It's the first Wednesday of the month, which means it's the posting day for the Insecure Writer's Support Group! Click here to learn more and sign up!
Since I'm struggling a bit figuring out what to write about, I thought I'd start with this month's optional question:
I'd definitely like to think I've made a few friends through the blogosphere! While I've never met any of my blogger buddies in person, we keep in contact through other social media besides just reading each other's blogs. I think the type of friends you make through blogging are very important to have. You have a lot in common as writers and can lift each other's spirits in ways that people in your "real" life may not be able to.
So back to my struggling to write...it isn't limited to blog post ideas. Despite all my efforts to make goals and get back into writing this year, I haven't written anything yet. The closest thing I've done to writing is putting together a book playlist that's been on my mind for a while. Whenever I set a writing goal, I just avoid it. Every time I start thinking about UL, I get discouraged thinking about all the work I still have to put into it. I've even thought about completely rethinking the last third of the book AGAIN. I know I should focus on the things I know have to be fixed before trying to figure out the rest, but I just feel burnt out with the whole thing. I want to find a way to shake myself out of this slump.
Part of me thinks I need to write something fun. Something with absolutely no pressure. I feel like that was kind of the idea behind my Sexy Fluff stories, but they kind of got away from me. Maybe I've just thought about them too much. I think I need something simple, or maybe something really different. Try a different genre. Maybe try some poetry again!
I feel like I just need SOMETHING to jump start my drive to write, because sitting around avoiding it isn't making me feel very good.
How do you get out of a writing slump?
I would suggest some free writing to get out of the slump. You, a pen, a pad, and something easy to watch on TV. Let your mind wander without expectation. Or daydreaming - which is the same suggestion but without the pen and paper :-)
ReplyDeleteGood luck!
Yes, try fun writing and stop pressuring yourself so much. Or pull up something you're interested in working on and just work on it for 15 minutes either revising or writing a few words. It doesn't have to be much. But it should be your fluffy book and not the one you've been struggling with for so long. You'll feel better! Email me if you need some encouragement to get going.
ReplyDeleteOh my. What you wrote is exactly where I'm at. Haven't written a thing in a year. Haven't been inspired and not even motivated. I have become a procrastinating, do-nothing. These IWSG Wednesdays are the only thing I still do!
ReplyDeleteI wonder how or if we could help each other...
I second the suggestions for no-pressure free writing. I bought a friend a book of writing prompts I found at Target one day, and she loves them. She says it's a nice break from her WIP (on which she has been working for years and years) and the prompts themselves have been a lot of fun.
ReplyDeleteI think you're on the right track. Just write something for fun, something stupid and silly. Get the joy back again.
ReplyDeleteIt can be tough to kickstart that brain! Have you checked out the WEP prompts? They're every 2nd month and just for fun. You don't have to post if you don't want but the prompts are fun :)
ReplyDeleteI'm trying out other kinds of writing, and I think it's helping. Give it a try, too and see what happens.
ReplyDeleteIf you're burned out, definitely set aside your book, even your blog. Pushing yourself to work on those things will only make your feel worse. Take a break. Relax. Do something else. Let ideas and sparks come to you. Working on something totally fun that with absolutely no pressure just may be the ticket.
ReplyDeleteI've not written anything this year unless you count a media release and some promo. The non-fun stuff can suck the joy out of writing, so a break from all of it might be best.
ReplyDeleteForcing the writing is really draining. Personally, when I can't write or work on writing, it means there's something wrong with the path I'm on. I've gotten so callous about it that I don't blink at tossing out 2K words and starting a chapter from scratch anymore (which is what I did yesterday). Sometimes, it's tossing out more than that. More often than not, when I try to reuse what I have but go a different direction, I end up dragging my heels with all my joy sapped from me. That might not be you, but maybe it might lend some insight?
ReplyDeleteThe thought of writing a sexy fluff story is terrifying to me, Sarah! You're brave! I think blogging friends are special because they understand you better, especially writing friends. My physical friends are supportive, but they don't get my desire to write. They humor me and don't read what I write. So thank goodness for the IWSG and its wonderful members. I like to write about rocks for fun ~ Something NOBODY gets. Chrys Fey has a super book called "Keep Writing With Fey: Sparks to Defeat Writer's Block, Depression, and Burnout." It has awesome suggestions, "sparks." I highly recommend it! Good luck!
