Monday, March 29, 2021

Little By Little


Haven't written anything in ages. Why do I bother? I should be writing. Those 500 words don't amount to much. What else could I be doing? 

Such thoughts have ran through many a mind in many a variation forever. Since cavemen started drawing on walls they have been there. Okay, maybe not as elaborate, but they have still been there. Cavemen didn't think past drawing on the wall? Bah. No cavemen to ask so no proof until you invent time travel. Where were we? Right. Thoughts. Self doubt. All kinds of thoughts spinning the drain. But you can avoid the drain. Just look at what you have done. 

500 words is 500 words more than you had before, 500 words more than someone who says they will write but never do, and 500 words more that you are closer to the end of your story.

You don't have to write to be writing. Well kinda. Ideas can still form and your mind can rest and recharge. Not to mention your body. That needs a break from sitting all day too. 

You could be doing 50,000 other things. But you can only focus on a few things and make headway. Sure you can join every social media thingy majiggy on the internet, but you will spread yourself too thin and be overworked with little done on each. Focus on what you are doing and not the "could" be doing for the moment. Could can come later after you've worked on the others and feel comfortable adding something else.

Those are just a few examples of how to spin the negative thoughts. You can always switch them around. There has to be some positive to it, even if mostly negative sometimes, unless you are doing absolutely nothing. But then by doing absolutely nothing you aren't making spelling mistakes. See? Positive too!

And if you can't find it then ask someone else. Preferably not a negative nelly though. Join a group like this one. Plenty of members will help lift you up. Blogland is a great place to find encouragement. There is always a spin to make those thoughts stop spinning the drain. You just have to want to look.

Have you ever had such thoughts? How do you get out of a writing funk? Writing much lately? Ever helped someone see they were doing more than they thought?

12 comments:

nashvillecats2 said...

Great post Pat, I started to write another book in 2018 to celebrate the life of my son who had passed away, Have got half way through then this pandemic hit us all. Have got stuck on my writing but hopefully as the weather improve so will my motivation.

Take care and keep safe.
Yvonne.

Alex J. Cavanaugh said...

Well said, Pat!

Hilary Melton-Butcher said...

Hi Pat - fun post ... and yes blogland is a great place - lots of encouragement ... especially with the IWSG group and ancillary areas. Change the gears ... but continue writing ... all the best - Hilary

Natalie Aguirre said...

Yes, joining a group like this can help when you're going through a rough time. And I agree with you, 500 words is 500 words. Write that again over a number of days and you'll have a chapter written.

cleemckenzie said...

My next post is about the same issue. This funk is contagious.

Jemi Fraser said...

Great post! I tend to get in that funk when I'm overwhelmed and overtired. Thankfully, it never lasts long!

Deniz Bevan said...

Great post, Pat! I'm trying to do CampNaNo this month, and have set myself a goal of 250 words per day. It sounds like nothing! But just the idea of getting back to a daily writing habit seems like a good idea.
Love your blog post title because it reminds of the autobriography of author Jean Little :-)

Tanya Miranda said...

My next post is about how I was stuck in a funk after my brothers passing over 2 years ago, and how I finally started again. What a coincidence. What got me through it? Patience. And I stopped beating myself up about it. I think time heals all wounds.

diedre Knight said...

Thanks for some much-needed positivity! Writing is indeed its own reward, even if I can't seem to look my protagonist in the eye these days. At the moment, writing anything at all is therapy ;-)

presstfortime said...

So glad to see I'm not the only one with this affliction! Thanks, Pat.

Michelle Wallace said...

Pat, I've been in a writing funk... but there seems to be some light at the end of this tunnel. As your title says - little by little. That's the perfect way to look at it.

Lynn J Simpson said...

Totally get this! When I overthink it, I get myself into a funk. Thanks for the encouragement!