Write, write, write… Write for more. Nothing to write. Write anyway.
Maintaining the attitude of writing down your thoughts is exhausting. Especially when you feel you need to make progress, you might feel guilty for every minute you don’t contribute to your process.
"I should have written another chapter or a better dialogue by now.”
I honestly have no idea if every writer feels this way, but I would bet that the majority do. After all, they all share the same mentality when it comes to the same task: Writing.
I have certainly found myself in this position many times in a day. I feel like I am slacking off when I could be adding something better to my chapter. The urge is there, but the execution never comes in time or when it is most needed.
Sometimes I can tell myself that it is okay to take a break for a while. But it also reminds me of my mentality when I put down my pen. I tend to give in easily, or find it difficult to get back to my stories.
With time, I also learned that our souls need time to replenish themselves. It is true that it postpones your work, but in the end, which is more important: your mental health or your story? Sure, we can prioritise one over the other, but this is what I think: I feel great when I’m writing, and if I can’t write, I shouldn’t force myself to feel guilty. That would make both worse.
Photo by Gadiel Lazcano on Unsplash
I also think there is something very important that justifies this attitude of mine: loneliness. I am not a social person and that tends to affect my writing. In what way? Well, when I say not being social, I mean not only physically, but also mentally. I rarely get in touch with the real world when I feel down, and it can take a while to get better.
Paying attention to other things, listening to what others are saying, talking to others or meeting someone… These are not casual activities in my life. So I basically skip things that would make me feel better and make me want to write more. Talking about getting feedback.
In such gloomy times I notice the lack of it. But as soon as I get together with my friends, it usually goes away. Talking about something other than what you normally think about stimulates your brain. It puts you on a different track and pushes you to find a new way.
So talking about your writing is also a key to writing more. Strangely enough, you are not writing while doing so, but you are writing (or rewriting) your plot and narrative in your mind while talking about it. So, socialising is indeed important to get rid of the psychotic attitude of yours that is granted by loneliness (and perhaps solitude within it).
Thinking about your story in a different way, with the help of your friends, from a perspective that you have never considered or funny, silly or amusing, will fold the eagerness within you to move forward. So I suggest you shake it off, call your friends, take a relaxing shower, put on a nice dress, make yourself feel better with your favourite music, go out and have a coffee, enjoy the environment outside your comfort zone and chat with your friends.
And if you don’t have any of these things, there are digital ways to do the same. In fact, you can get faster and perhaps more interesting feedback online with social-based applications.
In the end, it’s all right, it’s okay. Wash your face, do your housework, eat an apple, feel the life for a second and think about what you have. Think about your story as you walk or listen to your favourite music on the bus. Groundhog Day won’t add anything to you, make a small difference today.
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