I'm not sure what happened. Maybe it was a lot of things. Maybe I burned myself out doing NaNo because after winning on November 30, I haven't written a single word of Sexy Fluff #1. I've barely even looked at it. I knew I needed a bit of a break after writing so much every single day, but I haven't written more than a sentence or two of anything since then.
For a little bit, I thought I was at least on the right track with Uneven Lines. If I wasn't actually working on Chapter 28, at least I was thinking about it. Now the thoughts have seemed to fizzle out as well. I don't really think about it at all. I just feel like all my motivation and inspiration has vanished.
I know a big part of it is that my day job leaves me physically drained (and sometimes emotionally). All I want to do when I get home is relax and not think. Then I'm also actively trying to lose weight, which means time spent at the gym (and more exhaustion) plus a lot of grocery shopping and meal planning. Then I'm trying to do other daily tasks like cleaning and reading. Writing is usually the last thing on my mind, but it seems the longer I go without doing it, the worse I feel.
I don't know how to fix it. I don't know how to pull myself out of this rut. I don't know how to make time for writing because even when there is time, I just don't want to do it. There aren't any ideas in my head to put down on paper. I could barely come up with an idea for this blog post.
I don't even know how to end this blog post! Well, as my hubby would say, "Now that I've brought the room down..."
Have you read Save the Cat! for novel writers or Creating Stunning Character Arcs? Those two books get me unstuck pretty quickly! You just might need a push from some experienced authors.
ReplyDeleteBeen there. Done that. It's okay. Bird by Bird by Anne LaMott renewed my love of writing. Natalie Goldberg's Writing Down the Bones also inspires writers. Just set your writing aside and enjoy reading for awhile. Maybe your muse is telling you to investigate different genres or styles. Best wishes.
ReplyDeleteJQ Rose
Don't you love how exercise and working out is supposed to be so great but pretty much leaves you aching and sore for days? Ugh!
ReplyDeleteMaybe try writing as early as possible in your day before all the other stuff sets? Journal or play with writing prompts? Interview your characters, let them tell you what they're feeling/thinking/want to do?
Hang in there, Sarah!
I wrote a post on what to do when you can't write on the IWSG page this week. I have those weeks. Usually, I can power through it, but sometimes, when you're busy and exhausted, it's simply better to allow yourself a guilt-free break and catch up on all the non-writing writer stuff.
ReplyDeleteI've felt the same way for most of the past year but am finally starting to come out of it. I hope you will find some way to get excited about your stories again. Take care!
ReplyDeleteI'm glancing over at the Twitter feed on your sidebar and see that you woke up late and your toilet broke. Ugh what a nightmare. I wish I had some helpful advice about how to get out of the writing rut or fix the toilet. Instead all I can do is send you virtual hugs. Hang in there :)
ReplyDeleteIt will come back to you. Don't panic. And sorry about the toilet. That sucks.
ReplyDeleteBeen there and am kinda still there. The worst part is starting to write. Once I get started, sometimes the engine is just fine. Sometimes I just waste time watching YouTube videos.
ReplyDeleteIt does sound like you might be burned out. Take it slow. Don't push yourself. Find other ways to be creative in the meantime.
ReplyDeleteI totally know how you feel. Writing comes in waves for me. Sometimes I'm on fire, burning through page after page. Then it dies off and I spend months not typing a single word.
ReplyDeleteFor me, it is a matter of my immediate goals. If I'm focused on exercise and weight loss, I'm more prone to open a spreadsheet to calculate my macros or figure out just how I'm going to fit weightlifting or treadmill walking into my schedule. Sometimes, digital painting usurps my writing, and I can't pull myself away from finishing my next picture, even though I know I need to work on my chapters. Sometimes, I decide I need to refresh my playlists to better match my characters and my books, so I'll spend days hunting through YouTube and Spotify to find the perfect song that captures the essence I'm looking for. Sometimes, it's avoidance because I know I have a huge amount of work to do, and I'm not exactly sure how I'm going to pull it off, so I will do anything but write.
No advice here, but I can offer you empathy and camaraderie in your plight, as that is the story of my life.
When I worked full-time and was super busy like you, I couldn't always get the energy to write. Because I was a busy mom too, I had to go for long periods without writing. Even now, enough of my time gets taken up with other things. But you know what? It's good to relax, even for months. Read for inspiration and enjoy what you're doing for now.
ReplyDeleteI've had plenty of times when all the things I had to do in life sucked away all my time for writing. At some point I bet you'll start feeling the writing bug again and you'll hop back on the writing train, even if it means not doing the other things around the house you're supposed to be doing. :)
ReplyDeleteI'm sorry you've been feeling that way—it's definitely NOT a good feeling. I agree with Patricia and Chrys on the burnout and the remedy. (And whenever I'm burned out and trying to get over it, it makes me crazy for a while because I'm not writing...but it ultimately helps.)
ReplyDeleteYou'll definitely want to read Chrys Fey's upcoming book. It sounds like you have writer's burnout. And there are ways to fix it.
ReplyDeleteHoping you ease back into it. It happens to a lot of us!
ReplyDeleteHope things get better for you. It can be tough getting back to it. Happy IWSG!
ReplyDeleteYour blog (which is writing) made me smile...not your angst...but the last line that your husband says, "Now that you've brought the room down..." You didn't bring anyone down...you brought reality that all of us writers can relate to at one time or another. I believe we go through phases and sometimes they last longer than we'd want. Hang in there. And that's why I don't do NaNo anymore. It too drained me. Oh, it was fun (sort of), and I liked that I was part a huge endeavor with hundreds of other people, but a month of forced writing was tiring, and I accomplished only a smidge that I could use.
ReplyDeletego to the sexy fluff!! hahaha
ReplyDeleteit’ll happen, don’t worry!
Tara Tyler Talks
I've never tried NaNo--is that common to feel burned out after cranking out so many words in one month? That makes sense. Maybe you've needed a break. I hear ya on the day job taking a lot out of you. Hope the rest of February went well!
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