#IWSG: I want to write

#IWSG: I Want to Write

9/2/2020

The first Wednesday of every month is the Insecure Writer's Support Group. Posts go up the 1st Wednesday of every month. Check it out here and join if you need support with your writing. Don't forget to stop by and say hi to the co-hosts: PJ Colando, J Lenni Dorner, Deniz Bevan, Kim Lajevardi, Natalie Aguirre, and Louise - Fundy Blue!

I have a lot I could talk about, and honestly, I have no idea where to start. Things happened in my life and most of it got in the way of writing. All my focus was on either family or my health issues, so much so, that I pretty much forgot I had a book releasing at the end of August. I've said it elsewhere and I'll say it again, if not for Jemi Fraser, I would have forgotten about Influenced coming out on August 22nd. Thank you, Jemi!

This ties in to last month's IWSG post/blog hop about writer's burnout. I had someone in the comments say if you decide not to write to not leave it for too long. You don't want to fall out of habit.

He is right, but most of the time when I say it's okay not to write, I'm not talking about not deciding to write. I'm talking about being unable to write because of circumstances outside of your control. I deal with chronic pain every month, and I'm not deciding not to write during my flares, I'm in so much pain that I can't. I can't do anything. Laundry piles up. Dishes go unwashed. I don't even shower. All my energy goes to surviving the day because I know the pain won't last and I'm lucky to not have to deal with it 24/7. If I can just make it through that short time, then I can get back to writing.

That's a different beast to deciding to take the weekend off from writing. That's my point I'm trying to get across when I say it's okay not to write. Yes, it is healthy to write routinely (and to take a day off) but it's also healthy to realize that sometimes, despite our best efforts, other things will get in the way of writing, and if we want to get back to writing, we have to take care of those things, whether it be health, family, jobs, whatever.

PS: It's my brother's birthday today. He would have been 44 if not for cancer.

20 Comments

Alex J. Cavanaugh link

9/1/2020 11:46:43 am

Sorry you've been too miserable to write - and almost forgot your book release!

Liz A. link

9/1/2020 07:06:25 pm

You have to do you. And what's right for you may not be right for someone else.

Once upon a time, I was forced into something that I did not want to do. But at the time, I had no choice. As soon as circumstances changed, I quit. Now, I don't quit things. When I start things, I finish them. So, it felt weird to quit this. But I knew it was right for me as I hated what I was doing, and as someone who never quit anything, it was a good lesson in letting myself not finish.

Don't write when you can't. People who say you might get out of the habit are talking about themselves. You can only do what's right for you.

CD Gallant-King link

9/2/2020 07:15:14 am

As someone who has an up and down life and has watched someone suffer the cycles of chronic pain, I get it. What you're describing is not writer's burnout. You can't write, for whatever reason, and you might as well have a busted computer, because it is physically impossible to do what you want to do and it sucks and it's frustrating and it's depressing. It's not the same thing as not wanting to write.

Madeline Mora-Summonte link

9/2/2020 07:16:23 am

Sometimes getting through the day is all we can do. Take care of yourself, Patricia.

Chrys Fey link

9/2/2020 08:18:40 am

I completely agree with you. I've also have said that it's okay not to write. There are so many things out of our control that can make it difficult to write or even focus on it (pain, sickness, depression, burnout, stress, sudden life changes, etc.).

M.J. Fifield link

9/2/2020 08:21:10 am

Life does not always cooperate with us. It's definitely okay not to write when that happens. If we're not taking care of ourselves, we won't be able to write anything at any time.

Tyrean A Martinson link

9/2/2020 09:32:18 am

There are definitely days when we just need rest, and it sounds like you really need rest.
It's definitely okay not to write and it is okay to give ourselves permission to rest.

Jemima Pett link

9/2/2020 10:27:14 am

Sorry to hear the black dog has been attacking you again. I know for some the black dog is depression, but I don't know what to call your pain if not the black dog.
I did see LOTS of social media around Influenced, so something worked for you!
I don't think I can hit 17th/18th for you, but I could host you as a guest later on, say late October or November, if you like?

Anna

9/2/2020 11:09:17 am

I agree that a routine is great for the writer in us, however, we are human beings first. Self-care is critical. :-)

<a href="http://emaginette.wordpress.com"> Anna from elements of emaginette</a>

Loni Townsend link

9/2/2020 11:09:28 am

The ups and downs make writing hard and well-intentioned advice from those who don't know usually doesn't help. I hope the painless days outweigh the painful ones. And congrats on your new release!

Lee Lowery link

9/2/2020 11:22:03 am

Congrats on the upcoming release! I've pre-ordered and can't wait to read it!

I've reached the point where I find very little relevance in writing advice anymore. You know exactly what you need to do, given the blessings or burdens of each day, and no one has any business judging whether you are doing it "right."

BTW, I love this website design! Great job!

Natalie Aguirre link

9/2/2020 11:44:05 am

I so agree that there are times when you can't write for whatever reason. I would be glad to shout out about your book in my Follower News when it releases. Email me if you're interested.

C. Lee McKenzie

9/2/2020 03:06:22 pm

I can't seem to comment, so am piggybacking onto Natalie's. Family is always a priority, even over writing.

9/2/2020 02:58:42 pm

I've taken time away from writing and found I was better for having done so!

olga godim link

9/2/2020 04:16:17 pm

Sorry you're feeling so poorly. Hopefully it will get better. And the writing will surely follow. Don't think about it now. You need all your strength to deal with your health issues.

Lynda R Young as Elle Cardy link

9/2/2020 05:16:58 pm

When I was one of the primary care-givers for my brother, I couldn't write for two years. I had to tell myself it was okay...and it was. After he passed, I got back into writing. It was a little rough at the start, but time helped, as it does with all things.

I help with your reveal on the week after. I hope that's ok.

Tonja Drecker

9/3/2020 08:27:57 am

There is no right or wrong to writing. It's art. Art is always personal. Writing (as I see it) is like breathing. It's a part of who I am, and I always come back to it when the time comes. But that doesn't mean I don't have months where I can't write. It's frustrating when that happens, but I know that life comes in phases. Writing isn't everything (gasp!) and life inspires writing. So, I don't agree with those who say that a true writer writes every day no matter what. It's simply not true.

Tamara Ann Narayan link

9/3/2020 12:48:29 pm

I've taken off the summer from writing and will probably take off part of the fall. I've decided to stop putting off a decluttering of the house and to get the yard in order. The house has been bugging me for years. Now I just hope I can find places to send the non-garbage stuff during this pandemic. Oh, what fun. I've got a novel to second draft when I'm ready to sit still again.

Rebecca Douglass link

9/3/2020 10:06:57 pm

I've been dealing with a different kind of pain, but you are right--sometimes you simply can't write. And the only thing to do is accept that, and not add to the burden by beating yourself up about it.

J.S. Pailly link

9/5/2020 08:56:39 am

I used to suffer from debilitating migraines, and yeah... there were times I could barely get out of bed. Writing was impossible. Pretty much everything was impossible. Fortunately my doctor was able to track down the cause of my pain, and I very rarely get those migraines now.

The lesson I learned from this whole experience is that health has to come first. Being a writer may be the most important thing in my life, but health still has to come first. Always.

#IWSG: I Want to Write

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