ReplyDeleteWhen I'm feeling burnt out, it helps me to recapture the sense of play that brought me to writing in the first place, so I think it's important to let yourself write pieces with no expectations sometimes--things that may never have an audience beyond yourself. I love doing prompt writing as a respite when my writing starts to feel like a slog instead of a joy. I also tend to write short things while I'm mending/recovering from burnout, so I get that joy of finishing more often. I hope you find something that works for you soon and lets you recapture the joy of writing. @samanthabwriter from
ReplyDeleteBalancing Act
Write something you'd never show anyone. Or aren't planning on showing anyone. And it doesn't have to be a novel. A scene. Write a scene you've had in your head, one where you don't care about the rest of the story, just that one scene. Write that.
ReplyDeleteIt'll time-warp you back to land of creativity.
I hate that feeling :( I hope the inspiration strikes soon. I wish I had a trick to share, but I don't. When I am stuck, I read. Sometimes it takes two or three books before I feel the inspiration to write again.
ReplyDeleteLast August I was in a horrible place figuring out marketing. It was overwhelming. I was visiting my daughter and she heard me complaining that I wasn't enjoying this process. She said, "Mom, find something to write that you enjoy whatever it is. Anything to get you out of this slump." She was right. I pulled out a manuscript that I had put away about seven years ago and lo and behold I fell in love with it again. Sometimes I have to remind myself that I am my worst critic. I am not under contract (yet), and the only pressure on me....is me. You'll find your way.
ReplyDeleteLately I've been having trouble concentraiting on my story. So I wrote a short story for the Chicken Soup contest to show me I can still write. I hope now that I can concentrate better on a novel that I've started. We'll see. Good luck to you.
ReplyDeleteNot to go all promo on this... but the A to Z Challenge is coming in April. Writing a month of posts might be a way to get out of the slump.
ReplyDeleteA lot of people are struggling right now. Maybe try not look at your project as a whole because that is overwhelming. Break it down into smaller goals/bits that are doable. A page or two under no pressure. In any case, be kind to yourself--you deserve it <3
ReplyDeleteYou are not alone. Try not to put too much pressure on yourself and write what comes naturally. Good Luck.
ReplyDeleteI think you have some great ideas already - trying something new, writing something fun, writing poetry - all of those are things I try when I'm in a slump. I've been struggling to work at any long-term projects without a timer next to me. It's sad. I do love to write, but I can't seem to get the words flowing on my novella project without setting the clock these days.
ReplyDeleteI have the advantage of not putting too much pressure on myself, because I have no reason to believe anyone will care for my stories. I know that sounds kind of defeatist, but it's true. I'll do what I can and I'll let myself be pleasantly surprised if many people like it, but I won't despair if no one does. It's a very freeing mindset.
ReplyDeleteI do it mainly by reading and visiting new places. This helps refill my creative well.
ReplyDeleteI feel like that sometimes. Just write something for fun. It works for me sometimes. Sometimes I have to find an entirely different motivation, like I can't read my next chapter until I've written something. I've also started having other people give me writing prompts. It's tough, but keep at it. You'll find your way.
ReplyDeleteI've been in a serious slump myself. I don't know when I'll ever write regularly again. Life is full of other things. I miss it, but I don't have it in me right now.
ReplyDeleteIsn't it easy to fall into a slump during this time of pandemic? Most of the time, my writing is like an anchor, a routine that keeps me focused and starts each day. But at times (this week, with impeachment hearings), I'm pulled away. I start to doubt my writing -- easy to do with three projects in the works. So, one writing guru wrote: Trust the process. Write scenes. Stick your character into a scene with conflict, opinions, emotions, 5 senses and you're off! I also try to write 300 words a day, because no matter what else is going on, I can achieve that. Hope these ideas help. Meanwhile, write on!
ReplyDeleteI think writing something fun will definitely help. Something not tied to pressure.
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