It’s November.
It’s NaNoWriMo.
It’s time to buckle down and get some work done.
Yes, this is what I’ve been telling myself each day for the last 4 days. Yet, I’ve got no new words written. Why? Well, I could use the disaster of my bathroom renovation that’s going on right now as an excuse, or the fact that everyone I work with seems to be sick so I’m picking up more hours in the bar right now. (Immediate $’s in my bank account is a good thing) I could say I’m focussing on my health (again) and actually going to the gym often so that leaves little time to write….and while all of those things are true, they are not the reason I’m not writing.
I don’t know what the reason is. I even have a deadline for November 15th. Usually a deadline will give me a lot of motivation. Yet, I’m not feeling it. I keep sitting down to write, then getting up to clean the house, feed the cats, feed myself. anything to keep me from writing. I’m sure it’s a phase, and I’ll get over it. I’ve been here before, and sadly, I’ll probably be here again some time, bit for now, I want to whine. Does this happen to you? Do you know why? C’mon people, help a fellow writer out and share your writing woes so I don’t feel so alone.
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Hi Sasha
I’ve gotten that way too sometimes.
Sometimes you need to take a break and focus on something else that will relieve any stress and recharge you. I usually play a RPG or go for a looong walk.
All the best,
RKCharron
xoxo
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Thanks RK. I’ve never played any RGS’s. Might have to give it a try.
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Try writing the end of the story first and maybe that will help shake you out of your writing tailspin. Something needs to break up your routine and I know the feeling. Writer’s block plagues me more often than I like to admit. Everybody seems to have different ways to break it, but you may just need this break.
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I have a friend who writes out of order like that. I’ve tried it once or twice, and it sounds like a good plan. Maybe I’ll give it a try.
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:hugs:
Sure it happens to me. Except I don’t even make it to the keyboard. I sit on the couch thinking I should get up and write something, but the urge just isn’t there. Then I watch another Frasier rerun or Animal Cops. Eventually I get sick of myself and write. I don’t know why it happens or what makes it stop. I just muddle through. I wish I could be more help. Hang in there, Sasha. This too shall pass.
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Thanks for the hug, B.E. I’m starting to get sick of myself, so I might just be on my way. LOL
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LOL This is SO ME!! Except I get home at the end of the day after thinking HARD and the brain is just EMPTY. My doctor said she feels the same way at the end of her days too!
I like Jax’s idea–sometimes you just have to force it. Sometimes that works; sometimes it doesn’t.
I also find that sometimes, if I just sit and think about my story, as if I was telling someone about the story, it helps me solve problems–maybe even a problem I didn’t know was blocking me.
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When I’m at work, all I can think is I want to go home and write. I get home, I sit at the computer, and then ….nothing. I KNOW I just need to get started. I think I need to force it, just to get something going again, then it’ll snowball. Thats what I’m hoping anyway. I have 4 days off work next week, in a row, I plan to use the Write or Die to binge write and get a LOT done.
Might have to challenge some friends on IM.
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LOL HOllar at me if you want. Hopefully by next week I’ll be at a point I can actually write new material instead of edit!
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I definitely go through phases like this. I’m right there with you now actually. For me it’s usually because I’ve got too much going on in my head, I’m tired, or the scene I need to work on isn’t clear in my head and I don’t know what to do about it, so I inevitably get up and go perform menial tasks like laundry and dishes and cooking in hopes that I’ll jar something loose. There’s also the issue that for me, I can’t think clearly if my physical space is a wreck. That whole parallel between the physical space mirroring the mental space is definitely true for me.
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I have to agree with this statement. If I am surrounded by a mess, my head feels all jumbled up inside. I have to start with a clean desk or space around me when I write or it just doesn’t work.
I hope you find your mojo again soon, Sasha!
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True. When I start a project my space is usually very clean. (By the end of it , not so much ) lol . Maybe the bathroom renovations are effecting me more than i though, since things like a new vanity, and paint cans are all over my house at the moment.
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Oh, yes it happens. Don’t know why, but there are times I’m just TIRED of whatever story I’m writing. Usually, I’ll try a mini break and focus on something else, but that’s not always an option, especially when there is a deadline looming.
One thing I have had luck with-just getting out of the house to write. I ended up writing about half of my upcoming RS at Panera Bread.
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I think taking the laptop somewhere, where there is no internet, and no one I know can phone me is a very good idea. I might try that! Thanks, Shiloh.
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*sigh*
I’m right there with you! I’ve managed oh…250 words in four days? I just don’t have naything in my head. All I want to do is either stare blankly at the walls, clean (which is silly because I HATE housework with a passion) or play Snood. The urge to write, the desire to get those words on paper…it’s just gone.
It will come back. But I have no idea why, when or how. In the meantime, I have a whole day today to do nothing but write, so I’m going to force myself to do it. I don’t care how crappy it is. I just know if I don’t do that soon, I may not write again.
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I think it really does come down to simply forcing yourself to get it done. I know this, I’m just not to the point where I care enough I think.
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When this happens to me, I get out the timer and do 5 minutes at a time until I can stay with it for longer. Or I use the 5 minutes to do a timed writing on what is wrong with the book, what’s holding me back. Usually inability to get into it means something is wrong and I need to think it through. I’ve also made lists of things I could put in to make the story fun for me and then tried to incorporate as many as possible.
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A good way to get the “Forcing yourself” going. I can do 5 minutes. I really can. LOL
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I dunno. I’ve got all of 1500 so far. Went to a place with broken wifi.
You have Dr Wicked. Use him. The crying baby is extra motivating, I find, Even if It just gets me typing about how much I hate that sound.
Otherwise, I find beer helpful.
