Thread: I can't write because...

I am having the hardest time writing at the moment. It's not that I am unable or that the ideas aren't there but rather that we are having a spate of really great weather and I desperately want to go outside and 'play'.

It's actually so bad that I've not even been able to write 500 words for the blog all week... actually, it's been a few weeks now.

Usually this isn't a problem for me. The weather here is rubbish for most of the year and I schedule in breaks at important times like Christmas. But, a nice summer in the UK happens so infrequently that I've not had the change to come up with any coping mechanism for it yet.

So, I was wondering. What are the things that get you to stop writing and what do you do to keep yourself in the saddle?

Having both hands cut off would probably slow me down, but I think being dead is the only condition that would really stop me. Writing is not only how I live, it's why I live.

There are dozens of things I could or should be doing rather than writing that have to do with work, my children, the house -- you name it. Arguably, all of them are more important than my writing. Things I have to do. Responsibilities I took on before I ever considered writing.

So, it's simply a case of making time to do it. My saving grace is my spouse, who supports my writing and is very understanding. Considering all that has to be done around our place, if she was a nag, it could be a problem. The few times she's had anything to say about it, I've threatened to take up golf, and that put an end to it.

Having both hands cut off would probably slow me down, but I think being dead is the only condition that would really stop me. Writing is not only how I live, it's why I live.

That is such a great attitude to have to something you are obviously very passionate about. I used to feel like that. I still feel that I have to write and hopefully I will get it back someday.

There are dozens of things I could or should be doing rather than writing that have to do with work, my children, the house

I actually think that the problem I'm having might be that all of the writing I am doing at the moment could be seen as 'work'. I still have a passion to write the stories but it's much easier to be passionate about things when you don't have to do them to pay bills.

I know what you mean about making time for writing. Perhaps I should make that time after the sun goes down.

Know what you mean, getting the garden together has been taking my time, the way our seasons are you have a little gap to get everything out and planted or it is wait until next year, then we spent all yesterday looking at new cars for the missus who had a crash. Soon ... soon it will be simply hoeing and watering and all the other jobs will be done ... who am I kidding.

Its difficult under current circumstances.

I'm being hopeless right now too. The last short story I wrote was in December, save the LM competitions. I've written bits and pieces of my novel and for my screenwriting class but there is a total lack of discipline in my writing patterns currently. I'm doing much better writing emails. Thousands of words going to correspondence.

Sometimes, I think you need to let yourself have the time off. My life is a bit of a mess so I'm allowing myself to cool it. The writing bug is biting again though now, so I'm doing my best to get on with it.
Actually, if that were true I wouldn't be writing this.
Whatever - I'm thinking about it more.

Let yourself enjoy the summer a bit, I say. This'll keep niggling at you until you cave and have to write, I'd wager.

Originally Posted by Like a Fox

Sometimes, I think you need to let yourself have the time off.

I'm fine with giving myself time off, it's my kids who I really have to negotiate with for it.

Let yourself enjoy the summer a bit

I like the idea...I do! This will probably be a summer for feverishly trying to make money, though. Such is life when you're habitually mugging Peter and Paul's ready to break your kneecaps.

Originally Posted by Foxee

This will probably be a summer for feverishly trying to make money, though. Such is life when you're habitually mugging Peter and Paul's ready to break your kneecaps.

I wish I couldn't empathise, but I totally can. Between school and work and trying not to think about my huge debts and my mum still battling the cancer... Writing just feels like a luxury.

I'm getting to the point though where thinking more about writing and less about my own life could be the answer. Not to cure debt or cancer sadly. Wouldn't that be nice? Haha.

That sure would be a great incentive to write!

Okay... Let me approach it as someone who has to write. Writing is what I do - If I don't write, I don't make any money. And I'm happy, because that's what I want to do (writing, that is), so I'll put in long hours and long weeks if I need to. But...

There comes those moments when you just don't "feel" like writing. When it's a nice day, and you want to take a stroll and be outside, or maybe there's too much personal crap going on... any number of things. And sometimes those moments can stretch out into days and weeks. The only thing I can do at those times is give myself some time to rest and recharge. Every once in a while, sit down and see if you can get some of the words to flow, but quite honestly, forced writing looks like... forced writing. I can usually tell when the mood has passed when I'm taking a shower or driving around and the thoughts are suddenly flowing about one project or another: Ah! The creative juices are going again.

If you've got a deadline that is immutable and will cost you your "position", then you'll need to find a way to handle it. Otherwise... I'd say don't stress over it, and just try to ease back into your rhythm.

Well, I'm a designer, and it's the same deal with me. Sometimes I'm not feeling too creative and I know it's going to be a struggle to come up with ideas, but I have little choice.

There is a point of diminishing return, however. I've screwed around for hours and hours and not come up with anything. At that point it's often best to quit and come back to it, although that's hard to do when you have a deadline looming. Many times, I've quit to take a walk or run errands or go to bed or whatever and after I've cleared my mind, I've come back and just knocked something out that I'm happy with. Still, even knowing that and how sensible it is, I have a hard time doing it.

I am trying to get my new tv room done in the basement. and learning the song of Ursula the sea witch in german. and seeing how long I can go without wearing a shirt.

Originally Posted by JosephB

There is a point of diminishing return, however. I've screwed around for hours and hours and not come up with anything. At that point it's often best to quit and come back to it, although that's hard to do when you have a deadline looming.

Heh... I guess that's what I was driving at, but left out. If you find yourself sitting in front of the computer and coming up with nothing but... say... the song of Ursula the Sea Witch, you're not going to get anything done (unless, of course, that's what you're supposed to be doing, but I digress). Or if you 'force' the writing, you might find it reads like forced writing.

You're the best judge of what kind of 'deadline' you might have, so only you can decide when to step on the accelerator or the brake. I've had times where I've got two days to finish three days' worth of work. So I have to make it happen. But if I've got a month to finish (or even a couple of weeks), and I hit a slump, I'm not going to push myself too much. I'll give it a try, and then see what happens. And if that turns out to be 'nothing', then I'll turn my attention to something I can accomplish - like a video game.

Well, the other side of that coin is, I thrive on a certain amount of pressure, so I'll often let something slide until I have just enough time to get it done. Sometimes, when I try to get a jump on things or get a head start, nothing happens. In fact, even if it's work related, if there is no real deadline, it will always fall to the bottom of the to-do list. That's why I'd so often let my own company website get of out of date -- the old, "the cobbler's children have no shoes" syndrome.