Question and Answer Day on The Wet Noodle Posse
Thank goodness it's Friday. I don't know about the rest of you, but I'm exhausted from school being back in session and from staying up late to watch the Olympics. The Olympics--now there's some inspiration. I wonder if anyone's ever been inspired to write a romance novel after watching an olympic event.
Since it's Q&A day, I guess I'll start with a question of my own. Why do you think, even though we're writers, we sometimes don't feel inspired to write?
Don't forget, all posts get entered into the $20 Barnes & Noble gift certificate awarded at the end of August. The more you post, the better your chances.
posted by Mo H @ 7:24 AM
22 Comments:
That is a good question, but I don't know if I have a good enough answer for it. I think it probably varies with each person because we are so different in our mindsets and our life experiences.
As an off-shoot of your question, what do you do to get the creative juices flowing again, to inspire yourself to write again?
I agree with Margay that that's a tough question. Fear of failure comes to mind, but that could just be me.
Margay, I get as far from writing as I can. Especially this summer, the writing has always been Right There and it's hard to push every day, really. So taking a day trip with no computer in sight helps. Or going to a museum. Sometimes even visiting a bookstore will do it - seeing all those books and imagining yours there on the shelf. Something to refill the well.
For some reason, the movie The Divine Secrets of the Ya Ya Sisterhood inspires me. I have no idea why, but every time I see that movie, I want to write.
Mary, I have that same reaction to movies and even to books I read. There are some that are just so creative and well done, they make you want to create your own. But then, that's probably what inspired me to write in the first place.
Tough question indeed. There are so many factors, both physical and mental - even spiritual.
I wonder which is more potent - fear of failure or fear of success? Anyone ever experience that?
Sometimes, for me, it is a matter of me allowing everything else to crowd in on the creative part of my brain. And getting it all pushed back can be hard and tedious to do.
To jump start the process, I read an old favorite or go for a walk in the wooded part of my five acres. I go out and play with the rescued dogs. It is really hard to feel stuck when you see the joy and exuberance with which they attack life. Especially when I know what their fate might have been.
How funny--I just posted a blog about this, or close enough to it! :) Work has started back up again (schools) and all the girls are headed back to school, and we are all so exhausted. Everyone is in a different school building this year!:)
I said that I (try!) to keep my desk area clean where I write--no bills, no school stuff, and a hearty supply of chocolate M&M's. It's very hard for me to come home and remember how a story "feels" after days filled with meetings. But it will be better when we get into a routine again.
And yes, staying up after eleven to watch the Olympics isn't helping...:)
One of my friends has a definite fear of success. Lauren McKenna was so intrigued by her book, and it still took her FIVE YEARS to write.
Louisa, you are so right about everything else crowding in. I'm having that this weekend with getting ready to go back to school. I just have two teeny new scenes to write in my story and I just can't find the right way to write them.
Gillian, I'm dreading the exhaustion, and my dad decided he'd come visit the first week we're back with the kids! So I have to clean AND get back in a schedule! GAH!
Margay,
I like your offshoot question. I try to get my creativity flowing by doing something else that's creative, but not writing. Crazy as it sounds, sewing or scrapbooking helps. That and reminding myself that I can fix it later. I like to revise.
Louisa,
I envy your five acres! I think it can be fear of either success or failure for many people. The key is to turn that fear into motivation, right?
Gillian,
I hear you on the whole routine. I'm hoping next week we'll be smooth sailing. I, too, have those now where was I moments when I get back to the desk, which is much messier at the moment than yours! :)
Mary,
I love the idea of going to a bookstore and imagining your books on the shelves as a motivator. I must do that--once I get this chapter revised, and do the week's grocery shopping, and take daughter to ballet. Okay, maybe tomorrow!
I'm with you, Mary. Usually when I get stumped it's because I'm burned out. Reading does a good job of motivating me. Not only because it's a rest from creating, but because it reminds me of all the competition I have for readers' eyes. :D
That's funny, I do that, too. I like to knit. Not only is it therapeutic and fun, but it frees the mind of junk and stimulates the creative juices. Plus, you get some neat things out of the deal.
So here's another question: How many writers here also indulge in other creative pursuits and what kind?
Nice topic, Margay!
Cardmaking and singing.
On rare occasions, drawing.
thanks, Esri! I'm always amazed by the talent of others and I've learned that people who are creative in one area tend to be so in others, as well. I love to draw, but I don't seem to have the time these days. One thing I want to do, though, is learn how to watercolor. I just love the look of watercolor paintings - love the Impressionists.
I actually did sew this week. My favorite part of that is putting the fabric and pattern together, kinda like putting my hero and heroine together with a plot, I guess. And I crochet when I have time.
I discovered my cp is also crafty. I've known her for 8 years and never knew that!
I know so many people who knit and crochet. Maybe I should take it up. I think it would have to be shawls. I don't think I'd have the patience for sleeves. But I do wear shawls. I assume you start wude abd just knit fewer and fewer knitty bits until you come to the point.
Whoops. Fingers migrated on the keyboard. That would be "start wide and"
Well on the creative side I sang opera until I retired and I still do the odd concert now and then.
Craft-wise I do a lot of needlework. I am always working on a quilt. It may just be a line of stitches a day, maybe a whole square, but I always have one stretched out on the frame. And cross-stitch too. Same thing - always a WIP. When I finish one I start another. For real concentration when I am trying to work out a plot problem Tatting usually works. There are three reasons I would LOVE to become a full-time writer - I LOVE WRITING and I would have more time for my needlework and I WOULD NEVER HAVE TO WORK AT WAL-MART AGAIN!!
Lack of inspiration? That's hitting home, although I'm not sure that's the real reason I've let my writing slide a bit. I've hit a 'wall' with finding the motivation to write a 3rd connecting book when I haven't been able to place the second one yet. I love my premise, and I love the characters, but the thought of maybe having to totally rewrite it as a stand alone (which I already did for book 2), kills some of the motivation. And I think for me, it's not inspiration that's lacking, but motivation. Now, if I had a 3 book contract and real deadlines, I think I could get motivated real fast.
I up my reading time when I'm not writing enough. I might fall back on some total 'lose myself' time with Eve and Roarke, or read straight mystery.
If I need to force myself to the keyboard, I usually start by doing critiques for me CPs, or subbing an 'iffy' chapter to them. Comments help me get a running start.
I remind myself that part of being a writer in this day and age, unless you're someone like Linda Howard or Nora Roberts means keeping your name out there, so the time I spend on my blog, or website, or even a little blog hopping comes under the "I'm working on my career" umbrella.
Terry: It's easy to understand your lack of motivation, given your situation. Maybe a brand new book, just for yourself and just for fun? It's good to remind ourselves what it was like to write just for fun. Loosens up our voices, too.
Working on your web presence definitely counts as career stuff. :D
Wasn't there a movie or book called Ice Castles about Olympic skaters? And there's Chariots of Fire, about racing. And the one about the famous skier who broke her neck and was paralyzed?
I think I miss my craft work, which I did for so many years. I can't sew anymore because of pain in my back, but I would like to go back to knitting. My sister-in-law just handed me a lace afghan I knitted for her years ago, hoping I could fix the hole in it, and I doubt if I will even be able to find a yarn that could do it, but I'm going to try.
Today I should be inspired by a fabulous 5-Ribbon review from Romancer Junkies. I'd better give up telling everyone and gt busy writing if I'm going to make my page count for the day. Sometimes inspiration can be a drawback!
Ice Castles - with Robby Benson ;)
That was an awesome review, Delle! I can see you smiling from here!
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