I remember the days when the words just flowed out of my mind and into my fingers typing at the keyboard. I remember when I could have a novella written, edited, and published in three months. A novel, slightly longer. Where are those days? Where, I ask you?
I haven’t written since before I went on vacation. I spent last week catching up on work, dealing with a computer problem and working late one night. Yesterday, I spent all day on my house and working on Vacation Bible School stuff. And I’ll be teaching at VBS all this week, so it will be late nights for me. And I can’t write during lunch because that’s when I work out. *sigh*
Writing used to be easy. I’m wondering if this WIP is giving me more trouble because the plot is more complicated than my usual work. Am I just burnt out? Am I scared this WIP won’t be up to par? Am I just extra busy with no energy left for writing? All of the above? Only The Shadow knows. (Some of you younger people might not get that, LOL.)
I’m not sure if it’s cool or depressing that I get the Shadow line. I’m going to go with really cool because I know I’m in good company! Don’t beat yourself up too much about your WIP. Could be a little bit of everything. Maybe you need to give it some space and just write anything else?
Of COURSE it’s cool. 🙂
I think it is a little bit of everything. This week I just won’t have time. Maybe I’ll bet back on track next week.
You’ll get back to the writer you recognize…or maybe even one who has grown. It sounds like this won’t be the week with all the extra VBS stuff to do, but you’ll get there. Wishing you the best, Lauralynn! Have a fun week with the kids!
I hope so. I’m really ready to write, but things just keep happening. I’ll have to concentrate on VBS this week, but I hope things are back to normal after that. VBS is exhausting, but it’s worth it.
Ha! I remember The Shadow! Something that’s helped me this last week is 750words.com This is a version of ‘morning pages brain dump’ where any and all goes down on paper (you wouldn’t need to actually use the site, though I do). What I’ve found is that I tend to let go of doubt and begin to work on actual writing tasks — drafting scenes, trying out dialogue, blog ideas, story ideas, and even a poem. Because this writing is outside my wip, I don’t have that fear of getting ‘everything’ right. Maybe this ‘prime the pump’ kind of writing will help you. Finding time to write sounds like it is challenging this week. But writing what you really want to write is the bigger challenge. Try time management — baby steps forward. You can achieve your goals — and enjoy summer time with the kids and VBS.
Maybe writing a short story would help. Something lighter than what I’m working on now. There will definitely be time constraints this week, but maybe next week will be better. I’m a writer. I need to write! 🙂
You’ve been through so much I would have been surprised if you could jump into writing like you used to. I went to the RT Convention and couldn’t write again for 3 weeks. I can’t imagine trying after all the stuff you’ve been through. You have a job and volunteer for things, unlike me. You have a lot of demands for your time and attention.
I do think having a more complicated plot adds to the strain. It took me over a year to write the 100K sci-fi thriller, and usually I do 65K in one and a half months, so I I believe the plot you’re working with has something to do with it, too.
What I’ve found that helps when I shut down and am unable to write is to take some time off (a week or two), remind myself that the creativity will come back (so I don’t feel needless guilt), do things I enjoy, and come back to writing with a low word count goal (or low time goal). It’s like pulling teeth to get words out in the beginning. I spent all day to get 250 words a day for a week. But then it gradually moved up to 500 words and then kept increasing (slowly) until I was back at my average.
I really wish we had a writing switch. Life would be so much easier.
Good luck and try not to get discouraged (though I know that’s hard).
That’s true, Ruth, I have been through a lot. Maybe my brain just isn’t up to par right now. It helps to know that a seasoned author like you goes through this same thing. 😉
This plot is more complicated. I think I’m a little afraid of it. That sounds funny, to be afraid of my own WIP, but I think I am. LOL.
I’m just going to concentrate on VBS and give myself permission to take the time off.I just need to enjoy the kids.
I’ll say ditto to the above responder regarding the writing switch. Wouldn’t that be lovely? As for myself, writing is often a struggle for me…at first. Once I’ve been at the keyboard for a while, it starts to come easier. But making myself sit at that keyboard when it seems like every word is stuck somewhere inside in the general vicinity of my toes? Oi! I’m trying to enforce a daily writing regime for myself via Magic Spreadsheet. 250 words a day. We’ll see how that goes. Best of luck to you!
