Hi All,
I'm aware I'm not the first person to say this lately, but I seem to be going through a period of not exactly 'writer's block', more perhaps emptiness and, if I'm honest, apathy...
I can't seem to russle up the energy to write much, and I don't seem able of stringing coherent thoughts together to make comments on work either, ( :-p to those who are at this point thinking "well, that doesn't usually stop her") Dunno if it's just the prospect of Summer, (and all that tennis to watch!), or if it's more serious....like a deficiency of Blue String pudding.
Anyway, just wanted to say sorry for not contributing much right now on either front. I am still about and reading stuff, and I guess this could end at any time. Finger's crossed, anyhow.
Hope to be back soon
xx
tc

You're not alone! Is all I can say. Work through it, tc. I think perhaps these periods of non-creativity are the brain's way of taking a well-needed rest. If you're anything like me, then you know that 'stuff' is cramming up in your head but somehow it's just out of reach and you have no energy (mentally and physically) to extract it and make it real. It's very frustrating. But don't worry, you haven't dried up - because you know its there but nature is grabbing the reins and forcing your mind and body to take a breather because you (we) don't do it willingly. At least...that's what I think.

So as I say, let it pass in its own time (a bit like a kidney stone - painful) and soon you'll be back to normal and writing away like an unstoppable train!

Nahed x

Hi tc, I think it was the RLG that wore you out! No, seriously try one of these

a) give yourself a week off - officially

b) have a reading not writing week

c) fill up your creative well (!) - go and see an exhibition, concert, or just look through some arty books or listen to music (if you're too lazy to go out)

d) Stop beating yourself up! Look back at everything you've done this year (and I think there's been a lot and important stuff for you) and pat yourself on the back.

Then if all else fails, set yourself some writing challenges à la RLG - Jumbo had a good line a few weeks ago that he gave me permission to use:

I decided to tell her. But I was too late. Too late by several hours.

Good, isn't it?

Big bisous

Elspeth

Why not use the extra time you have to do that other thing that writers are supposed to do, read. Even better, read stuff that’s really awful and you’re bound to suddenly realise that even your worst day is better than their best.

Take as an example, my grandmother in law. She suffered a knee injury (picking blackberries of all things) which really set her back, so much so she checked herself into an old folks home at Christmas. It was really bad, we thought she’d thrown the towel in and we didn’t expect her to make it into the new year. But it was exactly the kick in the backside she needed, she suddenly realised that she was no where near as bad as the rest of the oblivion bound souls in that place and came out bouncing like a power ball. The transformation was almost miraculous.

I think I’m trying to say, never give up hope, sometimes the strangest of things can make a difference.

Grinder

You can't, and probably shouldn't, keep writing all the time- as Nahed has said in this strand, your brain needs time to regenerate and be in a good place to come up with new ideas. All the writers I know have time off, which is different to holiday time, but time to let your subconcious fill up with new thoughts, sort problems from older pieces etc. I'm having one of those times at the moment- it feels unpleasant but it's absolutely necessary, so this too shall pass!

Gosh, thanks all. I feel better already!

I think it was the RLG that wore you out

Elspeth, you might be right, I KNEW fiction was bad for you!

Thanks for the support and ideas. I like the idea that I'm just filling up my creativity again - sounds impressive!
x
tc

The soup dragon is lonely and very, very sad,
because the tiny clanger has been a little bad,
she has stuffed her face with pudding,
blue string, no need to say,
and now the time has come, for that clanger, small, to pay
her brain is not quite working
and no writing can she do
she's bunged up with blue string pudding
and cant go to the loo;
there's only one known cure
for this blocking of her brain
to visit the lonely soup dragon
and start drinking soup again


david