Thanks Chris. It helps to know I'm not the only person to say, "why did I ever start this?" I also think, for me anyway, I have way too many books, webinars, newsletters, notifications, classes, writing groups, (ad nauseam) that are driving me slightly round the twist. All these possible groups, avenues, voices, too much for my delicate brain! I suppose stepping away from the whole mess might be helpful. Certainly better than what's in second place, which is bashing my head against a wall!
Hello Chris, Boy, can I relate to the feeling of "let's just chuck this whole idea of writing a book in the bin and never think about it ever again." I'm at that point, but without a Bec to say, "it'll be OK, if we can live through this." Actually, I do get your point about how doing hard things builds resilience, but sometimes, ya gotta wonder. When the tank is dry, the tank is dry.
Hiya Rose. I hear you and I've been there. And yes it can be super to have someone else there to pull you through but writing partnerships can be hard when you feel you're both in the quagmire together. My approach when I was facing a wall was to put the book to one side for a bit and step away. Sometimes, for months. I always worried that I wouldn't want to go back to it but always did - I think because it felt like an enormous jigsaw with missing pieces. I just couldn't get it out of my head. Could taking a break work for you I wonder?
I had no idea I was channelling Hemingway! I often stop writing mid-sentence when I have to stop writing the 'stack and go do something else. It's true - it helps me pick up when I come back, even if it's been a couple of days. I also try not to stop at the end of a paragraph but at least put four or five words of the next one down - even if they don't make much sense, just to give me a start. It works for me.
Thanks Chris. It helps to know I'm not the only person to say, "why did I ever start this?" I also think, for me anyway, I have way too many books, webinars, newsletters, notifications, classes, writing groups, (ad nauseam) that are driving me slightly round the twist. All these possible groups, avenues, voices, too much for my delicate brain! I suppose stepping away from the whole mess might be helpful. Certainly better than what's in second place, which is bashing my head against a wall!
Hello Chris, Boy, can I relate to the feeling of "let's just chuck this whole idea of writing a book in the bin and never think about it ever again." I'm at that point, but without a Bec to say, "it'll be OK, if we can live through this." Actually, I do get your point about how doing hard things builds resilience, but sometimes, ya gotta wonder. When the tank is dry, the tank is dry.
Hiya Rose. I hear you and I've been there. And yes it can be super to have someone else there to pull you through but writing partnerships can be hard when you feel you're both in the quagmire together. My approach when I was facing a wall was to put the book to one side for a bit and step away. Sometimes, for months. I always worried that I wouldn't want to go back to it but always did - I think because it felt like an enormous jigsaw with missing pieces. I just couldn't get it out of my head. Could taking a break work for you I wonder?
That feeling of giving up and then pushing through = the “grind”
Keeping grinding out there y’all 💪
I had no idea I was channelling Hemingway! I often stop writing mid-sentence when I have to stop writing the 'stack and go do something else. It's true - it helps me pick up when I come back, even if it's been a couple of days. I also try not to stop at the end of a paragraph but at least put four or five words of the next one down - even if they don't make much sense, just to give me a start. It works for me.
Yup - Hemingway is your role model! It really works :)