Captain Trips and the Permanent Cure for Writers Block
Photo credit: Picatostes
Captain Trips is the name given to the fictional super-flu virus in Stephen King’s novel, The Stand. In the novel, this flu, which originated as a biological weapon that got away, is so treacherous that it wipes out nearly the entire world’s population aside from a few thousand people. These people are then forced to choose between “good” and “evil” and the two sides eventually face off in an epic battle to determine which side inherits the earth.
Although Captain Trips has absolutely nothing to do with writers block, I am mentioning it here for two reasons:
- I am currently in the grip of a violent flu bug that is so devastating that I am wondering if Captain Trips might not be fictional after all.
- It gives me a near legitimate reason to use the cool words, “Captain Trips” in the title of this post.
Think of this as my way of saying I feel far too horrible today to write anything resembling humor, so I’m going to go with something informative and hope you guys won’t ditch me forever.
As most of you already know, writer’s block is that horrible feeling you get when you try to write but for some unknown reason you just can’t.
I must confess that I, the Dead Rooster Extraordinaire, rarely suffer from any significant form of writer’s block. I used to think I was just lucky, but yesterday I received an email from Gary Bencivenga that opened my eyes to the secret. The truth is, I’m not lucky—it’s just that I’ve been doing something correctly in my approach to writing that a lot of people apparently skip.
While reading Gary’s email newsletter, which is geared toward writing effective direct-response ad copy, I was struck by the following line:
“…‘writer’s block’ is just a symptom of a rather easily cured malady—”LRS,” or Lazy Research Syndrome.”
This is it! This is the secret I’ve always had but couldn’t explain! I have always done a lot of research, even for the stuff that wouldn’t seem to require any at all. For instance, my recent post, The Spastic Dance of the Black Widow Spider Slayer, was based upon events that physically happened to me and therefore should have been a simple matter of writing them down. But, I STILL did research on black widow spiders and golf clubs before I did any writing.
Gary also wrote that John Caples, the legendary copywriter, once advised him to gather seven times more interesting information than he could possibly use.
That might be a little extreme, but I think gathering more information than you think you’ll need is sound advice.
The next time you find yourself in a writer’s block situation, go do some research on the subject you’re attempting to write about and see if you don’t find it much easier to get words on paper when you come back. I’ll bet you do.
Try it out and let me know how it works for you.
Right now, I’m going back to bed and sleeping-off this horrible nightmare of a sickness.
Dead Rooster is the online home of 
First, I must mention that I think The Stand is one of the greatest books ever written. Every time I read it, I see something new in it.
This research thing is brilliant. I know that my better posts (my opinion only) are ones that I did do research on. Not having much experience with writing, I never knew that was one of the ways to improve writing. Thanks for sharing.
I hope you beat Captain Trips.
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William McCamment
reply on June 10th, 2008 2:54 pm:
The Stand is a great book.
The more research you do, the more you have to work with and the less you will have to struggle in order to write. I think it’s simple mathematics. But, for some reason, it never clicked with me until I read Gary’s newsletter.
I am starting to feel better.
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Speaking of Captain Trips, I got a really bad mosquito bite on the back of my neck. I was worried that it might be carrying the EEE virus, which admittedly isn’t as bad as ol’ Trips, but still pretty nasty. I did some extensive online research (as far as you know), and it turns out that the painful bump isn’t a mosquito bite at all, but a second head. It’s just starting to bud, of course, but I can look forward to become a hoopy frood soon.
… yup, you’re right: the research helped.
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William McCamment
reply on June 10th, 2008 2:58 pm:
Judging by your comment here, maybe you should check to see if that mosquito injected you with LSD.
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Eric "Cluck" Knapp
reply on June 10th, 2008 8:29 pm:
I knew it was a three letter acronym … EEE … LSD … close enough. I was really hoping that someone would have picked up on the two-headed hoopy frood reference.
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William McCamment
reply on June 10th, 2008 9:16 pm:
Haha! Sorry, I’m still sick and not thinking too straight. Believe it or not, I’ve never read Douglas Adams. If I would have felt better, I would have been able to do a little “research” and give you a better reply to your comment.
Isn’t that remarkable? I use the exact opposite method. I do absolutely no research at all.
