Ten months ago, in my post, ‘Births, quilting and other reasons for not writing,’ I felt optimistic about returning to writing. Five months ago, I was redrafting ‘The Whirlstone,’ writing the story from the viewpoint of three different characters.
Since November, when my mum broke her kneecap and had an extended stay hospital and then moved to a care home, I have written nothing.
Now, I have hit that deep hole where it feels impossible to sit down at my desk, let alone put pen to paper or fingers on a keyboard. I call it the ‘Slough of Despond.’
Somewhere, I’ve seen the quote, ‘Writer’s block is when your imaginary friends won’t talk to you.’ Well, I think my imaginary friends have left the universe.
As always, I have valid reasons as to why I haven’t been writing – or excuses – the daft thing is that I am far more optimistic when I am writing and yet being depressed stops me from even trying to start the process.
Thanks to Tom Gauld, cartoonist for The Guardian for the above image which has put a smile on my face. I think I need ‘The Elixir of Courage.’
Wish me luck!
LOVED this.
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Thank you
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Good luck!
I, too, have fallen into the not writing doldrums, but I think I’m starting to emerge. I worked on my novel three days in a row last week. Not much, mind you, but some. It’s a start. And I’m hopeful that I’ll do some today.
Each writer becomes blocked for a different reason. For me, I think it was a feeling that my novel just wasn’t as good as I wanted it to be. I send the MS in for another round of paid beta reading, and those comments helped me see how to get the story to where I wanted it to be. I think that’s why my enthusiasm is returning.
Hope you find out your cause and cure soon!
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Thanks for your comment and good luck with your writing
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Keep going Jennie, sometimes it is better to think about how far you have come rather than how far you have to go. I think that your “friends” are just around the corner and will whisper to you in your sleep
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Hi Gill. Thank you, as always. Am going away tomorrow for a few days. Hopefully to do some walking and revisit Avebury Stone Cicle. Have a very Happy Easter x
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