Last week was quite a week.
Mike and I went to NYC to be the live audience for one of my favorite TV shows. We travelled to Hershey, PA to meet and visit with Mike’s dad. I stopped by the college where I work to meet with a potential student editor for our literary magazine. We babysat one of our nieces. And, on top of all of it, I just had a lot of running around to do. Though I knew I was pretty exhausted while it was all going down, I had no idea just how tired I felt until this week came along.
On Monday, Jude and I sat around in our pajamas for most of the day, and though we went to bed early and had a decent night of sleep, it was difficult to find the energy to go to the supermarket yesterday. So, when I sat down last night to write, I found that my idea reservoir was sort of empty.
Well, that’s not true. I know I want to write about our trip to NYC and about Hershey, but those will be longer, more involved posts, too complicated for a person considering turning in for the night at eight-thirty pm.
Whenever I have a lack of inspiration, it is alarming to me. For a few years, I hit a rough patch with my writing. Every idea went nowhere, and every attempt at a beginning just left me frustrated. I had two very a fertile periods with each graduate degree, so it struck me as odd that I would have so little to say after it was all over. Though the blog gives me a chance to practice my writing on a regular basis, I just haven’t been able to commit to it the way I would like since Jude has come along. I’m either too tired or too occupied with holding him or just plain out of ideas. During the week, I’ll come up with tons of topics, and then, when I finally get in front of my computer screen, I sit there staring at the cursor thinking:
“Now what?”
And this scares me.
My blog and my writing means so much to me, and I know that my block is temporary. It’s just makes me uneasy when I have lackluster nights. I am getting back to my old self more and more as time goes on, but my drive and determination is still lagging, and I feel like I need some help. Maybe some much needed sleep will give me the rejuvenation I need to come back with a posting vengeance.
Or, maybe I just need some advice:
How do all of you keep motivated to keep writing–or to keep up at anything–when you’re feeling tired and uninspired?
(Here’s the part where you share your brilliance/positive reinforcement.)
(And here’s the part where I thank you for your words of encouragement.)
G — I don’t do anything inspiring, or extracurricular from my job anymore for that matter, but when I need a zap I try to take 10 minutes and remind myself (usually visually, I write it down) why I’m doing something. Take for example, hypothetically, the woman who just went through a long distance marriage. And now they’re back together and it’s tricky sometimes to the point of wanting to sleep on the balcony. I would encourage that spouse to write a list of all the reasons marriage is FOR HER and that this marriage is the one. It always, always helps. I miss you!
I never believed in writer’s block. Until I had it. I’ve had to go back to writing on paper first, then typing. I take a notebook everywhere. I use photo prompts. I get people to set me deadlines.
In November, there’s Nanowrimo.
And when I have a blog-block, I post photos of coffee and ask people what they see in the bubbles!
I love your blog, keep going!
Lorna
I can relate! It happens a lot. I usually just start writing as though I were writing in a journal. Just about whatever, as though it isn’t going to be published. Something decent usually comes out. It’s kind of like running-the first 10 minutes sucks and then it gets going. You’re a good writer -it will come back! Good luck.
I can SO relate to having periods of writer’s block! I think that it all comes down to the fact that by the time we have a free moment to sit down at the computer, we’re exhausted. (And I don’t even have a baby yet!). When I do have writer’s block, I try not to put too much pressure on myself. Writer’s block moments are a great time to blog about a favorite recipe… or even an object. Look around the room and find something that has a story behind it. Then blog about that!
Anyway, I think all of your posts are great and I hope your writer’s block ends soon. I know it’s frustrating!