I wish I could blame my lack of blogging on mounting manuscript pages. But I can’t. No, in fact, I’ve been in a wee bit of a writing slump. Now, that’s not for lack of ideas or words, but more a feeling of ever-present distraction. If they had a twelve-step program for people who are perpetually sidetracked, maybe that’s where I’d be.
Instead, I’m here with a mounting to-do list that has little to do with what I’d really like to be doing: writing. Mind you, most of the tasks on that Distractions list relate to writing in some way, but very few of them amount to words on a page or pages in a stack or getting closer to THE END.
See, it’s a self-destructive cycle really: I get distracted. I wind up doing too many things that don’t bring me fulfillment. I begin feeling too overloaded to write. I start to feel bad because I’m not writing. I look for time-occupiers to take my mind off the fact that I’m not writing. I stay distracted.
That’s not to say that I haven’t accomplished anything over the last six months. I finished an anthology, am close to proving that I really can write a 14-page story, planned a writers’ conference, and re-designed my web site. Yesterday, I started a new crochet project that I aim to complete in the next three weeks. And, today, I’m blogging.
Some author I came across years ago said she doesn’t have writer’s block or get into slumps. Why? Butt in chair, fingers on keyboard. And I have to admit, that right now – having assumed that position – watching my words fill this white space feels really good.
OK. So let me go back to the way that works for me and get off this waylaid treadmill:
- I will resurrect my writing journal
- I will set measurable and attainable monthly writing goals – classes, word counts, promotional activities, events – at the start of each month
- I will log my progress every day and make notes to encourage tomorrow’s work
- I will flip-flop my priorities and allow myself one hour per day to pursue my distractions and dedicate 3-4 hours per day to building my word count. Not the other way around.
- I’ll do a better job of taking care of me.
- I will then be able to write every day
- I will write every day
Woosa. . .
2 comments:
I didn't know you crocheted?!?!? I'm a knitter!!!
What are you making? I started a sweater and a coat, but like you, both knitting and my writing get sidetracked by distractions.
Good luck with your goals!!!
And I didn't know you knitted!! I'm working on an afghan. Mind you -- I've returned three sets of yarn and tried four different sized needles. Even now that I like the yarn, pattern and feel of the piece, I've unraveled and re-started it twice because I wanted the size just so.
Oh, yeah, back to woosa...
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