Hi All,
Welcome to another IWSG post. Thanks to the talents of Alex J Cavanough and the AMAZING IWSG staff we are able to vent our insecurites or offer advice to other writers...how cool is that!
If you would like to join, please hop over to Alex's site to join.
Can you imagine it is JUNE already? Six months into 2021 and I feel I am still in 2020. I know that so many people blame Covid for this and for that, but the reality is that it has altered everyone's life. My creativity levels have been in limbo for quite some time now. Every time I try to write, my focus is just not there. I would much rather be outside digging in my garden and spending great portions of the day planting, trimming, sweeping, mulching, and cutting. I was never really the gardening type, but since I have been forced into a seclusive state, this is what gets me through the day. How about you? Do you feel comfort in your seclusion?
I actually do. I still see my neighbors and chat with them as they go by their daily walks, jogs, or errands. And this seems to be enough. I honestly don't understand why. When I lived in Chicago, I was never home. My days were spent running around the city with clients, shopping, working out, dining out, etc. That was my life. I had no problem writing and reading for hours on end when I finally did get home. I survived on five hours of sleep and felt amazing. Now, I am up at 5:30, and in bed by 10:00 exhausted. I barely read and haven't written much in about a month. This year seems to be slipping away so quickly, and I feel as though I will never catch up. Does anyone else feel that way?
One would think, now that our lives are somewhat going back to a new norm, I would feel energized and ready to face the future... but, I don't. Perhaps I have reclused too far. I felt differntly in the beginning of Spring... the weather was crisp and nature was bursting. Now, the temps have risen to amost summer heat, and I am fried, almost literally. The sun is so intense, and it's only June.
I so wanted to get so much accomplished and start a new story and get excited about writing again. But, it's more of chore for me and not a pleasure. I just wish I could feel the way I did when I wrote my first two novels. I had so much determination and tenacity to keep plugging along and believing in my stories, knowing they would be published someday. Well, that day hasn't come. Eleven years of writing. I guess it's my turn to get discouraged, but I have always been an optimist, and I will snap out of it. Thanks for listening and being there for me this month...
For all you spring flower lovers out there... perhaps a bouquet of peonies will make you smile. My gardens are flowing over with them, and they are just beautiful. I can't keep up with the arrangements...
Wishing you all a wonderful JUNE!!!!!
19 comments:
Oh Michael... You wrote exactly what I've been feeling/going through. I'd rather be outside weeding than inside writing.
This past year has thrown off everyone's game. I've lost zest for many things and am stunned I managed to finish my manuscript last year.
Hi Michael, I completely identify with you. Till 30th March my writing was going great, I sent my editor my contracted manuscript on schedule. But from April, my writing slowed down, as did my reading and May was bad. I find myself doing household chores, walking, exercising and listening to music. This Covid has completely altered our lives. Stay safe.
I'm definitely trying to regain some equilibrium from last year's world tilt. As a classic introvert, I haven't really minded the seclusion. It's the weirdness of going out in a pandemic that puts me off kilter. Hang in there!
Hi Michael -love peonies ... so wonderful. I'm in just keeping going mode in a slothful mode! My brain is active and ready to go - during the summer I hope things will settle out and the winter will be better.
Life is definitely going to be different ... somehow we'll need to adjust - I'm just glad that my blogging friends are around ... all the best to you - cheers Hilary
I think a lot of writers have had a hard time writing during COVID. And at various times in our lives we may not be as excited to write. That's totally okay. It's a hard creative venture to stay excited about given how hard it is to get published. I've been writing for short periods-30 minutes to an hour about five days a week since November. I have accomplished a lot towards getting it down. I enjoy it while I'm doing it but do not feel at all driven to get published. There's other great things to enjoy in life. Don't beat yourself up if you're enjoying where you're at.
To answer your title question: not a heck of a lot writerly speaking, anyway. My husband and I have been trying to keep our 17yr-old afloat. He's child #4 and the last one still living at home. He's always thrived at school - enrolled in the top classes, involved in activities, sports, etc... Covid has destroyed parts of him. He has no desire to do anything. He's under a doctor's care, but this school calendar year can't end soon enough for us. We're hopeful he can regroup, heal, and have a successful senior year. *enough about moi . . .
I'm so sorry you've struggled, too. You're correct. Life has been altered for every single one of us. And yes, writing/reading just hasn't held the same umph that it did pre-Covid, at least for me. Thinking about you and keeping you in my prayers. I'm still so grateful for this writing community. <3
I've got to get in the habit of writing daily. I manage to whip out a few games of solitaire each and every morning as I drink my coffee.
One thing that I have considered of late is to focus on the journey and what may be the end result. I was discouraged with the dim prospect of anything I write being remotely successful. But I have enjoyed the stories and the process of improving them. So I will continue to write.
Sometimes creativity strikes us in different ways. Right now, your garden is your creative place. Love those peonies!
The world has been so off kilter, I think doing "real" things is a comfort. It's solid and soothing. The writing bug will hit you in time.
This past year has been a total googly for everyone. Don't be hard on yourself, Michael. You're an awesome writer and it'll all come pouring out when it's ready. Meanwhile enjoy the peonies, the arrangement looks spectacular!
Stay well and have a lovely summer.
I'd love a bouquet of those gorgeous peonies! What pretty colors! Like Nila says, don't be too hard on yourself. The reclusive life suits some of us - I'm an introvert, so absolutely loved our 3 months of lockdown. Since then, in Oz, it's pretty much been business as usual. Now it's a task to get people to want that vaccine! (I've had 1 dose.) Have an awesome month!
Your flowers are beautiful. I'm disabled and am kind of a recluse anyway, so the lockdown didn't bother me. I'm sorry to see the traffic getting back to normal in the cities, aka, congested. I was hoping that businesses would at least see that there were certain jobs that could be done remotely, thus easing up the commuting madness somewhat.
I can very much relate to how you're feeling... becoming reclusive, the lack of creativity and focus for writing. I'm feeling that and have been trying to shake the funk but haven't managed it so far. Even though I'm still writing, it's just no great swaths of it. More like little snippets is all I can manage at the moment. But I decided it's ok...for now. Beating myself up over it doesn't help.
First, those peonies are gorgeous. It's been an adjustment now matter your routine. I work from home, but still things hiccupped for me -- as I worried about my family, my friends, etc. It takes a toll. It will take us time to recover, emotionally.
The pandemic has been the ultimate curve ball, throwing everybody's life into a tailspin. We have to just hang in there.
You're such a great writer so your book will still be published one day. Don't despair...
Plus you're still the Blurb King. You should get back in the swing of writing blurbs. Who knows, it may be just what you need to re-gain your writing mojo.
Take care.
I also feel that this year has been slipping through our fingers way to quickly! Maybe because that bitch of the previous year lasted like a decade? LOL
Gorgeous flowers! I hear you on the mental fog. I fall asleep so early every night when I used to be such a night owl. {{hugs}}
2020 didn't go according to plan for many of us. If you get a good garden out of it, you've done well. And, like you, I'm still struggling to get my focus back (though I'm coming out of some pretty serious trauma, so there's that).
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