You've been sitting there, staring at a blinking cursor so long you want to do some curs-ING of your own. You want to write, you really do. But you can't think no matter how hard you try (or try not to try, which doesn't help). Your mind is fried, your butt hurts, your eyes are bleeding, and you have a copy of Halo 4 that's still in it's shrink wrap.
Or
You're just tired. Not really "in the mood". It's kind of there, but the thoughts aren't really aligned. You know you really should get something written. But it's not that easy. You're sick of fighting with it, and you have a copy of Halo 4 that's still in it's shrink wrap.
Both times, let's be honest, you're probably cracking into Halo within the next ten minutes. And why not? You're justified. You "earned" it. Right?
Uh, no. "WHAT?!" Hear me out here.
There is a time and place for "fun". Anyone stuck in the first situation, it might be time to play a mission or two to get you head out of your own world. "Wait, you go from a computer screen to video game?" Sure, at the right time. Though I understand your thoughts, and even agree, to a point. Society is hard on video games, and who can blame them? You hear stories of gamers dying of a blood clot because they sat in their chairs all day.
But the game is just one choice for us. And that's what I'm here to talk about. Choices for us writers. We all have those days where we know we should write, but we really don't want to. Yet, we find times where we also want to write, but can't.
Let's talk about the second first. Writers and agents will preach for hours about "keep at it. Write something no matter how bad." Uhm, do they know how bad that writing can be? Well, okay, they do, and they're right most of the time. But I've found many times where I'm better off taking a break. And I don't mean a day long break. I mean, step away, get into something else, and forget what the *bleep* you were just thinking about for an hour or two. Before you start raging at me I'll go on record here and say; no, video games are not the only choice. You can; go on a walk, work in the garden, paint something, go shopping, change the oil in the car, work out, whatever. Anything that you can do to get a mental reset going. Let your mind step back and let the world you built live. Games work best for me. An author I know goes straight to her garden. Nether choice is "wrong". It's what we need.
As for the other situation, sorry, you gotta find a way. I know, wrong answer, well, welcome to the life of a writer. There comes a time when you gotta commit to the world of BIC. Errr, that's Butt In Chair, not the pen company (thank you high school teacher that first told me that). It's sad to say, but even if the world of writing is just a hobby, it still requires work and lots of it. James Patterson didn't become world renowned because he was in the top five in his gym class. He had to work for it. Even the least among us must fight the good fight to write the good book.
"*Groan* But it's so hard." I know it is. Believe me I know. But if it were easy, it wouldn't be worth doing. Also, if you keep giving in to the "want", you'll find yourself getting more and more upset because that book soon-to-be-blockbuster-movie you're working on is taking FOREVER to write. And your Halo work will suffer too because you're so frustrated you get pissed the first time you die. Not exactly an effective balance.
So what's your balance? Come on now. Been a while since I had any comments. I want to hear from some of you. When your work, be it fiction or what ever you do, gets trouble-some, what do you do? Or what are some of the things that try to pry you away from said work, and how do you fight them off? Share some ideas.
Or a confession or two. Lord knows I've failed the self-control battle a few times. Been known to dive for Halo like an Olympic gold medalist rather than work. Then my mom threatened things.... we just won't go there. :D (just kidding.)
Or
You're just tired. Not really "in the mood". It's kind of there, but the thoughts aren't really aligned. You know you really should get something written. But it's not that easy. You're sick of fighting with it, and you have a copy of Halo 4 that's still in it's shrink wrap.
Both times, let's be honest, you're probably cracking into Halo within the next ten minutes. And why not? You're justified. You "earned" it. Right?
Uh, no. "WHAT?!" Hear me out here.
There is a time and place for "fun". Anyone stuck in the first situation, it might be time to play a mission or two to get you head out of your own world. "Wait, you go from a computer screen to video game?" Sure, at the right time. Though I understand your thoughts, and even agree, to a point. Society is hard on video games, and who can blame them? You hear stories of gamers dying of a blood clot because they sat in their chairs all day.
But the game is just one choice for us. And that's what I'm here to talk about. Choices for us writers. We all have those days where we know we should write, but we really don't want to. Yet, we find times where we also want to write, but can't.
Let's talk about the second first. Writers and agents will preach for hours about "keep at it. Write something no matter how bad." Uhm, do they know how bad that writing can be? Well, okay, they do, and they're right most of the time. But I've found many times where I'm better off taking a break. And I don't mean a day long break. I mean, step away, get into something else, and forget what the *bleep* you were just thinking about for an hour or two. Before you start raging at me I'll go on record here and say; no, video games are not the only choice. You can; go on a walk, work in the garden, paint something, go shopping, change the oil in the car, work out, whatever. Anything that you can do to get a mental reset going. Let your mind step back and let the world you built live. Games work best for me. An author I know goes straight to her garden. Nether choice is "wrong". It's what we need.
As for the other situation, sorry, you gotta find a way. I know, wrong answer, well, welcome to the life of a writer. There comes a time when you gotta commit to the world of BIC. Errr, that's Butt In Chair, not the pen company (thank you high school teacher that first told me that). It's sad to say, but even if the world of writing is just a hobby, it still requires work and lots of it. James Patterson didn't become world renowned because he was in the top five in his gym class. He had to work for it. Even the least among us must fight the good fight to write the good book.
"*Groan* But it's so hard." I know it is. Believe me I know. But if it were easy, it wouldn't be worth doing. Also, if you keep giving in to the "want", you'll find yourself getting more and more upset because that book soon-to-be-blockbuster-movie you're working on is taking FOREVER to write. And your Halo work will suffer too because you're so frustrated you get pissed the first time you die. Not exactly an effective balance.
So what's your balance? Come on now. Been a while since I had any comments. I want to hear from some of you. When your work, be it fiction or what ever you do, gets trouble-some, what do you do? Or what are some of the things that try to pry you away from said work, and how do you fight them off? Share some ideas.
Or a confession or two. Lord knows I've failed the self-control battle a few times. Been known to dive for Halo like an Olympic gold medalist rather than work. Then my mom threatened things.... we just won't go there. :D (just kidding.)
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