Still in the writing funk, or something like it, but getting ready to jump out. This week has been insane, but starting tomorrow, I'm focusing on nothing else but my writing and finding my sister a birthday present. So here's what I'll do:
Leave the house. There are always a million things to do at home and a million distractions, so leaving helps. Cafe's are good. Parks are good. Bars are good.
Have a drink. Whiskey preferably. Unless it's sunny and warm - then beer.
Put on a mask. It helps to pretend I'm someone else. A hat works, too, or some other form of dress up.
Make a time and stick to it. This is the hardest one of all, but I think the mark of a dedicated writer is their ability to say no to all else when it is their time to write. I've been trying to designate certain times and am finding that Tues and Thurs mornings until noon are good. I go to a cafe at 9 and write til 12. No exceptions. (Expect that almost every week there is an exception, but maybe if I keep telling myself there isn't, one day there wont be)
Rest. I almost never pull all-nighters. I'm always in bed at the latest by midnight. My mind does not function, especially creatively, when I'm exhausted and forcing myself to stay awake. If I'm particularly tired during the day, I'll allow a nap. Though I think being tired can be an excuse to not be productive, I think it also valid and should be dealt with. You would not starve yourself in order to keep working (well.. not always anyway..) so why deprive yourself of sleep? I also believe in the morning as a creative time, so going to bed early allows an early morning, too.
Take a shower. When I get stuck or feel foggy or unproductive or tired or anything, I recharge by taking a shower. It's like starting your day over.
Good luck to everyone and I look forward to seeing you all again on Friday!
I second the showering strategy. I do this all of the time and it instantly makes me feel refreshed and ready for whatever else I have lined up for the day. Unless I have the water turned on too hot, and then it just makes me sleepy.
ReplyDeleteBut I'm sleepy all the time these days. Today was supposed to be a writing day, but I took a nap instead. A long nap. I've never used an alarm clock or anything, and I've just slept whenever I was tired, but I wonder if it is making me a little lazy about things, if perhaps I'm too permissive. Getting enough sleep is very important, but if you're so stressed out that your mind just kind of shuts down--as mine did today--then you need to look at the problem in a different way. Lack of sleep is not the underlying issue, but a symptom of some other problem. I don't know what's up with my sleep patterns these days, but I'm going to figure it out, because I've been feeling so lazy.
Next week is looking a little less busy, so I'm setting aside some time this weekend for writing--new scenes to refresh and reorient my project. And I'm gonna do it, no matter what, no exceptions! (Unless there are exceptions...)
I third the showering strategy! I'm not sure why but I feel like it helps me recharge or something? Maybe because I do a lot of singing and/or deep thinking in the shower so my mind wakes up? I dunno haha
ReplyDeleteI also think getting out of the house and setting time out for your writing is a great strategy too. It has definitely helped me this week because being at home or in my dorm room just gives me too many opportunities to be lazy or distracted.
You've got some great strategies here and I hope they help you get more writing done in the weeks/months to come!