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| I'm learning how to do some fun camera stuff with my new iPhone :) |
Second, I've gone and done it: joined instagram. Follow me, pretty please? I promise to follow back! And I love pictures :)
Okay, here's my confession: I haven't opened a WIP writing document in over two weeks. Sure, my characters have had little chats in my head, and I've added a few notes to my story board, but I haven't added a single word to the 4th Sary book, nor either of my other books.
Real life has gotten in the way, along with that crazy thing called the day job. Ya know, the one where I am supposed to be all professional and a professor. Uh-huh. Midterms, essays, lab reports, vacationing TA's, and a million other things have left me drowning and pulling really late nights with hardly any sleep.
It's not so fun.
Here's the thing: I tend to get a little freaked out when I don't get any writing in. Like I'm going to forget how to do it. (Yeah, I know, really rational of me, right?) Or, that my characters are going to get fed up and walk out on me. Yep. I worry. Honestly, I'm kind of a professional at the worry thing, so I logically know I should stop stressing, but it doesn't help much.
Writing is my art. And it'll be there, maybe not so patiently waiting, for when I have time to truly dig into that side of myself.
And now, back to the giant stack of papers on the molecular clock :) (Oh, don't you just want to know about that now?!)
What about you? Do you worry if you haven't had time to write recently? Do you beat yourself up over it?
I've had the same problem. No time to write. And no desire to make time. Ugh. Sometimes being a writer is hard stuff.
ReplyDeleteThere are definitely days where I find myself going "why am I trying to do this?" It can be definitely difficult!
DeleteMeradeth, I feel that way all the time! When starting a new book or returning to an unfinished manuscript, I always have that fear that I've forgotten how to write. I thought I was the only one :-)
ReplyDeleteI think as writers we love to stress ourselves out. It comes with the territory. That's why I love your approach to focus all of that nervous energy on your writing and not let the head games get to you.
There's so much angst that goes into creating a book. Thanks for being so honest about what we're all thinking, but not saying :-)
lol, I'm happy to be the one to say it! :) I definitely feel like I'm screwing something up with my writing most days, but every once and a while it all comes together. I live for those times!
DeleteIt's like you read my mind with this post. I've been in a writer's funk lately. I haven't really written anything. I've had ideas for scenes here and there so I've written them as they've popped into my head, but to sit down and do actual "writing?" Nope. I blame it on editing "The Infected." It's a big job. And, of course, life. Ick, if it could just go away for a day or two.
ReplyDeleteAnd, yeah, I've worried that maybe I'll forget how to do it if I stay away too long. Like maybe my "muse" --or whatever you want to call it--will just leave and never reappear.
I'm hoping when I get the edits out of my hair my stress level will go down (stop laughing. I know it's ridiculous to think stress levels actually go down, but I can dream) and I'll be able to focus on my writing without that huge editing project hanging over my head.
Michelle :)
I'm right there with you--totally dreaming that stress levels will go down. Someday. I hope. And pray. And am willing to sacrifice a chicken or chocolate so that they do. Because my first round on Surrender just landed in my inbox and I may cry.
DeleteWe all worry, and yes, I do beat myself up when I have to stay away from the WIP for awhile. But it's ok. Maybe even good. Time away can give us a new perspective, even when it's a forced absence. We don't have to write every second we're not doing anything else to be professional or successful. We just have to keep trying. Good luck with life!
ReplyDeleteI'm definitely hoping that this little time away will help my WIP. Heaven knows it needs it!! :)
DeleteI suffer from major withdrawals if I can't write almost every day. I'm getting better though. I now allow myself not to write on vacations--unless I have a deadline.
ReplyDeleteWow, that's really interesting, Stina! I don't tend to have that problem, but that would be difficult for me!
DeleteFrom the grad student perspective, academics this time of year is always a mad rush and a demand on time.
ReplyDeleteOh, this makes me SO glad to no longer be in grad school. Though sitting on the other side of the desk isn't much better :)
DeleteOh I'm SO going to follow you on instagram!
ReplyDeleteFrom a student's POV, this time of year reeeeeeally sucks. So I know how that whole not getting any writing thing is going :D
Yay!! I'll look for you over on instagram :) And I think school in general is totally insane right about now. And it doesn't let up for another month. Eep!
DeleteIt must be an epidemic! Me and my wip haven't touched base very often here lately, either. Going to remedy that...soon. ;)
ReplyDeleteAwesome! I'll be jealous, but happy you managed it :)
DeleteThis was a post I could easily relate to on so many levels! School is so busy right now and with all of the changes to my curriculum, new evaluations, and mountains of paperwork and correcting I feel like I am drowning! I haven't had any time to write lately, and like you, I start to get worried. But then I tell myself I can only do what I can do and I will have time to write again soon and the ideas are just getting a chance to do a little more brewing. :) Real life and jobs can sure get in the way. :)
ReplyDeleteWishing you the best of luck and hope that the paperwork will go quickly so you can get to your writing!
Same to you!! Fingers crossed this all works out a little better soon :)
DeleteI feel slammed recently. I've ditched writing updates on my blog since I'm not fulfilling my goals this month.
ReplyDeleteI'll check out your Instagram.
Just caught you on Instagram :) And I hear ya--this month has been brutal!
DeleteHey Meradeth,
ReplyDelete(You know I've just realized you have the perfect name for Halloween, but you've probably heard that every year from someone!!)
Anyhooo... congrats on book 2 ... see how much I suck at writing... (and commenting) life really is in the way a lot, doesn't it :)
GOOD LUCK with WIP and the day job and write on, dude-ette :)
lol, yep, definitely hear about my name from time to time :) I wonder how much my students comment about it, though thankfully they're all too young now to have heard Megadeath at least!
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