I have been struggling to find my words lately. A friend recently shared this with me and it has helped me gain some insight into why.
It is a post about how to find your "writing groove again."
The first suggestion is to make a list of why you aren't writing. Well, there are many reasons actually. Things that do take priority at times but mostly I just feel very distracted from writing. Sitting down today to write this slice all I could think was, "I can't think."
Then it says to purge your writing space. I spent countless hours about two years ago creating a space to write. You know what it looks like now? A mess. I don't even go down there anymore it is so overwhelmed with books and disarray. I guess I know what I need to do.
Read a book, not just any book, but an amazing book or a craft book. Right now I'd give anything to have the attention span to read a page let alone a book. I think some good poetry is probably a place to start and I have several books just waiting to be opened.
The last suggestion is to just do it, write anyway, even though you feel like you can't. I think this is my best option right now. Just do it and sludge through the mess that is likely going to arise in hopes that there is a piece or a phrase that ignites something worth telling. I think I need to get back to my writing habit and stop obsessing about my inability to hold onto thoughts right now.
not writing
no words
just here
will you lay
sprout from my ears
and please find your way
no dirge do I hear
your death
not occurred
I'm waiting for you
on the page
to return
I feel your pain, Betsy. Being here at Highlights has helped me. Do you think you can get away somewhere by yourself for a weekend?
ReplyDeleteProbably not for a while. School starts soon and that creates a whole new set of obstacles. I was on such a writing "high" for a few years and this has come as a shock to me. It's hard.
DeleteBetsy, I've been in a rut, too. A long one. It's so hard to get back in the groove. SO hard. I think the last tip is the best one - do it anyway. Put your butt in the chair and just write, something... anything. Ugh.
ReplyDeleteWoo Hoo for writing!
ReplyDelete