This whole round has pretty much been a bust when it comes to writing. I’ve done a LOT of editing for clients, though.
Here’s what I need to do. Yes, I still think I need to put my clients first because that’s what they’re paying me for. However, I shouldn’t put my writing at the very bottom of everything. I think I’m maybe doing it on purpose because it’s been so long since I’ve written anything that I’m afraid. I don’t know for sure what I’m afraid of, but I FEEL afraid when I think of my WIP. I need to get over that and get back to work.
So, having said all that, I want to be ready to get things done next round!
lauralynnelliott.com 
Sometimes it’s hard to get in the writing mode, especially if you’ve been away from it for awhile. But, I bet, the moment you open your WIP and scan through it again, you’ll be excited and eager to tackle it. Cheering you on!
I can always count on you for an encouraging word, Mae. Thanks!
Sometimes I’m afraid to write as well. Afraid that I won’t finish what I start. Afraid that what I write is garbage. Afraid no one will ever read it. Afraid that everyone who reads it hates it. Afraid everyone will love it, that I will sell a million copies and become rich and famous and lose my soul to the celebrity lifestyle. So much to be afraid of!
I think you hit on a lot of reasons I’m afraid. Well, except that last one. I’m not afraid of that. 😉
The longer I don’t write, the harder it is to go back. It’s like pulling teeth to get those words out the first week back into the routine. I aim for small word count goals in cases like that. I like 250 words, but sometimes I only manage a sentence or two. It does get better. I promise. 🙂
Good luck!! I look forward to finding out how things go for you.
I think you’re right. It does get harder. And the longer it’s been, the more excuses I seem to make not to write. Maybe if I aim for really small goals at first, I’ll get back into to. Thanks, Ruth!
I’m sure your joy will come back when you have the headspace – just don’t place a whole, heaping load of guilt and heavy expectations on yourself, because that will kill your enthusiasm. Have you tried writing just for you, not publication? Or morning pages?
I miss that joy of writing. But I have problems writing just for myself since I want to do this for a living. I keep thinking I’m wasting time when I do that. It’s like coming in to work and not clocking in but just working for free. I know that sounds weird, but I do all the accounting here at my day job, so I have an accounting mind. That’s why when I took that right brain/left brain test, it was almost exactly equal. I have this creative part that wants to create, and I have this logical part that wants to make it count. Does that sound totally crazy?
I totally understand as I battle against logic as a creative person too. But the good news is that since the MRI was invented, we know that left brain / right brain is an old theory which has no scientific basis, so don’t let labels control how you think… and on that note, don’t let the “writing as my job” label hamper you either.
ALL writing is skill building, problem solving and an investment in work, so don’t feel guilty. You need to break out of your box from time to time and doing so, will positively impact every area.
Go for it!
Something I started doing when the kids were smaller and writing time might be interrupted at any moment was to set a timer for a very short micro-sprint. My Accomplice has me in the habit of liking repeating patters, so I often start with 1:11, then 2:22, and so forth. I do the same thing with hometending when it’s overwhelming (from Wednesday to Monday, I had things going on with both kids away in different places at different times, including two 300 mile round trips so my son could attend an out of state friend’s birthday party.) The house was a bit more shambelized than usual, which already exceeds my personal shambles comfort level.
Telling myself I’m going to write or clean for a minute isn’t that threatening. And, once I’ve done it a few times, I tend to get into it.
I love the advice to make it just for you. I think we can make ourselves more than a little crazy thinking too much about the end of the process and beyond when we’re at the beginning of things!
See you next round…let’s let the words flow together! =D
Thanks for the advice, Shan. This should work for writing just like for cleaning. Small amounts of time. Surely I can write for at least 10 minutes. Or 5 if that makes things less stressful. 🙂
Whatever works. =) Especially since it seems stressful for you to NOT be writing.