So on Monday, I didn't want to write. I mean, I really didn't want to write! But I had just finished being interviewed by Cindy R Williams for The Writer's Mirror where she'd asked me (basically) how I got past writers block, and I replied that the only way to get past it was to "write anyway". With my own words ringing in my ears, I said to myself on Monday, "If you don't sit down and write tonight, you'll be a hypocrite, Joyce! Telling other writers to 'write anyway' and then you don't do it yourself?" So I set my little timer, plunked myself down on the couch for an hour with my laptop, and whined my way through a writing session. And yes, at the end of that hour, I hated every word I had written.
So tonight, with only slightly less reluctance, I set my timer and plunked myself down on the couch again. (I'd known in advance I wouldn't have any writing time on Tuesday.) This time, the words not only came easier, but you know what? That stuff I wrote on Monday wasn't nearly as bad as it looked on Monday night! I mean, I'm not saying it was spot-on perfect, by any means. But it wasn't horrible, and I'll probably end up keeping almost all of it in one form or another. Time wasted Monday night? Definitely not! It might have been painful (it certainly felt so at the time) and my perspective wasn't what I would have liked (some of those words I hated actually made me laugh when I read them back...and I mean laugh in a good way). But was it worth it to "write anyway" when I didn't want to? Looking back on it from where I sit tonight, I'd have to answer with a resounding "Yes!"
6 comments:
Yeah, me too. There are days when I stall my writing time away, and that does me no good. Then I feel guilty the next day, so I try twice as hard and get nothing done. It's a lesson in shooting myself in the foot. If I'd just relax and do it even when I don't want to, at least I'd have something to work with later, right?
Great lesson!
Nichole
Wow, Joyce. This was excellent food for thought. I have a tendency to avoid writing when I'm in a certain mood and now I wonder if perhaps that wasn't the best idea. I'll try it your way next time, write through my bad mood, and see what comes of it. Thank you so much for posting this. :o)
Wow! For some reason, I didn't actually expect anyone to read this when I wrote it tonight. Thanks, Nichole and Jaimey! :-)
You're very disciplined, Joyce! A lesson for us all...
No one read this? Hah, we have our spys out there telling us when Joyce is writing. It is so hard to put our words out there, like you did in the interview, then have to either eat our own words, or live by them. You put yourself on the line, and bless your heart, you are holding yourself to a high standard. I am proud of you Joyce! I wrote last night before bed, and was definatley not in the mood. Mens Church Basketball was last night, and my hubby and 19 year old son played, I mean joind the battle. My son twisted his ankle. It swelled up the size of a softball, and I take him to the doctor today to see if he broke it. Here's the kicker to this story. My son flies to Brazil in FOUR DAYS for his mission! Talk about not want to write. I could hardly focus. I made myself write anyway, for a few minutes. It actually calmed my emotions. Writing can be a salve.
Excellent teaching moment, Joyce! Just what I needed.
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