I've been in a bit of a writing funk for the past month. My edits on the first portion of After the Fall went well and I left for my trip excited to write the ending, but when I got home, writing was the last thing I wanted to do. Lucky for me I had plenty to help me procrastinate, but at some point last week I knew I needed to buckle down.
It went slowly at first, but then I wrote a flash piece and my writing gears loosened up. Not much, but enough to get things going again. I wrote an average of 400-500 words per day -- good, but not what I want. Then Saturday, while a hyperactive puppy and equally excited four-year old nephew swirled around me, I knocked out 500 words in under an hour. Then Ibis took them both to the beach and I decided it was now or never. I cranked out 1500 words over the course of the afternoon, then yesterday I finished that chapter. Phew!
Last night I even managed to start the next chapter, so today's session should hopefully start more smoothly.
I also submitted a short story to another publication -- something I've been doing steadily but let slide when I planned my trip. Hopefully I can keep it up.
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14 comments:
Woo, keep it up, Mel!
I'm like that after a break, too. Takes me a while to build back up from "no work" to "not enough work". :)
Adam
Awesome! Don't let those writing funks get your down. They happen too often in the world of writing...
Great job! And I love having the next chapter or scene started, and knowing exactly where it's going. Keep at it!
Thanks everyone. :)
Adam, combine that feeling with "ugh, I'm really back in @#%$^ Mexico, and I'm right there.
Lisa, I need to remind myself that. I usually know it'll pass, but then I get frustrated with myself for not being more productive.
Janna, I think I work best that way. Rather than berate myself for not writing more last night, I was happy that I'd left where I can pick up easily today.
I can relate with having puppy and nephew over. When I am hit with inspiration, I have to type quickly in spurts. Then, when the munchkins are watching a movie, I suddenly have 12ooo words typed. I think its a desperate race to tumble the words out before the next distraction. :)
Ex.) I had to stop in the middle of this post to break up an argument.
Glad you are back on track. (Even when you are stuck in %^&^% Mexico.)
JLC, now that it's quiet, raining, and no one is bothering me, I'm finding it hard to work. Apparently I NEED the distractions & the threat that I won't get the time if I don't fight for it.
I hope the kidlets are behaving now!
LOL - They are. Just a sibling skirmish over a favorite toy. :)
Enjoy your rainy day!
I know what you mean. I've been in a funk too. Sounds like you are doing good with yours :) Sometimes we just need a deadline to perk us up.
A nephew and a puppy! Whew! And you still had time and energy to write! That's awesome :)
JLC, it's made me very productive!
Erica, I think Adam had it when he mentioned it taking awhile to get back into a groove after being away from writing. I also wonder if the fact that it's taking me a long time to read the book I'm reading affects the speed of my writing. Who knows...
Yay! Even when you slack off, you're consistent. I'm so impressed. When I slack off it means months of doing absolutely nada.
Getting going after a slow period is hard. I know that more than most as I'm prone to slumps.
Best of luck picking up and congrats on the submission. I've been submitting more than usual too.
Nice work, Melanie. :)
I have those slow days, too. But I do find if I write something, no matter how little or how crummy, the flow returns.
Robin, I think if I had a job and/or kids I might slack off for longer, but as it is I don't feel like I have an excuse.
Good luck Benjamin!
Gypsy, same for me. 100 words per day is my bare minimum. It moves the scene forward a hair so that I'm not staring at the same paragraph for days on end.
That's awesome that you submitted another story for pub!! I need to do that but have also been procrastinating. Maybe I'll get my butt in gear next week. :)
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