Question of the day: what do you do when you're not in the mood to write...at all?
Further, what do you do if this mood stretches beyond one day and into a week?
Because I'm really, really tired of not being in the mood to write...
Thoughts? Opinions? Commiseration?
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All right. Enough with the down-in-the dumps posts. I realized that I had way too many of them in the past few weeks and I am bumming myself...
I just don't write. Probably not the best answer. But I think there's A LOT that can advance us as writers other than writing. Thinking is a big one. If I don't feel like writing I just think about my characters, have conversations with them. Visualize locations, etc. Research. Watch movies/TV. That's what I do :)
ReplyDeleteI think there's a lot to be said for that - just don't write. I haven't written a word on my WIP for a good week now. I've taken notes, though, and have some great ideas. Now I just need to sit down and get to it!
ReplyDeleteI don't write for awhile. But then I start to feel antsy and weird, not like myself. So I force myself to sit down and write, something, anything. I grab a prompt and write and eventually I'm working on my WIP again and all is right with the world.
ReplyDeleteI'm feeling antsy and weird, too. I felt that way last night - sort of wandered around the house and didn't know what to do with myself. I should try a prompt. Good idea!
DeleteDepends. If I've got a deadline on a story, I just start writing anyway. Pretty soon, after a page or so of junk I'll find myself back in the mood and writing good words again. If I don't have any stories due, then I just live for awhile and take in life. I watch movies and read lots of books and go on lots of walks, refilling the well, as it were. I haven't written a word of fiction in about three months now. It used to stress me out when I was young, not writing, but nowadays, I don't worry about it. I've learned there's no shortage of stories in my head, and a break doesn't harm anything. My nephew is only going to be 4 once, and he's growing up way too fast as is. I'm really enjoying spending my evenings with him instead of parked in front of my computer or pad of paper. But I have deadlines coming up, so I expect I'll be back writing regularly shortly!
ReplyDeleteYeah, I think deadlines have a way of forcing us to write. I have freelance deadlines, but that's nonfiction and thus, not as important to me as my fiction - though I do get paid for it, so it IS important on that scale. LOL.
DeleteUsually if I'm not in the mood I don't do it, but I really should try to force myself, because sometimes that's when I do my best writing.
ReplyDeleteGood point. Sometimes I think if I can just sit down and at least open the Word doc, I can get going. Last night I couldn't even turn on my laptop, though!
DeleteIf I can't write, often I'm working out something in my mind about my current project. But a long walk helps, as does just sitting down and begin typing. That often kickstarts the process.
ReplyDeleteI may try taking a walk tonight - the days are getting longer now and the weather is glorious today. :-)
ReplyDeleteI wish I knew because I have been there over two months, What I am doing is reading a lot of books. That's always good use of my time and works on my imagination some. Hope you are doing better!
ReplyDeleteThank you, Terri. I am barely in the mood to read. I think it's partly spring fever - we've been having some really nice weather and I want to go make my front yard pretty. :-)
DeleteI write best under pressure. Even if I'm not in the mood, if I have a deadline, I force myself to write. Once I spend 12 hours straight in front of the computer, the mood to write returns, and suddenly I don't want to stop.
ReplyDeleteI think I write well under pressure, too. I'm not sure 12 hours in front of the computer is good for you, though! ;-)
DeleteYou inspired my blog post for today! Hang in there; the muse just needs time to recharge. You've had quite a time lately, maybe this is just a reaction to all of that. Prayer is sent your way!
ReplyDeleteThank you, Anna. Prayers are much appreciated! I do suppose I tend to think I should bounce back mentally and physically as fast as possible, but my body and mind usually have other ideas. ;)
ReplyDeleteLike some of the other commenters, if there's a deadline, I'm forced to write anyways, and it usually works out. I'm in the middle of moving (still - for over 2 months now) and babysitting my grandbaby 9 hrs. a day, so I haven't had time to write much at all. I have to say that absence makes the heart grow fonder is so true because I can't wait to get to my WIPs. I really miss them, but I'm constantly thinking things through in my head, like you do. Another thing that helps me when I'm not in the middle of moving is to do arts and crafts. Another creative outlet seems to open the whole creative side of me, and I love working on altered art books (a form of scrapbooking). Watching movies and reading is also good for when you're in a rut because you're still studying the craft even if you're not getting any writing down on paper. And one more thing that really inspires me is listening to my favorite music. It can pump me up. Play Eye of the Tiger from the movie Rocky. That's a good one!
ReplyDeleteLyn, I think there really is something to do getting involved in another creative activity. I love the altered art books you make - they're stunning!
DeleteI'm going through a not writing period at the moment too. The stories are in there, but I can't get them out. So I'm just going with the flow and doing some other creative things. Sometimes I think we need a break, especially if there are things going on in our lives that are stressful or life changing.
ReplyDeleteBe kind to yourself and I'm sure your muse will return soon.
JT - I think you're right in needing a break. Maybe I just haven't realized how stressful all the health-related issues have been. I tend to think I need to snap back to normal right away and I guess that's not how I operate. :-)
DeleteThis happens to me all the time!!! I hate being such a mood-controlled writer. Waiting for a good mood to strike is a bad idea, for me (I could wait for months). I use too methods to get going again a) switch projects or b) get a writing friend to join me and have a "word war" - if she's furiously typing away, that really motivates me to start typing too!
ReplyDeleteI like the word war idea!
DeleteI second the prompt idea. It really does help.
ReplyDeleteAgreed. I should probably give it a shot...
DeleteI think the prompt idea is good too. I've had a hard time with blogging lately and I find that if I'm sort of told what to write about it helps. That, and I made some chocolate chip cookies:)
ReplyDeleteWhen I don't feel like sewing, I find that cleaning up my studio rekindles my excitement. It puts me back in touch with the part of me that creates:)
Y'know, I plan to make chocolate chip cookies this weekend, too. *grin*
DeleteI really need to clean my office desk - I've been avoiding my office because it's a mess. I'm like you - if I clean it up, that encourages me to write more.