Thursday, October 04, 2007

Bound to Happen

I'm pretty proud of myself for staying as focused as I did on my writing while my husband went through his medical ordeal that lasted for two months plus (and then there was the whole broken foot thing). I finished the novel, got it sent off, and dealt with everything else.

Now I think my brain is rebelling.

I've been working on my plot for the next novel and while I pretty much have it figured out, there's still some research I need to do before I start writing. But lately, I've been just going home, vegging on the couch, and reading. Granted, I'm reading books set in Italy to give me a better feel for things, but I still feel like I should be doing more.

In short, I don't feel too focused right now. I tend to think that this is a result of being so mentally focused on so many things for so long. Now that things are pretty much back to normal, I think my brain is down-shifting and being lazy.

Of course, I'm my own worst critic. It's not like I've been completely ignoring everything. I research on a daily basis. Of course, I haven't been writing. Maybe that's why I feel a bit of guilt.
I can't write right now because I'm not ready - I still have some critical research to do.

What about you? Do you feel guilty when you're not doing what you think you should be in regards to your writing?

6 comments:

  1. Anonymous8:02 AM

    I don't have that luxury. I have to sit down and do it, whether I feel like it or not, because if I don't, the bills aren't paid.

    In your case, you are not on a contracted deadline with this novel, so you can cut yourself a break. You've been through a trauma, and you used the writing to hold together. Now, mentally and physically, you need to recharge.

    Here's something that I do and that recently helped a friend feeling unfocused -- take a scheduled break. You're not allowed to write for 14 days. You'll be surprised how much you want to after a day or two-- but you CAN'T for two weeks.

    When you sit back down, it'll all flow, because it's been building.

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  2. I felt nothing but guilt this week about not getting done what I had planned even though I was working hard to get there. Then I let myself off the hook. Must be something in the air. There seems to be a lot of that going around. I think your brain lets you know when it needs a break to recharge. Probably best to listen.

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  3. I do - but I also tell myself that while I love to write, want to write, and it's very, very important to me - it's not the only thing that I do.

    So right now, even though I've got the last big finally figured out (YAY) I have a little kiddo with the flu and a fever and I'm round the clock duty. And I can't kick myself for that.

    You've been through the wringer!! You got your ms off - I think it's very healthy to take a break and read and research.

    Besides, like Devon said, you might not (hopefully won't!) have that luxury in the future.

    Happy researching!

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  4. Soon as you're ready, it'll all come back. You must be recharging or something.

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  5. Sounds like you deserve a little 'me' time! Take it easy on yourself. If you are reading, that counts and when the story is ready, you'll be right back to your focused pace I bet!

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  6. Totally! I've done NOTHING fiction writing wise for the last month. Nada, zip. And I'm now feeling like a total fraud. It's so bad that when I wrote my non-fiction article last week I was convinced it was total cr*p and that the editor would hate it. Sean even helped me with the last sentence.

    But as everyone else says, sometimes we have to give ourselves a break. Beating ourselves up certainly won't fill the creative well.

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