Lately I've really noticed a shift in my desire to sit down and write: it hasn't been easy, and some days it's impossible. I don't really feel like the words are flowing, nor do I even want to spend the time with them. It's a struggle and I have thought a good deal about what's causing my writing well to run dry. I know this is distinctly different for everyone, but for me I know that certain things really trigger my lack of writing mojo.- Stress. Good god, the stress. I love what I do, but all of the time lately it's just TOO MUCH. I don't have enough of me to go around to all my students, responsibilities, and the other sh*t that slides downhill from lazy colleagues. When I have a free moment, I just want to sleep.
- Lack of confidence. Lately this has stemmed from a variety of things, BUT, in a crazy turn on events this afternoon that I can't totally share yet, this may be looking up!!!!!!!!!!
- TV. Ugh, I hate television, and yet I love it. The ability to turn my brain off while enjoying a good story is just too tempting. I used to be able to turn it off and walk away, but lately I just don't have the energy. On that note, Mindhunters and Dark are both amazing on Netflix :)
- Winter. I know, there's nothing I can do about it. And I live in Montana, which means months upon months of darkness and the inability to really be outside. This wears on me every damn year. Someday I'll move where there's sunshine, but for now I find myself sleeping a lot.
Anyhow, these things lately have made opening my WIP a whole lot harder. When I do, the words come in fits and starts, painful often, and then when I do get a burst of writing power, I have to walk away because I have a job that demands my every bloody second. I hope things turn around, that I sell my novels, that I gain back some ounce of confidence in what I'm doing, but for the moment, I think I want to take a nap.
I'm sorry about your agent status. Stress is aggravating at the best of times.
ReplyDeleteHang in there, Mer! A good, brisk (and in that weather, so similar to Minnesota's, I get it!) walk will do wonders! You've got this, trust me! Aloha!
ReplyDeleteOhmigosh, it was like you wrote that post for me! I'm in such a slump. I'm trying to push through but, like you, I'd rather take a nap. :) I'll add one more reason to your list: "people." Not people in general, but a very specific person rained all over my writing parade and much of my lack of umph stems from that.
ReplyDeleteBut you, YOU, are a great writer. Do not give up! I know, easy for me to say, right?
Hugs,
Michelle
Winter will be over soon. Hang in there! I have those two things on Netflix waiting for my hubby to find time to sit with me and watch them. Stress gets to me too, but I hope to step out of this world and into my story. Can't wait to hear your good news!
ReplyDeleteYay! Another Dark fan! I loved it. Can't wait for the next season. Right now, I'm watching La Mante, which I'm finding as interesting for another reason. It's about a serial killer who has to work with her estranged son (a cop) to track down her copycat.
ReplyDeleteAnyhow, I think you mentioning that you're dealing with a lot of stress points to you suffering from burnout. It's basically writer's block on steroids. I had it too, last year, due to the sheer scope of crap that was going on in my life.
Best advice I can give is to actually stop writing for a month or so and binge all the series and books you can get your hands on. Stressing about not writing only adds to the stress, which makes it harder to write.
Also, another thing I find helps me is to start a nice, repetitive project like a crochet blanket or cross-stitch bookmarks. Does wonders to calm me down.
Hi Meradeth!
ReplyDeleteIt shall pass. As they say...days do follow nights, so darkness is followed by light.
All the best!