Yes, I would LOVE to have a writing switch!
I use to set word count goals. Now I set time goals. But I still do the spreadsheet with word count, too, because I’m a geek that way. LOL
Thanks!
Sometimes, you need time to let the well fill up again. I agree with Ruth Anne, it’s probably a combination of things. Let yourself breathe and don’t worry–of course, I am the wrong person to say don’t worry, given how I stress when the words won’t come! But, that aside, give yourself a break and enjoy the kids.
Have a good week, Lauralynn.
Thanks for the encouragement, Elizabeth. I’ve had so much going on that maybe I’m just not over it all yet. I’m not one to stress a lot, and that’s one reason this is so weird for me.
Do you find it discouraging when you cannot get excited and feel empowered with your WIP? I do and wish I could overcome the barriers.
Yes, that can be very discouraging. I WANT to be excited by my WIP, but I’m not really feeling it right now. I’ve worked through worse things, though, and I think we all have to ability to do that if we really try. It’s a good feeling when the excitement comes back.
Lauralynn, you have been through so much lately. Maybe you just need a rest and sometimes, it’s good to do something else. It will come back. Just hang in there and take good care of yourself.
You might be right, Cate. Maybe I needed a longer break than I thought.
Sometimes you do. Being still can be a great remedy for many things. (big hug)
*Hugs.* A boring life is best for writing, I always say, and you’ve had a lot going on lately.
What I do sometimes when I get stuck on a writing project is to start something new, JUST FOR FUN. Is there some genre you’ve never allowed yourself to play with, even though you like it, because it doesn’t fit your brand? Some idea for a character or plot that you’ve been shoving off to the side because of the current WIP? Why not just start playing with it, allow yourself to write a silly fairy tale with an outrageously corny happy ending to make yourself feel better. Or a horror story where you personify all your demons and kill them off, one by one. *g*
Whatever you decide to do, good luck on getting back into your groove!
You know, a boring life might be easier. That way, the excitement can come from what I’m writing. 🙂
I’ve actually thought about writing a fairy tale short story. I’ve kind of got one in mind. As for horror, my current WIP is actually just that. Although my usual genre is paranormal romance, I tried my hand at horror with The Gnome, and several people have told me they really liked it. And horror isn’t THAT far removed from anything paranormal.
Thanks for the encouragement!
Keep up with your goals! But…I know…I know. Life has a way of taking up all of my time, too. Ha!
You and I have both had some shake-ups in our lives. But we persevere.
I think sometimes we need to replenish our creativity. Working on one story – no matter how much we may love the story – for an extended period can feel arduous.
When I first decided that I might try to sit down and write a whole novel, I worked on a novel that I still plan to go back to. Somewhere in working on it, I gave Nanowrimo a try, which meant shifting to a new story. The pace of Nano left me tired of my Nano story and I took a break.
I ended up returning to that Nano story, one that i never intended to turn into anything more than an exercise, and it became by first novel! Now I am juggling three different novels – and I have days where none of them inspire me to write.
Nothing about the story has changed – lives like ours (where we are involved with so much) leave us tired. We need to refuel and recharge.
I also find that sometimes I need to do something creative that “doesn’t matter”. Something that has no pressure attached to it. The stories I work on that could be published – there’s an underlying pressure. The fiction I do on my blog? Total fun and creative bliss. That creative fun helps me recapture that joy in writing – and I can transfer that into one of my ongoing projects.
Whew…I just wrote a lot. Let’s just say – I GET IT.
Big hugs.
I’m glad to know that other writers go through the same things. Sometimes I wonder if something is wrong with me, then my writer friends always seem to know what I’m talking about. I think if I didn’t have my day job, things would be a whole lot easier for me in the writing area because the job takes up so much of my brain power. But we all have to adjust to whatever life throws us, right?
I like long comments. 🙂 And I’m glad you get it.