– Jack London.
Lack of inspiration used to be my greatest excuse not to write. While I was happy to remain a hobby writer, it wasn’t a problem. But, now that I am making writing my profession, I realised that I had to write and I had to write without inspiration.
It takes dedication and practice to write without inspiration. There will be times you won’t want to write. There’ll be times you’ll dread the keyboard or the pen. These are the times that will test us. These times will make us feel like we are wading through thorns. But these are the times we need to stick to our schedules and just keep writing.
If we keep writing inspiration may come – or it may not. It may never be a dazzling halo of glorious revelation, but we can write inspired pieces without being inspired. If we keep writing.
So keep writing.
What’s your greatest excuse not to write?
17 comments:
This is so true! Thanks for the thought. And I love the new meaning of WIP!
Martina
Visiting blogs ;-j
You're absolutely right, the best way to overcome a lack of motivation to write is... to write.
Thanks so much for this post. I was just sitting here, feeling so uninspired and knowing that I need to just start already. I really needed this.
I agree with Charmaine - blogging! :)
Making ourselves write even when its not flowing makes it a habit - and I think that's the best benefit for me!
Very well said!
My biggest excuse is: I'm too tired, there was so much to do today!
Martina: WIP = Write Inspired Pieces. Ha.. That wasn't intentional, but it's almost...inspired! ;) Nice pick.
Charmaine and Jemi: yep, I have to say visiting other blogs is a real distraction from writing. But you all have such great blogs!
Melissa: I can relate. I'm up to a place in my WIP which isn't as clear in my head as I'd like...but I just have to keep going.
Aspiring: yeah, tireness for me is a big one too. Especially here in Oz, it's winter and I'm cold and when I finally get warm, I want to sleep. I must be a hibernating bear or something.
Writing is a blast but we all have moments where we fall short, I find that writing exercises really help me as well as visiting blogs and emailing my buddies asking them to give me the support I need! Their love always gets me through!!!
Wow I never considered that inspiration would be a problem for a professional. Maybe because I'm still a hobby writer.
it's like what dori says in Finding Nemo, "Just keep writing." <- no she doesn't say that, but something sort of close to it.
Jen, it's great you have buddies like that to help to get you through.
Erinn, professional writers have greater pressure on them. They have tight deadlines and expectations to meet, amongst other things.
Oh, and I love Dori in Finding Nemo! :)
Thanks for the "push!" I usually wait for His leading, His inspiration. That's what motivates me everytime. To see things at work in His light. God bless you sister.
Thanks for the post. Loved the Jack London quote.
My biggest excuse is abject fear. What if the inspiration doesn't come? What if I can't write? What if my critique group doesn't like it?
My best strategy is to show up at the page and play. Sure, it'll be junk. But maybe good junk.
No excuses lately. Deadline is looming large. :D
You do just have to slog through it with the faith inspiration will come roaring in at some point.
Rcubes - He will show us the way when we start walking. We just have to start walking :)
Bonnie - oh yes, fear and doubts are a big one. Good stategy though :)
M Pax - I love that you are sticking to your deadlines and letting nothing stop you. It's so great :)
Grat point! I've been putting off writing my next blog post for just that reason when I know I need to just sit down and write! Something will come out--it always does.
Terri, yeah, I usually have all my blog posts prescheduled to post for the week..but not this week. Eek!
Like you, I see writing as my career. I show up at my lap top every day because it's my job. Some days I'm more excited about it than others. But thankfully it truly is something that I love and I'm blessed to have the opportunity to do what I love.
Jody, yes exactly...and yes, it's such a blessing to be able to do what we love :)
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