I haven't been blogging as much lately, mainly because I subscribe to the "Blog When You Wanna" Club, and the "Blog When You Can" philosophical train of thought. Sometimes I can be zipping along and think, gee - I need to blog that. Unfortunately in the midst of selling my home, working a demanding job, being Mama and teaching for the first time in the summer I've found myself putting some of my own things aside.
I've found I have put on far too much weight as I nibble on the go and the bright lights of the snack machine call me into the velvety chocolate goodness. The gym misses me, and absence does NOT make the heart grow fonder in this case as the longer you stray the harder it is to jack oneself back up on the treadmill. I haven't been reading as much, and my brain muddles and needs a fresh literary infusion. It is struggle to do funsie things when you have to get up at the crack of dawn. As my home has now gone to contract (cross fingers - close at end of July if all goes well!) I've now got to think of packing, moving - and getting the kids into school. Yikes!
My husband laid down a challenge without realizing it the other day. I was discussing how I have to get going on these books in my head and put them on paper, and give myself time to write. He said that a problem that I have is that I think too much about it and though my ideas are fantastic - the translation and effort into the novel is not so forthcoming.
I was irked. And a little bummed. And then realized he is right.
I think half the point of blogging was to make myself sit down and regularly write out thoughts. At first it was about libraries - but I rather sucked at that. Then it was more about being greener - but there is only such much I can write there for the moment and I can't think up a new entry each day about the same topic. For a while I think I blogged a little bit too much as I love to read and comment on other people's entries - but one can quickly lose hours of your life in cyberspace when I need my feet in the real world with my home and family. I think ultimately posts become just a complete mash up of what is in my life, a little journal that goes with me, and a forum that I love but can only contribute to as time allows.
And am I allowing too much in lieu of my real writing? Am I using juice that needs to go elsewhere? I'd like to maybe have a life sabbatical at times - and sneak off and listen to Tori Amos, drink red wine and write......just write. So my husband doesn't completely get that my ideas aren't lost in my head, I just need time to bring them to fruition. Blogging seems so much easier at times because I can sit down and hammer out thoughts in 20 minutes and somehow satisfy that need to be creative in small spurts, as sometimes that is all the Mama juice I have for the moment. Sometimes my writing has to be in the form of my class - announcements and content and creativity bits the bullet for the tried and true for what I have to do in that respect.
So I'm making a deal with myself. More work on real writing - less on virtual writing. I could have finished a book in the time it takes to blog - in that bit by bit fashion that would move an inchworm along. There are worlds inside my head, and I just don't want to look back in 20 years and think I woulda, shoulda, coulda. I need to move my children's books forward in sending out and continuing to polish - but the adult novels need my love.
But haven't I been talking about books for an awfully long time in my life? It isn't writers block - it is writers time, commitment, and stick-to-itness. The Huz was right, but that tiny gauntlet can help one.
What are your tricks to keep writing?
Sunday, June 14, 2009
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6 comments:
I hear you. I have given myself permission to blog less- or more if I feel like it- and on whatever subject. The hardest thing was to miss Sunday Stroll entries, but what kind of strolling can you do midwinter when you're sick?
Just don't worry about it. It's supposed to be fun, right?
I have this same problem - lots of thoughts and ideas and an inability to get them down. Mostly it is fear. Fear that I can't get it down, fear that I will and then not know what to do with it, fear that if I get it down it won't be perfect, or no one will like it or ... on and on.
Swallowing that and moving forward is a tremendous problem for me. Of course this may not be your issue, but it certainly is mine.
My tricks to keep on writing are to sit down and do it for just 10 minutes. That usually turns into a much longer space. A timer is helpful; I can ignore it if it goes off and I'm in the middle of something.
Good luck. Blogging can take away but I think it all writing adds to everything else, kind of like water fills a bucket. One blog entry is just a drop, but lots of different writings equals a full bucket. So I wouldn't give it up (I confess to recently thinking about giving up my blog, too), but maybe not write so much, or just use it for a specific thing. There are days when I wish I could just use my blog as a journal and pour out my soul - my readers would be surprised - but I keep a tight lid on that impulse, thank goodness.
Best wishes for many happy writing returns.
Good for you for focusing on your book. I know what you mean. Everything is a balance, and sometimes its hard to remember that we all just have 24 hours in a day!
Just had a conversation about this today...not specifically about time taken from "real" writing, but time taken from "real" life.
Interesting comments ya'll!
Joyce - it is fun. Um, perhaps a bit too much fun at times.
CD - I love reading your writing. I met an author recently that described a similar tactic. Just sit, and do it. Paragraphs at a time.
Hi Lynn and June - this is our "real" life to an extent, just another facet. I do feel sad at the fact that most people I interact with online I'll never meet though. I come to think of them in my mind as people I know.
Hey Shannon,
I totally hear this entry. I'm writing a book which is dear to my heart, and due to lack of computer, I am handwriting notes in a notebook here and there, so that when there is something that crosses my mind, I can come back to it, when I do have time. I am keeping the notebook in my purse. At least this way, you see your thoughts in concrete writing, and not just in the abstract. Hope this helps.
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