to become a writer.

Her need for release is also tackled in the essay, with Watkins remarking that "[t] he longing to tell one's story and the process of telling is symbolically a gesture of longing to recover the past in such a way that one experiences both a sense of reunion..

And release." In this statement, Watkins is rejoined, after being torn apart between her family and ambition, and has come to understand her problem that telling one's story is essential because it gives an individual a sense of 'longing and release.' The audience can see that in this part of the article, Watkins was able to reconcile her dilemma, which stems from her childhood experiences and inhibitions as a result of her family's conservative behavior.

She also was able to appreciate her writing by saying that she "felt as though I had an overview not so much of my childhood but of those experiences that were deeply imprinted in my consciousness." Finally, Watkins came to realize that despite the dilemma that she had encountered, the product of her long contemplation was well worth it- a product that deeply reflects her personality and what she is, that is, the reflection of what she has been through the years, the combination of her experiences from the past and in the present.

Just like Watkins, I also experience recurring moments of writer's block, most especially if I'm feeling either lazy, at a loss for words/ideas, and experiences insecurity, low-self-confidence, or high self-criticism. During these events, I try to overcome this problem, since as a student; most of my writing works are for academic purposes.

I do write poetry sometimes, but writing literary pieces requires an inspiration, a downpour of emotional feelings and ideas, which cannot be disregarded nor found in an instant; therefore, writing for me, in a literary sense, is impulsive.

But if the need to write about something is inevitable, and if during these instances I experience the dreaded writer's block, I try my best to calm myself and not panic (especially if it is a due paper), and do the several steps I take whenever the "writer's block" dilemma attacks my inner self again. One of the steps I take when experiencing a writer's block is that, like Watkins, I confront the roots of my problem.

Most of the time, writer's block happens to me when I'm feeling self-critical about my work, and as a result, my self-esteem decreases. My insecurity inhibits me from doing my work immediately, and I try not to affect by my insecurity by easing myself from the criticisms I throw at myself. Even if my frustration does not go away, I try to disregard that feeling, and jot down whatever goes through my mind at that moment.

That way, if I have written down something that may be substantial to the flow of the story or writing that I want to accomplish, I might be able to get going with my work after all. Sometimes, I do try to outline the flow of my writing report.