by Lynette Eason @LynetteEason
What do you do when you don’t feel like writing? Gasp! Not feel like writing? Is that even a real feeling?
Um…yes. Unfortunately, it happens. At least to me. Don’t get me wrong. I love what I do. I adore my job and the flexibility it affords me. Believe me, I don’t take it for granted. But I don’t wake up EVERY SINGLE day thinking, “Oh boy! I’m just so excited, I can’t wait to hit the keyboard!”
For those of you who do this, we are not friends and you can go away.
Just kidding.
Sort of.
Anyway, for those of you who are occasionally afflicted with this “I don’t want to write today” thing, I have a few helpful tips on how to get past that.
- Sit down in front of your manuscript and edit. Sometimes when I edit, I’ll get a new idea to flesh out. That will generate some excitement about moving forward with the story.
- Get your voice recorder out and start brainstorming the next part of the story. Just start talking. It’s okay if you sound like an idiot, you’re the only one who will hear it.
- Do something physical. But read the last part of your manuscript before you go. Then while you’re working out or walking around the block, you can be thinking about the next scene, fleshing it out in your mind, getting it ready to be put on the screen.
- Email a brainstorming buddy and cry on his or her shoulder tell her the story in a stream of consciousness telling. Don’t stop to breathe, just talk. When you’re finished, say, “Now what happens?”
- Sit down in front of your manuscript and tell yourself you can’t get up until you write at 10 words. Yes. 10. Then you’re allowed to go do something fun. Because I can’t write just 10 words. I always write more. Granted, sometimes it’s 20, but at least I met my goal! Ha. Seriously, I’m willing to bet that would happen to you too.
- And last but not least, adopt the Nike slogan. “Just do it.” (Most necessary when deadlines loom.)
Yes, I know you think that that last one is not really the most helpful suggestion, but actually it is. I look at it this way. Everyone who has a job has days where he/she doesn’t want to go in to work. Writing is the same thing. It’s your job. Unless you’re sick or otherwise incapacitated, you go to work. Although I will say this, like some dedicated people (who are unappreciated in the office environment) sometimes you go to work when you’re sick. The good thing is that, at least if you’re a writer and you work from home, you won’t spread the yuck.
Honestly, I really do love writing. I’m very excited about each project God lets me work on. Like I said earlier, I don’t take it for granted that I get to do what I get to do. I’m not whining or complaining. I’m just being honest. Some days it’s just plain hard work and some days I’m just not in the mood to go to work. And that’s okay.
And I would like to also point out that these suggestions are great for pre-pubbed writers as well. You may not have publisher deadlines, but if you don’t get a manuscript finished…you won’t have publisher deadlines.
So, what are some other suggestions you could add to the list? What do you do when you MUST write and you just don’t want to? I can ALWAYS use more ideas!
Lynette Eason is the award-winning, bestselling author of over thirty books. Lynette writes for Revell and Harlequin’s Love Inspired Suspense line. Her books have finaled or won awards in contests such as The Maggies, Inspirational Readers Choice Award, The Carol, ECPA Book of the Year, The Selah, and others. Her most recent wins are the Carol Award in 2013 and the Inspirational Readers Choice Award in 2014. She began her teaching career in the public school classroom and has since moved to teaching at conferences all over the country. Lynette often speaks at women’s conference and retreats, but finds her first love is teaching writing. In her spare time she can be found hanging out with her family, loving on her nieces and nephews, traveling, and…um…writing. Lynette and her husband Jack live in South Carolina with their two teenagers. Life is never boring, that’s for sure! Lynette can often be found online at www.facebook.com/lynette.eason @lynetteeason on Twitter, and www.lynetteeason.com.
The Conversation
Lynette, I love the, 10 words, suggestion. That is easy. I’m using it. Thanks. God bless you for all you do.
When I don’t feel like writing, I sit and stare at my WIP or I call my 20-year old grandson. He seems to come up with some pretty unique ideas. The problem is, he’s not always available, so I grab some chocolate and sit on the deck and stare at the lake until guilt kicks me back to my desk and I stare at my WIP some more until my thoughts come alive. Once I’ve started writing I refuse to leave my chair until I’ve written at least 100 words.
So we can apparently be best friends because I feel this way a lot. I don’t really know why except that maybe I like the feeling I get from having written than the one I get before I begin. Then again, procrastination is my middle name about everything, so this is probably just one more facet on that unenviable trait.
I absolutely laughed out loud (and scared the dog) at you meeting your word count with 20 words. If you think of it, you actually met double your goal. Score!
Lynette, there are two schools of thought among writers–either there is such a thing as writer’s block or there isn’t. I vacillate between the two poles, but I tend to come down on the side of the writer (can’t recall his name now) who said, “I only write when I’m inspired. And I see to it that I get inspired at 9 AM every day.” All the things you suggest are helpful, but the best suggestion is the last–“Just do it.”