Well, I think I'm finally done with blogging milestones for a while. My 4th anniversary and my 300th post were only a week apart. From here on out I think it will just be normal blog posts. I know I should probably take a break from blogging for a bit but I've already made it this far into the year with a perfect record (posting every Monday, Wednesday, and Friday), so I'd like to see how far I can get.
It's also been exactly a year since I quit my day job, and I can't believe it's been so long already. I feel like I haven't accomplished anything. I am still making some money, but I haven't even tried to break into freelance writing. I haven't finished my novel or started querying it like I thought I would. I haven't even submitted any smaller pieces to literary magazines. That was kind of the point to taking the time off, so I would actually have time to work on these things. Well, that and the fact that my job made me completely miserable. But I just thought we'd have life figured out at this point. I wasn't supposed to look for another job until we figured out where we were moving, but that still hasn't happened.
I think the writing thing is what bothers me the most. I still have this mental block when it comes to working on my WIP. I just don't want to work on it. I think about my sequel ideas more than the first book, but I don't actually work on those, either. I don't know, maybe I'm just scared because I know how hard it's going to be to try to get this book published. Maybe there's a part of me that just doesn't want to bother. But I've worked so hard on it already, and I feel like there has to be a reason that I started writing it. I just wish I could get the desire to work on it again, because I'll never be able to even try to publish it if I don't finish it first.
Well, I guess that's about it for this month's insecurities. Maybe by next month I'll get to tell you that I actually wrote something. That would be incredible.
I think it'd be a lot of pressure to quit a job and then be expected to write, even though writing is what you want to do. Maybe read some books or try writing in a different place. Or work on a completely different project for a while. Sometimes we do need breaks from our WIPs.
ReplyDeleteI agree with Cherie. That's why I've never wanted to be a full time author. So much pressure.
ReplyDeleteJust go do something to refresh yourself and remove the pressure.
I also agree with Cherie! Perhaps work on something else writing related. Figure out how to separate your guilt from your writing...the two together is a lethal mix.
ReplyDeleteHello. Best wishes with everything!
ReplyDeleteI think it's easy not to write when you've got lots of time to do it. Perhaps you need to plan what you want to achieve each day or each week, and hold yourself accountable - just as you would be in a regular job. I love writing because it's flexible and I'm in charge, but there still needs to be some structure. Good luck!
ReplyDeleteI've done a little bit of writing but not enough to celebrate. I hope we both get back into the swing of writing soon.
ReplyDeleteI haven't been writing much either and it's weighing me down. I agree with others that sometimes the pressure of feeling like we have to write makes it more difficult to actually do so. I hope you can figure out a way to take that off yourself and get back to writing. Take care!
ReplyDeleteMaybe try writing those sequel ideas down, just jot some scenes or notes, nothing fancy. It might get you inspired to work on the novel again. Hang in there!
ReplyDeleteI think writers block is a symptom of fear. When we take the pressure off and just allow ourselves to write whatever comes, the block falls away. Who cares if the first (or seventeenth) draft isn't perfect? What book is? All that really matters is the heart behind the writing. Readers feel that. Readers identify with that.
ReplyDeleteI hope you regain your passion for the words. I think Cherie nailed the suggestions I was thinking of. Slap down some words that might be thrown out. See if it gets your fingers moving more. :)
ReplyDeleteBest of luck!
Ah, Sarah, a high class problem - all that time and you can't whip it to your will. When I worked out of the home only, I had set hours to sit and JUST work on the book. That helped enormously when I had to go to a 9-to-5 job. I already had that appreciation of using a block of time to pound the keys. You're just going in reverse - no time to TOO much time. Try treating it like your day job. Let nothing else interfere. It may be a hard habit to start but if you don't allow yourself to work on it at any other random times you can establish a habit of producing.
ReplyDeleteI agree with Cherie. Sometimes a shorter project helps me get back into it.
ReplyDeleteI'm in the same boat. Just can't bring myself to my WIP. Well, it's not really a "WIP" as I haven't started it. But it's obvious this book means a lot to you, otherwise you wouldn't be so worried and insecure about it. I don't think quitting would be an option, but like others have said, approaching it as a job would be good - you have to do a certain amount each day, and just don't let that pressure or inner editor get a look in. Good luck!
ReplyDeleteI've been there, and still kind of am - my third novel in The Champion Trilogy came to a standstill in revision, and then I re-started it, and it came to a standstill again. I'm self-pubbed and I planned to release it this month. Guess what state it's in? Re-boot #4. Yep. However, I feel stronger about the plot, pacing, and character development this time - I finally figured out the high stakes. At the same time, I'm completely down at being so stinking slow. I can't just copy and paste pieces from one draft to another because when I've done that in the past, I get the inevitable crazy typos where "she narrowed her eyes by her eyelids" - what the heck? (that's page 57 of my first book - thankfully changed since the first printing) or someone unsheathes their sword twice in three paragraphs without sheathing it in the middle of that sequence - agh. Anyway, all this is to say - I feel your pain. I know what it's like to have a daunting hot mess of a novel that doesn't seem to want to end. And, I know that someone can keep the MWF blog thing moving forward with awesome posts like yours can definitely finish that novel - and the next one, and the next!