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Maybe if I didn’t have to drive to wrok after each afternoon of writing, the beer would work. LOL I do like to drink when writing some scenes, sometimes, but not every day.
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I forgot to mention I never got the crying baby before. LOL I bet that would work for sure.
I think I might download the desktop version so I can use it when I’m not at home and online. It does work for me.
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I go through this all the time. One day I’ll be going gangbusters, the next day I sit down and every ounce of interest or motivation I had has just vanished. I will find any excuse to do anything but write. I’ll have a productive week, followed by a week where I write nothing. This is why I’ve become a binge writer – trying to take advantage when I’m “on” because I anticipate an “off” cycle will be coming soon.
Usually I work on a different story. I wish I could say this was a good idea, but it leads to having a lot of partials and not a lot of finished projects. I do find if I go back and reread some of what I’d written earlier it inspires me to get going. It’s like I just need something to light the pilot light and I’m good to go.
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Like you I consider myself a binge writer. I think part of the problem is that I did take too long off between projects. I’m sure once I get going I’ll get lots done, but man, the getting going is hard. LOL
Thanks for the support.
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Well, I bought the Write or Die desktop edition (Hey, $10 is pretty cheap all things considered) and just managed to do 770 words in 20 minutes. Do I like them all? Probably not. But I’m writing. And I can do 20 minutes at a time, four times a day. That will give me 2500 words minimum a day. Not shabby. And at least I’m writing!
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Yeah, i think I’ll get the desktop version too. I do like the online one, but I think – in order to get me started – I’d do better with my ‘net turned off.
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I tried a new gambit lately, one that I read somewhere. If you’re not going to write, that’s fine, but not writing means no stories, of any kind. So . . . no reading. No television. No songs with lyrics. You could even resort to no personal emails, no social media. All that is allowed are things that don’t include words, so tic tac to or sudoku or drawing mazes. No words, no gossip, no long phone conversations, nothing. Eventually, our common addiction to narrative will force your mind to start one of some sort or another, just to amuse itself or stop the shakes, etc. Then you have permission to sit down and write whatever narrative the brain is amusing itself with. That should kickstart your regular writing.
It sounded awfully extreme, but in less than a day, it worked for me!
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WOW! That does sound extreme. But I can totally see how it would work. I’m so very NOT a numbers person. I have no clue how to do Sodoku, hate math. However, I’d easily find myself working on photography. I’d have to not allow that too, because it’s a huge distraction for me. LOL
I might try it though.
Thanks!
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What I find works for me, Sasha, is jigsawing (is that a word?).
I have a basic story idea mulling around in my head and I’ll write a bunch of little scenes and then piece them together like a jigsaw into a working story. You take the scene and expand it into a chapter. I find that it turns into mega-word counts pretty fast.
I’m not doing NaNo … but this works for me.
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Very cool. It sounds like fun too, Liz. I love things that make writing fun!
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I am totally there with you! I don’t know what’s stifling the writing chi but I can’t seem to move past a certain chapter. It’s totally frustrating because I want to write. I think I’m just going to lay off the internet and force myself. Maybe then I’ll start getting back on track. Good luck! I know you can do it!
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Hmmm, maybe a meditation session will help Unblock the chi in general.
Good Luck to you too, Jax!
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I know this is incredibly sick, but every time I got stuck during last year’s NaNo, I whacked a character.
And the story concerned Amish farmers.
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I think I want to read that story.
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The only guaranteed time I can write is during part of the morning commute to work. If I can a seat on the first train. I never get a seat on the second/shorter train. It’s gotten to the point where I’ll wait for a train with a seat and get into the office late just I’ll get those precious minutes. It doesn’t help that I’m revising so it hardly feel like progress, anyway. But aside from that I pretty much spend the rest of my time destressing. And believe me, I need to, so I’ve stopped beating myself up about it.
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I remember you telling me that about the train before, I’ve started going into work an hour early, and sitting to write with my laptop. It usually works a bit, unless someone else is there early, then they join me and chat. LOL
I do agree that we can’t kill ourselves or stress about it too much. For me, it’s more a bit disappointment in myself for being so unmotivated.
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Use David Morrell’s method for writer’s block. Sit down and type out a conversation between you and an imaginary mentor (or someone you wish was your mentor). Have your “mentor” ask you “why” questions about your writing/story and answer them. Keep going until you finally hit on the problem.
Like:
SW: I just don’t feel like writing.
M: Why don’t you feel like writing?
SW: I don’t know, I just don’t.
M: If you did know, what would a reason be?
SW: I’m tired of …. or I’d rather be …. or I don’t believe the character would …
You get the idea. Sounds ridiculous, but it works.
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I really like that idea, Anysia. Thanks for the suggestion!
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It’s from David Morrell’s book ‘Lessons from a Lifetime of Writing’
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Baby steps. Find one point in the story you feel comfortable with and start there. Sometimes I write the end first. It just makes me feel better. Sometimes you just aren’t in love with your story, and you have to find a way to light the fire.
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“Sometimes you just aren’t in love with your story, and you have to find a way to light the fire. “
and there is the key to being a professional write. Time for me to suck it up and just write.
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I am in the same situation right now. I am superbusy right now. My normal reaction when that happens is to drop the writing.
This time I was determinded to not do that. I figured that if I can’t write new words, I’ll type in an old, first draft written long hand. Have it worked? Um. Not that well. 
I think I have gotten 2000 words typed in the last week. But, I will have time later today, since my lecture isn’t in the evening. And tomorrow it is friday.
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I think the most important thing, for us both right now, is to just keep at it. Sort of like losing weight or quitting smoking. It takes time and consistency. So, just stick with it Mikaela, and I will to!