Writing when the wheels are spinning
I’ve had about four weeks of frustration with my writing and blogging. I feel like my wheels are spinning; lots of activity but I’ve been going nowhere.
Actually, the driving analogy is very apt. I seem to have done nothing but drive over recent weeks. I do occasional relief driving for a local courier company. I recently went back to work full time for three weeks. While the pay was good, the hours were very long and the work exhausting. Not a good time for writing. In fact, there was little time spare for writing. I’m still trying to catch up with my email.
I’ve been trying to get back to the writing this week but I have really struggled to build momentum again after such a long break. I will not call it the dreaded “writer’s block” but it was not far from it. Many writers experience dry periods where it is a struggle to get the writing moving again. There may be plenty of activity – like the engine revving and the wheels spinning – but there is little if any forward movement. Sometimes we just can’t get going.
Robert over at the Middle Zone Musings writes about this topic too. His post called “How to counter the dreaded blankpageitis.” In this post he refers to my short story starters. These posts I have written are designed to get you writing so what about it? Give it a go – it can be great fun.
Good writing.
Another article worth reading – with several suggestions I know help me can be found here: Life sucks – writing on the bad days.
Writing Hint #39: Take up a hobby
I might be only guessing at this, but I think it would be safe to say that many writers started out treating their writing as a hobby, something they did in their holidays, weekends or any spare time they had during the week. Most start out writing on a casual basis in between all those things life throws at them, including a day job.
Now there is nothing wrong with that. I did that myself for nearly thirty years. My day job (elementary school teaching) sort of took over every aspect of my life. Writing was confined to short bursts here and there, usually during holiday breaks, or on weekends. It was a hobby only. In the last fifteen years it has gradually become a passion, and now that I’ve retired from teaching the passion can reach its full potential, for I now have the time. It is now no longer a hobby.
That causes a problem. Writers who allow their writing to take over their lives so that it is no longer a hobby have just destroyed the only thing that gave them relaxation time. The demands of writing regularly for a blog is one good example of this. Blogging can consume all of your previously spare time. You may be starting to resent the very thing that gave you such pleasure in earlier days.
Get a life
Alternatively – get a hobby. A non-writing hobby preferably. Something you can get passionate about and use to re-create yourself. An activity that recharges your batteries. I was fortunate that as I became more serious about my writing I developed an intense interest in birds. I now take every opportunity to get out into the Australian bush and go birding. Now I write about birds on my Birding Blog – but that is not a chore, it’s a real delight and a pleasure. Into that mix I’ve also taken up the hobby of photography as well, something I’d dropped for many years. Now when I take off outdoors with my camera, notebook, bird field guide and binoculars, I know I’ll not only be out to enjoy myself, I’ll also get so much material to write about that the writing becomes a sheer joy once again.
Good writing (and don’t forget to have good times of relaxation as well).
Galahs
Writing Hint #38: Collaborate
No Comments »19th October, 2007; Category: Writing Hints
Writing can be a lonely pursuit.
One way of overcoming this is to write collaboratively with another writer. I normally do not do this, but I’ve done it enough to know that it can be a very stimulating activity. I love the energy it can create as ideas spark off each of the participants. The collaborative writing I’ve done was largely in the context of when I was a classroom teacher. More recently it has been in the context of writing leadership policies and various other documents for our local church.
It is worth seeking out another like minded person and planning a collaborative writing project with them. An added bonus is that working in this way you not only spark ideas off each other but you are also accountable to each other. You are less likely to procrastinate if the other person is relying upon you.
Another method
I recently heard an interview on local radio featuring two authors who wrote and published a book collaboratively. All the writing was done via email and a few phone calls. The two authors never met until the book was actually launched. Collaboration does not mean you actually have to be in the same room together, though I find that writing in this way to be very intellectually stimulating. The two people in the case just quoted lived in different states here in Australia. The speed of email makes such collaborative efforts so easy these days.
Good writing.
How to motivate the writer within you
This is a HUGE topic.
Whole books have been written about the topic of motivation. I just want to give you one little writing hint today. It works for me but I acknowledge that it may not work for everyone. However, I believe it is worth a try.
Graph the hours written
I keep a daily record of the number of hours I spend on my writing. It is not totally accurate to the minute; it is just a guide. Then I graph the results over a whole year. I can then see if I’m improving, slowing down or not being very productive. If I see my graph going in an upwards direction it encourages me to keep on going. If the graph is declining it spurs me on to get back on track. It keeps me accountable. Matched against my goals for the year I can see at a glance how I’m going.
It works for me. Perhaps it can work for you too.
Bonus Idea:
You could also keep a record of the number of words written and graph that against your weekly, monthly or annual goals.
Good writing.
Are you one of the six per cent?
Last week I attended a two day seminar on leadership. It was the Global Leadership Summit – rather grand name that – sponsored by the Willow Creek church. I attended in order to enhance and develop my leadership skills within my local church. It was a truly inspiring series of presentations. Key speakers included screen writer and director Richard Curtis, former US Secretary of State Colin Powell and former President Jimmy Carter.
One of the facilitators challenged the 700 people present to apply what they had learned at this summit. He stated simply that the information gained over the course of the two day event was enough to significantly change one’s life. And if everyone made one significant change as a result of the summit, whole communities could see enormous change.
Sad fact
The speaker then went on to state the sad statistic that, at best, only six per cent of attendees will do any follow up or make any significant changes. Once the enthusiasm of the event is over, once the musicians stop playing and the dust settles, people drift back into their old ways of operating. Very few make any effort to apply what they have learned. Only six per cent have any impact for change. I think that the percentage is a little generous. I suspect the true figure is much less.
Writers and the six per cent
Many people dream of being writers. Some people actually do something about it and write something. Even less send manuscripts to publishers and very few are actually published. As far as books are concerned, the figure in Australia is less than one per cent. Most larger publishers receive more than a thousand manuscripts annually from would-be authors. Of those, perhaps five to ten will ever be published. Daunting odds. That equates to less than one per cent. This figure is probably very much the same in other countries. Are you determined to be in that six per cent – or that one per cent?
Bloggers and the six per cent
The situation is frighteningly similar for bloggers. Of the 75 million or so blogs out there, perhaps only ten per cent are actively maintained on a regular basis. I’m guessing that figure – I have no hard evidence to back up my claims. Furthermore, less than one per cent, make any money from their blogging. Granted, there are people who choose to blog for the joy of writing with no intention of making money from their writing. That’s fine. But for those who intend to make a living from their writing, the message is clear. You have to be in the top one per cent in order to make even a modest income.
What now?
As in so many fields of endeavour, the learning should never end. Be constantly learning about writing or blogging so that in a year’s time you can look back and see the progress you have made in your chosen pursuit. Don’t be content to be in the 94% who hear or read about what to do – but never apply it to their writing.
Good writing.