ReplyDeleteBTW - life is crazy (as always), but if you would like a beta reader or CP, let me know.
BTW - I think some of the other suggestions here are awesome, too. Sometimes I run off and write a short story and that helps jar my brain into creative mode - I don't write horror, and I've written a few horror short stories. I don't write romance, and I even wrote a semi-romance short story. Sometimes, we have to do something new and unexpected to get the "regular" stuff going the right direction.
ReplyDeleteWow, ok, I had some suggestions, but I really like what everyone else has recommended! My biggest piece of advice would be to take the pressure off of yourself. When I pressure myself, it only makes me LESS likely to produce stuff. Annoying :(
ReplyDeleteJust relax and read some awesome books in your genre. This always jumps starts my creative writing juices!
ReplyDeleteI haven't wanted to work on my novella either. I need to drag it out and read it again and maybe that will inspire me.
ReplyDeleteI'm not sure you ever reach a point where you can comfortably say, "I've got life figured out." I sure thought I would have it nailed by now! LOL And really, when I think about it, life might be really boring if I had it all figured out or the Universe would surely make a point of shaking up my complacency. I'm finally learning to stop flogging myself with unrealistic expectations. It's freeing to be gentler with myself. Follow your heart or your intuition, Sarah. Have some fun or do something that makes you really laugh. That might help clear your head. Good luck!
ReplyDeleteSo, yes, the secret is out - take the pressure off yourself! If you feel obligated, it won't work. If you write because you want to, totally different. But how to get back into your current WIP? Read your favorite book. It'll restore your faith in your love of language and words and the magic will return. You'll see. Keep going. Don't give up.
ReplyDeleteI love writing short stories. I can see the results quicker and edit them faster. You might enjoy that.
ReplyDeleteLots of milestones, so congrats!
ReplyDeleteYeah, I get the same way. I think I get so deep with a WIP, I get burned out. I have to step away for awhile. Sometimes, I might not touch it for MONTHS. I have such a short attention span. Eventually, I either fall back in love with it and get back into it, or the idea wasn't that great enough to keep my interest...for now.
Don't beat yourself up about not writing. It's supposed to be a spontaneous act not a thing you have to force yourself to do. I know there has to be some discipline but only when you are truly in the mood. As everyone says, go do something else, take a break.
ReplyDeleteI always stall when I think about the future of my books and publishing them. Maybe try not to focus on that and focus on the words you need to write NOW.
ReplyDeleteI know exactly what you mean. I've been working on this next book for a year and half now . . . that mental block sucks. And you what made it worst? The pressure I put on myself to finish it up. Ugh. I worked on a couple more projects—halfway—and got back into this one. The other projects were about what would happen following this story so it was good inspiration. I was supposed to be done in January this year. I'm in June and only now I see the light at the end of that tunnel. I had to admit most of it was what I wanted but didn't fit, and accepting I had to delete and regroup was the toughest part. I was holding on to what I liked and not what made sense. Anyway, sorry lol, just throwing it out there in case any of it hits home. Good luck!
ReplyDeleteI go through days when I know what I want to write, how to write it, but once I'm in front of my laptop, I just can't write! I take a short break, and make the effort to return when I'm feeling more refreshed. Good luck to you!
ReplyDeleteHappy anniversary and 300th blogpost!
ReplyDeleteNow.
Quit your bitchin' and get back to work.
You're damn right its going to be hard getting your book published. You thought you went through all that pain and suffering writing it only to have the second half go easy on you? NO WAY! It's hard and it sucks and its stressful.
And then it isn't.
Tell your brain to shut up and open up that WIP and do whatever it is you need to do to get it to the next step.
Don't over-think it.
Just do it.
(I hope you know I say this all with love.)
Heather
Freelancing will help pay your bills but, if you dislike writing articles, it becomes tiresome.
ReplyDeleteSubmitting to literary magazines, for the most part, will pay almost nothing. It can be an ego-boost to receive an acceptance but the list of credits isn't likely to sway an agent when it comes time to send your novel unless the publications are in high-tier magazines. But it would get your name out there...
It's difficult to quit your job to pursue writing. There are a lot of ideals and expectations involved with that kind of commitment, not just in your own mind but loved ones' as well. I think the only way you can truly mess this up is to freeze, long-term.
If all else fails, take an online class. I know of a free one for flash fiction if you want it...
Good luck with both blogging and your WIP.
ReplyDeletegirl, i feel for you! i've had those times where i was stuck and i knew i had nothing to get unstsuck. that's when i would work on something completely different, not the sequels, but a completely different story, or just an outline or something. and if you're that stuck on your wip, it won't hurt to put it aside and try the freelance or a contest or some other submission to get your juices flowing again, even starting a new wip. that's the great part about writing, there's really no rules, when you're the boss you set the goals which can be subject to change! Good luck!!
ReplyDeleteI feel like that a lot. You just have to push yourself and remember why you started in the first place. I do daily.
ReplyDelete