Sometimes it's the absence of words that make a writer.
I've been away and not posting about my new adventures. That doesn't mean I haven't been keeping up with my pledge to try new things. I've been trying as many new things as I can (and the Starbucks passion-fruit ice tea is yummy) I just felt that my simple summer adventures weren't interesting and in my discouragement, fell silent.
Discouragement is a nasty plague. Two weeks ago I wrote about having trouble finding my voice. This was after weeks of struggle, but after I wrote that, after I admitted that out loud I didn't feel better like I thought, I felt more discouraged. The last two weeks have been hard - impossible. I could hardly write a word. For the first time in a about a year I felt worthless, ordinary, lost. I've always said that a writer writes, does that mean I stopped being a writer? Who am I if not a writer?
In winter when the tree looks dead, that's when it grows the most. Maybe, sometimes, a writer needs to put down her pencil and live without words.
Tonight a series of good storytelling has sparked in me the beginnings of a character who I think could get me back into writing the way I love. It's too soon to tell, but right now I'm encouraged, and that tonight is enough for some good dreams.
I'm glad your impetus has returned! During your 'sojourn' in the land of not-writing I expect your mind has been busily engaged on 'research'! When the well runs dry you sometimes have to wait for it to re-fill,but then you can 'load up your bucket' with fresh stuff!
ReplyDeleteAfter a recent spell of needing 'goading' into action I set myself a weekly (but achievable!) challenge to get the creative juices running - amazing what inner resources you realise you have stashed away!
Keep going - and we'll keep reading! :-)