Writing Update!
So you may, or may not, know but in the last few months I have been working on three different projects – I know, I’m a lunatic woman! – and this month I am trying to write 30,000 words on one of those projects. I task that I am heading for with a bunch of others, a challenge that was set up by Karen Mahoney – and is officially called KazNo2013.
But, unfortunately, the last month or so, I’ve also had a bit of a writers block. It’s not so much as the ideas are not coming to me because they are, it is more that the words just aren’t coming to me – or at the very least, the motivation to write those words down. I would finish work and the idea of jumping straight back onto a computer just sort of crumples me and so instead I pick up a book or turn on the television and then I’m done for the night and hence I do not get any words written.
Thus, I thought that this challenge would be the perfect opportunity for me. I would be somehow motivated to write 30,000 words in a month. I would just sit in front of the laptop and the words would flow out of me and naturally appear on that document and I would be filled with an overwhelming sence of joy.
But it hasn’t happened… yet.
The problem? I don’t want to blame it on this entirely, but I got a full time working position. Not something I knew about before August and so now I have even less time and even less motivation to actually write. Add in the fact that I’ve had a cold which is also draining my energy every day and you’ll easily see why I just can’t find it in me to type a single word.
But really, I know this is all just an excuse. As a writer, I should be writing every day, regardless. And it kills me that I’m not because I used to. I used to write every day without fail because if I didn’t then it would feel like a part of me was missing – a bit like it does at the moment. And yet, I still can’t seem to find these words that I need to put them on the paper.
So I am writing this post today to ask for YOUR help.
When you feel like you really don’t have it in you to write, or even something else you love, how do you help to motivate yourself back into it? Is it something I should just leave and let naturally return, or should I be forcing myself to write, even if it’s just a sentence a day?
What do you think?
3 Comments
Dad
Inspiration is sometimes something we all need. You write, because you love life, you love to read, or watch a story, to communicate, to talk and socialize to express opinion or say how you feel, to experience all the senses of love, hate, intrigue, laughter, fear, happiness, sadness, joy, elation, inspiration and many more besides.
And thanks to people like you, who put mind to the written word,ordinary people with ordinary lives have access to outside of our own worlds, homes and work lives, and into other peoples worlds, to meet and know interesting characters and stories. Each book or story is an escape or new adventure for our minds, a new experience that might otherwise be unobtainable.
I rarely read, but I have an inquisitive mind, and enjoy sometimes just looking really looking at life and people, imagination and theorizing about everything, and my inspiration to do something, may come from something completely random and unrelated.
So my advice, suggestion is to just take a moment and look around you, even through the medium of the screen, the sounds and words or rhythm of music. Out on a street or in a library, the child, how they play, or play up, or react to being dragged along by their parent. People watching and listening to their conversations, the way they walk, or move a wink or a twitch of an eyebrow, who are they, what’s their story, what kind of character do you imagine they are.
Just today a famous writer died, but they played back an interview, where he reveals that he wants his stories to be about the character, that what the weather is like or how the air smells is not so important, the bits readers will skip, he skips, his passion is to build interesting characters into his stories the rest is not so important.
For me too a story or the writing is made more interesting when the character or characters are interesting, or even if it is just the writer, or narrator that interests me.
I enjoy reading what you’re up to and what’s in your head , so hope this helps inspire you to write,
Dad x
Shanna
That’s some serious good advise your Dad is giving you! Has it helped?
I think we look alike – I’m working on three projects at the same time, too, and chose one for KazNo. But 30.000 is a serious word count – don’t be disappointed if you can’t reach your goal! Instead, focus on what you HAVE done, and be happy with it. Even if you end up deleting it later. Think positive. You can do this!
– Shanna
(@Annash_tn on twitter)
Nikki @ Foil the Plot
It sounds like you’ve gotten a little burnt out here. I’m a writer too, Faye, so I totally get where you’re coming from. It’s hard to balance blogging, reading, writing and a full-time job in addition to throwing in some time for family and friends. There’s never enough time to do it all.
Here’s the thing, if you’re ever feeling overwhelmed or uninspired, it’s okay to take a short break from your project(s). You have to do what makes you happy first and foremost, but don’t ever stop writing, especially if it’s what you’re passionate about. To be a writer, you have to write, even if it’s just a few sentences every day. Make writing a habit and you’ll find that motivationwill come a little more easily.
One of the tools I’ve found most helpful is the site http://www.oneword.com. This little exercise only takes ONE minute a day and will help to make writing more managable. And who knows! You just might find your muse again!