Saturday, April 10, 2010

Writing Hiatus

I feel odd and slightly out of place.  As if I'm in another person's chair at another person's computer trying to write their story.  It's been about a week since I even tried to write anything and now that I'm not sick or working it feels odd.  I want to just jump back in, but it's almost as if I don't know where to start, because I can't remember where I left off.

A week doesn't sound that long.  And it isn't. I've gone a week without writing before.  But this time was different.  Normally when I can't write, I'm thinking about it. Playing it out in my mind so that when I get to the computer I'm ready with a plan for my characters in mind.  This time I didn't think or plan or visualize.  I simply vegged. I played Facebook games and spent more time with my daughter and went to bed at a fairly decent time. 

And worst is that today I almost did something I haven't done in almost a year - I almost bought a book.  Nothing of great quality, just some random romance novel. I'd almost put it in my cart when I stopped myself. When the hell do I have time to read? I'm not saying that I don't read - I've lost track of how many novels I'm following on TNBW, and I reread books I have at home.  But buying a new book, investing hours into reading over the weekend just can't be at the top of my list.  I'm a compulsive reader.  I read a seven novel series by V.C. Andrews in three days.  I read Stephenie Meyer's Twilight series in a weekend, and I can crank out three to four Harlequin novels in a day. Once I start reading I can't stop, especially if it's only a matter of turning a page.

I put the book back. I have too many things to do, stories of my own to write.

Now, I'm sitting here trying to get myself back into that mind-set of being a writer, of knowing my characters and their stories. Maybe it'll work to my advantage - to look at things with fresh eyes, but I know one thing for sure. I'll never let myself go this long without thinking about writing again.  It's a perilous path for me, one that would lead to me giving up. And I'm not ready to do that yet.

 On my iPod:

Touch Peel and Stand by Days of the New

4 comments:

  1. Robert Dafydd CadwaladerApril 11, 2010 at 12:37 AM

    Ah! I guess this is a normal thing for writers (or painters). Everyone is different of course and there are many distractions. I suppose it is a matter of discipline and one must set aside a time and have a routine.
    John Steinbeck, when he was writing one of his major books, kept a diary which was published as "Journal of a Novel" (I think). He describes how he sat at his desk at a precise time each day, sharpened his pencils and started a fresh page (he used school exercise books). He would decide the number of words he was going to write and stick to the schedule.
    Of course that doesn't suit everyone!

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  2. Sometimes I buy a book, not because I have the time to read but because it's a little motivator that encourages me to write.

    ann

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  3. Hang in there -- it will return :) Plus you sound self-aware enough not to let the break in writing get the best of you!

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  4. I say, go back and buy the book! Read something that you don't have to critique and that is new to you. Invest in published authors- you'll want aspiring writers investing in you when you're published.

    Treat yourself. Spend a weekend reading a brand new story. Sometimes that's exactly what I need to get me motivated to write again!

    Hang in there, friend!

    ~Rach

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