I simply make up every fact I use and quote sources that would sue me to my bare skin if they were to actually read my posts. Fortunately very few do. And I’ve never had a problem with writers block. Those that do seem to be the types who worry about whether their writing makes any sense. As you can see, I avoided that problem as well.
Get better soon.
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William McCamment
reply on June 10th, 2008 3:14 pm:
Be careful, Don! No one wants to see you get sued to your bare skin. No one.
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I think I need to read ‘The Stand’ sounds like a good book.
I always do a bit of research even if I am not going to use the information.
Hope you feel better soon
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William McCamment
reply on June 11th, 2008 4:39 pm:
The Stand is a great book. I highly recommend it, but I warn you, it’s pretty scary.
I am starting to feel much better. Thank you.
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I’ve always used the research method myself unless I was telling a memoir sort of story. And actually, even then I fact-check a little. Ah… Captain Trips… it’s been a while since I read The Stand. Hopefully the Rooster will be out and crowing again soon.
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William McCamment
reply on June 11th, 2008 4:54 pm:
Thanks, Jenn! I’m not quite crowing yet, but I’m starting to feel much better!
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I haven’t read The Stand for a very long time and can’t remember it well. I think it’s stored away in one of my book boxes so if I find it when I do my fall housecleaning, I’ll add it to my winter reading list.
The idea of kick starting the writer’s muse by doing some research is a good one for most bloggers. In my case I have several contract projects on the go that require lots of environmental research. Thus, when I sit down to blog my eyes cross at the thought of doing even more research. Actually, I’ve been thinking along the lines of writing blog posts based on outright lies and total fabrications like renalfailure does.
Get well soon William.
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William McCamment
reply on June 11th, 2008 8:25 pm:
Just continue writing great blog posts like you are now. There are enough blogs based on outright lies and total fabrications. Besides, I think people are starting to get tired of that sort of thing–look how the ratings are dropping at Fox News.
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Well, it certainly makes sense. What a great idea. I’ll give it a go. Feel better soon.
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William McCamment
reply on June 11th, 2008 6:38 pm:
Thanks! I am feeling much better now.
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Better a visit from Captain Trips than Captain Howdy anytime. Glad you are starting to feel better.
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William McCamment
reply on June 11th, 2008 9:37 pm:
You’re right, with Captain Howdy there’s a lot more puking and Latin involved.
A special thanks to you for emailing the wonderful remedies–they may have saved my life.
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Uni
reply on June 12th, 2008 6:01 am:
Awwwwwwwwwwwwwwww shucks (blushing)
Just doing my part to keep the world full of twisted points of view.
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I’m a late comer to your post. I’m glad you dropped me one of your entrecards, otherwise I would never have discovered your great site. I’m a novice writer–A successful published author wannabee. I have to admit that with the novel I’m writing now, my first attempt at writing a novel, i haven’t done much research for it. Since I’m making all the stuff up as I go along, I pretty much do minor research when something comes up that I don’t know. I suppose what I’m trying to say here is that I don’t have a written structured plan for my novel. Everything is in my head. I know this is not the proper way. Thanks for the tips. I’ll try to behave more like a professional writer and start employing all the tools available to me in order to succeed, rather than just winging my way around.
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William McCamment
reply on June 13th, 2008 6:12 am:
I was hoping a fiction writer would leave a comment because I wanted to say something about fiction in particular. If you are stuck writing for a character, try researching that character–even if it’s only in your own head!
Ask yourself questions like: Where does this character work?; where did he/she go to school?; what’s his/her favorite food?; etc. The more you know about a character, the easier it will be to write for him/her.
I don’t think it’s necessary to do a bunch of research if it’s not your style. Just write any way you want as long as it works for you.
There are no rules for how to approach writing; everyone does it differently.
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Eric "Cluck" Knapp
reply on June 13th, 2008 11:02 am:
You are absolutely correct about fiction – even when writing a book about zombie chickens there is research that needs to be done. It certainly applies to characters (how does a real estate agent behave, vs. a wannabe farmer?) but also to the setting. I researched chicken species and chicken parasites extensively, for example. I was able to ‘research’ chicken behavior easily, because I own a small flock of the lil’ guys. Another type of research involves literary and cultural references, which I always try to pepper throughout my writing. Again, to use Cluck as an example, I re-read both “Dracula” and “the Raven” because I wanted there to be parallels that would delight the well-read among m audience. There are some more subtle references to Python, Douglas Adams, Buffy the Vampire Slayer, and dozens more for the same reason: I love it when I notice an obscure reference to something off the wall … like two-headed hoopy froods … and I want my readers to have a shot at that as well.
