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Adrift: How to tell writer’s block to get lost
I fixed my laptop, paid money for writing software to organise my novel writing and further expense to do an online writers boot camp. Then I got some advice from a writer I admire and was all set up to start boot camp and writing my book. It was the 1st of February. Since then pretty much nothing. A great wide chasm of nothing.
I have been writing. It’s not been like before with the discipline
With so much of me invested in my writing I am really feeling at a loss and The loss of this situation. I can’t understand it. And I miss it.
I was wondering if I’d simply lost my confidence. Which is something I’m susceptible to. It usually doesn’t take much and my resolve dissolves. It has been a constant battle in my life to make any progress when my own worst energy sabotages my
I’m almost saying to myself ’who are you kidding trying to do that? You’re not good enough, of course you’re going to throw in the towel’.
If we’re not motivated we fall off course. If we over stretch ourselves too much likewise fall off. The key is to stay the course by making sure the motivation and challenge is at the correct levels to not rock the boat. It seems my boat has been on a little detour all of its own. Blissfully taking a break from its chartered course.
I am left feeling very un-me. My writing was going well, and I’m
I wonder if I overstretched myself. Starting to write a book, starting a boot camp and in the mix too lots of romantic travels and falling in love.
I was in love anyway, but now it’s ratcheted up a few notches to full-on searing pain when we’re not together and maybe this pain is getting in the way of creativity.
Actually, I am not sure about this as my feelings were pretty intense already, this deepening and widening of my
It’s not like Adele saying she’s so happy now she doesn’t know how she’s going to have the angst and pain to write songs because her life is going too well.
My life has plenty of pain. Extreme money worries, tricky relationships in my life that need to be managed and then the pain of separation from the man I love. The man who completes me.
Enjoying the now and not worrying about the ’What now?’ That’s
Many of you have been kind enough to ask why and encourage me to keep writing and that warmth is so greatly appreciated.
Some have been a bit more direct and given me the proverbial kick up the arse.
And then, I return to the conversation I had with my writer friend. I wonder if my confidence was affected by the dose of reality dispensed. Publishers want safe books, they don’t take risks. They want in the style of books or books written by celebrities.
Had I fantasied too much about holding and signing my book to be turned off the whole idea by its electronic counterpart?
Other advice was to be unique. Find my USP as a writer and blogger. I need something to set me apart amongst the massive ocean of people doing the same thing.
There are so many ways for people to entertain themselves. What would make someone reach for my blog/website/novel? What have I got?
I think maybe here’s the problem. I don’t know
Do I need a persona maybe? Do I already have one? What am I trying to say? Who am I saying it to? Why do they want to listen? Why should they?These are big and scary questions. The sort of questions to have a timid writer retreating pronto into a waiting shell.
Let’s look at E J James. Utterly appalling writing, but a threadbare storyline and lots of plot-turning sex seems to have worked
The conflict is the driver, otherwise they are just a rather dull read.
I don’t have any conflict or a niche to my writing. I can be opinionated, but not bullishly so. I prefer to write stuff that makes me laugh or thoughtful. This writing today is way too serious and I wonder who would read this and if they’d bother and want to understand along with me. Perhaps offering ideas and thoughts.
I know the important thing
I enjoy writing in different locations. It find it inspiring and having people around is less isolating. I wonder if I might take my laptop, get on my Vespa and give my writing a
I want to get my mojo back baby, I feel sad that I’m not writing and it affects other parts of my life.
”It is a truth universally acknowledged that when one part of your life starts going okay, another falls spectacularly to pieces.”
B Jones
This is true for me. My love life is wonderful, romantic, passionate, fun, promising and makes me very happy.
The rest of my life is much more in freefall. Money and career dangerously teetering on the edge of a large metaphorical shredder or perhaps vacuum cleaner sucking away all good intentions.
So after giving myself a good talking to and writing this, I am going to prioritise my writing differently. It’s like a third child that needs picking up from school and taking to piano practice. It’s on the list with brushing my teeth and not forgetting
So from now on dear reader, from various locations dotted around the SW19 postcode, and maybe beyond. I will be writing. Blogs, competitions, exercises for boot camp, my novel and anything else that comes along. I hope you’ll help steer my little boat in the right direction.
Yours, Carolina
