What I want to do in the evenings and at weekends is grab a cup of tea and snuggle down in front of the fire with a re-run of Wycliffe. The last thing I want to do is write. Creativity and tiredness are not easy companions. But. But. But. Tiredness can also be an excuse. Most of us are tired, but if you want to write you have to find the hours when you can.
I had two young children when I wrote my my first novel and to be honest I don't know how I did it. I remember getting up early, staying up late, writing while dishing up supper (watching out for spag bol on the keyboard). I wrote that first draft while my busy life carried on around me. Tired? Yes, of course, but the motivation to write kept me going.
It's always the first ten minutes that are the hardest. Once you're underway, the writing warms up and soon an hour has gone by without you realising it. And by the end of that hour it strikes you that a) you don't feel so tired and b) you feel proud of what you've achieved. You pushed through the tiredness and now have something to show for it. Hooray!
So forget the tiredness: you'll never get anything done if you wait until you feel fully refreshed. Just get on with it - even if it's only for ten minutes - and enjoy the glow of achievement when you've done some writing.
13 comments:
Very motivatng, thanks - Good to know others feel like that; I thought it was just me!
Exactly my thoughts when looking at the screen at 10pm after a long day. But I'm always glad the next morning that I persisted, even if I alter the lot.
And a cup of tea always helps ;-)
So true, Sarah. I have been sitting here for 30 minutes, trying to pick up yesterday's threads. I am reading your blog as displacement activity. I am tempted to start the weekend early!
No! I must get back to it. Tap, tap...
And so I stuck with it this morning and have completed my daily quota of 1000 words. And guess what? By doing so, I also had one of those Eureka plot-changing moments. There is no substitute for just getting down and hitting the keys.
The weekend can start early.
I totally agree with you Sarah. Once I get into my writing (about ten minutes) I get into the flow ansd don't want to stop. I have burnt so many meals that way...
Good post Sarah. You are absolutely right. I think sometimes we just have to make ourselves get started and the sense of satisfaction that we have done some writing gives us that sense of satisfaction which makes the effort very worthwhile. x
Thank you for the words of encouragement! I often feel like this about my singing practice. At the end of a long day of work, it can be hard to get the music out. But I am always glad that I did.
You are SO right. Too often lethargy takes a grip. I think I'll print your words of encouragement out and stick them on the wall in front of me.
Wholeheartedly agree that the first ten minutes of writing are the worst. Almost a warm-up... just like physical exercise - then you're away and the time flies. It's just turning up at the page each day that's the hard bit just as it's hard to get out of the door in your running gear. I must admit, I feel more invigorated and ready to write late afternoon, early evening. I'm not an early morning person at all.
Agree wholeheartedly with your post.
Off topic, there's a video on youtube of a road rage incident in Bath that has been linked with a shop of your name. I assume there's no connection between you (the image doesn't look like your bio pic) but wanted to let you know just in case you have any interests there.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7J505dMg_eg
As always, a really interesting blog, and spot on.
Liz X
So glad that the post has struck a chord with people, and hooray for all those who went off and did some writing.
Also thanks to those who contacted me about the YouTube video; it has absolutely nothing to do with me, beyond the fact that we have the same name and are in Bath.
Some of the YouTube comments have already suggested it IS me, which is a nuisance. Hoping there won't be any nasty fall-out.
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