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Uni
reply on June 14th, 2008 7:18 am:
Hoopy Froods have been driving me nuts. Rainbow’s End or Hitchhikers Guide?
Eric "Cluck" Knapp
reply on June 16th, 2008 6:13 am:
Hoopy Froods is from Hitchhikers. Ford Prefect, who happened to have two heads, used the term which roughly translates to ‘cool dude’.
I am so sorry my favorite dead rooster is under the weather. I sure hope you feel better. I do research on my other blog. A lot in fact. It is very important that I present the facts when telling people to help those less fortunate. EOS on the other hand needs very little research. I mostly tell people how pissed I am. That is life learning. Easy to tell.
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William McCamment
reply on June 13th, 2008 8:12 pm:
Thanks! I’m starting to feel better, but I haven’t totally shaken this thing yet. Captain Trips is very tenacious.
I love your blog.
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Forgot to mention, the Stand is AWESOME!
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William McCamment
reply on June 13th, 2008 8:13 pm:
I agree. Great novel. I should re-read it myself!
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I’m glad to see someone use Captain Trips in a post title. Great job.
This was a cool post. I’m glad I found your blog.
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William McCamment
reply on June 13th, 2008 8:13 pm:
Thanks, Stevo!
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“LRS”—WELL DAMN! just putting a name on it helps solve the problem—sure glad came across your blog. got here via Wayne John, Pot Politics—-and then spotting your bog title—I figure with a name like that its gotta be good—-and I was right. I am adding ya to by blog list—
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William McCamment
reply on June 14th, 2008 4:09 pm:
Welcome aboard, Gary! I’m always happy to see new readers.
And thanks for the comment!
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Whats up Brother hope by this time that your back up to speed;)
Speaking of speed things have been going quite well.I have had a lot to write
about but I often have to censor myself. People are just so touchy
ah the hell with them I write for the google bot anyway;)
I see right above me some body came by
I was just thinking as far as research and things of that nature.
The main difference I see is that your a writer who blogs
I’m a blogger who wishes he could write.
Keep up the great work
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William McCamment
reply on June 14th, 2008 4:14 pm:
‘Sup bro! Glad things have been going well–you deserve it!
And, thanks for the traffic!
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John Sullivan
reply on June 15th, 2008 6:39 pm:
William consider this an invite for you and your readers can also.It is a writing project that I mentioned on my blog and here http://100PEOPLE.21Publish.com
the email add for the project is
100PEOPLEBOOK@gmail.com
3 pages to maybe be apart of history
Even a caveman can do that
Your the BEST Happy Father’s Day Everyone
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How weird-ironic … The Stand was on today on the SciFi channel. That movie (and the book) is really captivating. I have a ZERO attention span. Which also leads to writers block ALL THE TIME. Even though I am just a “personal blogger” I like to actually write INTERESTING things sometimes (and not just me moping or talking about my kids antics). I should watch the news or something more
Hope you feel better SOON!
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William McCamment
reply on June 15th, 2008 7:27 pm:
Oh, man, I missed it!
I am all better now. Thanks!
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I hate writer’s block with a passion.
I also love The Stand. Nice post
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William McCamment
reply on June 15th, 2008 7:27 pm:
Thanks, Gary!
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I came for the EntreCard and stayed when I saw “Captain Trips.” And stayed longer for the great post, which was funny, despite your disclaimer. And helpful. In addition to researching a particular topic, it’s fun to research ANYthing by Stumbling, clicking the “Random Entry” on wikipedia, or Googling unlikely search terms.
Baby, can you dig your man?
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William McCamment
reply on June 15th, 2008 7:39 pm:
“Baby, can you dig your man?” LOL haha!
Wow! It’s been so long since I read The Stand that I almost didn’t remember that. But, it crept back into my brain, just now.
I am REALLY glad you ate Lucky Charms (So i didn’t have to).
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I hope you feel better soon! I need something funny to read – not something informative! Altho I must admit, its rather good info to know.
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I totally agree how doing some research helps in writing. Thanks for sharing your thoughts!
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Eric! No, no, no. Zaphod Beeblebrox had two heads. Ford had one. Granted, Ford was a hoopy frood, but still…
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