This article matches my situation! I have had a blast in writing the last week's. Now I've hit a construction topic with my plot, finding holes, moving scenes, comparing the premise of each plot with my actual writing. I know it is very valuable work to play around with my plot cards, yet there's a tiny voice mocking myself for not writing more words.
Tell the mocking voice that this is just another — entirely valid — part of the process. If you didn't stop to assess, shuffle, and get an objective view of the situation you'd just write yourself off a cliff... ;)
I love that you included arts and crafts! I've been crafting and sewing a fair amount recently, and often feel like that's irrelevant to writing, but you're right--it's been so restorative!
Isn't it? I feel like it activates the same part of my brain as writing does, somehow. Or at the very least, it's so regulating. What are you crafting?
I find my muse doesn't like it when I look directly at her... but keeping my creative brain busy with some of those 'art-adjacent' activities above sometimes tempts her out to peek over my shoulder and say "hey, pay attention to me, instead!"
In November I am lazy (maybe call it unmotivated) physically and mentally. That's my justification for not filling the blank pages. For now. My Muse needs a poke and I hoping the month long poetry course I've signed up for starting later this month, will kick me into high gear. Thanks for your post.
Hmmm, I suspect "everyone else" spends a whole lot of time thinking that "everyone else" is better than them, too... But who's the arbiter of all this judgement? And why should that stop you writing?
Because I bet YOU'RE also a better writer than you were a year ago, which is really the only comparison you ought to be doing. And if that's the case, then it stands to reason you'll continue to better yourself the *more* you write, right? ;)
Correction when I’m not writing, I’m out bike riding and that’s when a lot of ideas come to me. Thank you for this great list and for giving us permission not to write.
When I’m riding I listen music and writing podcasts. I also read and talk to my plants. All this week, I’ve been encouraging my cactus plant to bloom and I see pink buds on the tips!
This article is simply brilliant because it's so true! Some of my best ideas occur when I am not writing - but doing other "things". And paying attention to the subtle messages that fall on your lap. Thank you for sharing this.
Not writing at the moment, because I don't have the energy to look for beta readers for 2 sci fi books and am rather busy with the day job. Crocheting, choir and maybe an improv course are keeping me going, while my subconscious is churning.
This Feedback Friends speculative call was posted a while ago now, but might be worth checking the comments and DMing anyone who looks like a possible fit?
Talking about writing is very important and fun. Great article.
Great items on this list. I'm happy to see craft on here; I think I'm lacking a bit of that right now.
All of the ABOVE! Thank you for keeping our spirits up.
❤️
This article matches my situation! I have had a blast in writing the last week's. Now I've hit a construction topic with my plot, finding holes, moving scenes, comparing the premise of each plot with my actual writing. I know it is very valuable work to play around with my plot cards, yet there's a tiny voice mocking myself for not writing more words.
Tell the mocking voice that this is just another — entirely valid — part of the process. If you didn't stop to assess, shuffle, and get an objective view of the situation you'd just write yourself off a cliff... ;)
I love that you included arts and crafts! I've been crafting and sewing a fair amount recently, and often feel like that's irrelevant to writing, but you're right--it's been so restorative!
Isn't it? I feel like it activates the same part of my brain as writing does, somehow. Or at the very least, it's so regulating. What are you crafting?
Waiting patiently to hear from my Muse. 👂🏽
I find my muse doesn't like it when I look directly at her... but keeping my creative brain busy with some of those 'art-adjacent' activities above sometimes tempts her out to peek over my shoulder and say "hey, pay attention to me, instead!"
My Muse is the quiet type. She’s like a fairy in my pocket, always with me. She whispers the topic of the next pen-to-paper experience. It’s about
4:30PM. Nothing yet for today’s Stafford Challenge post.
She came through on a RAFT (Phyllis Cole-Dai) Joyster ZOOM meeting
7-8:30PM. She's worth waiting for; not that I really have a viable option.
This is very useful stuff to think about.
In November I am lazy (maybe call it unmotivated) physically and mentally. That's my justification for not filling the blank pages. For now. My Muse needs a poke and I hoping the month long poetry course I've signed up for starting later this month, will kick me into high gear. Thanks for your post.
Lazy or... taking a well-earned break after 10 months of <this>? Poetry also sounds like a gentle poke in the muse lol. Enjoy!
I stop writing when I believe that Everyone else is a better writer than I!
Hmmm, I suspect "everyone else" spends a whole lot of time thinking that "everyone else" is better than them, too... But who's the arbiter of all this judgement? And why should that stop you writing?
Because I bet YOU'RE also a better writer than you were a year ago, which is really the only comparison you ought to be doing. And if that's the case, then it stands to reason you'll continue to better yourself the *more* you write, right? ;)
Correction when I’m not writing, I’m out bike riding and that’s when a lot of ideas come to me. Thank you for this great list and for giving us permission not to write.
Something magical about being on the move — I find the same with walking, running, even riding on the bus!
When I’m riding I listen music and writing podcasts. I also read and talk to my plants. All this week, I’ve been encouraging my cactus plant to bloom and I see pink buds on the tips!
The plant-talk is the most adorable thing. Yay lil cactus!! (Maybe we should talk to our stories that way, too...)
This article is simply brilliant because it's so true! Some of my best ideas occur when I am not writing - but doing other "things". And paying attention to the subtle messages that fall on your lap. Thank you for sharing this.
Ahh I'm so glad it resonated. And oof yes those subtle messages... often when you're really not thinking about writing at all!
Yes to reading and talking about stories!!
:D
Whatcha workin on?
Not writing at the moment, because I don't have the energy to look for beta readers for 2 sci fi books and am rather busy with the day job. Crocheting, choir and maybe an improv course are keeping me going, while my subconscious is churning.
Love these creative sidebar activities (esp improv — it's basically a storytelling workout, right?).
And maybe there are some sci fi readers in The Forever Workshop community who might want to volunteer for beta reading tribute...? Anyone?
Would of course be happy to reciprocate with beta reading!
This Feedback Friends speculative call was posted a while ago now, but might be worth checking the comments and DMing anyone who looks like a possible fit?
https://www.theforeverworkshop.com/p/feedback-friends-forever-lets-get
Thank you!