Ceara Comeau's Blog: Lessons From A Struggling Writer - Posts Tagged "always"
Writing When Not Writing
After last month’s blog post, I actually took my own advice and decided to stop being so hard on myself. No, seriously, I actually stopped! Now, some days are easier than others, I’ll admit. But, it wasn’t until I joined this writer’s zoom meeting that I actually realized just how much writing I’ve actually done this year.
I write this blog on a monthly basis and I have another blog (and possibly another on the way) that I write for my family history. This I do on a weekly basis. To top it off, I’ve been editing the second book of my trilogy (which should be nearing it’s second to last stage soon) and I’ve also added the first 1300 words to the third book of my trilogy.
Phew! Yes, I have been writing a LOT lately, but it’s not entirely about my book. Like a lot of authors, I don’t have inspiration strike me every single day. Sometimes it comes on the weekends when I’m finally able to relax after a long week of working. Some days it comes randomly during the week when I’m watching my favorite show.
I guess, what I’ve learned this month, is that I don’t have to ALWAYS be punching out words right and left for my latest WIP (work in progress). It’s okay to expand my brain to other things so I don’t get super burned out.
If your WIP has you stressed out, it’s time to take a breather. Write something different. There are TONS of free write starting phrases on Pinterest and other websites. Who knows, maybe writing something different will inspire your main project!
I write this blog on a monthly basis and I have another blog (and possibly another on the way) that I write for my family history. This I do on a weekly basis. To top it off, I’ve been editing the second book of my trilogy (which should be nearing it’s second to last stage soon) and I’ve also added the first 1300 words to the third book of my trilogy.
Phew! Yes, I have been writing a LOT lately, but it’s not entirely about my book. Like a lot of authors, I don’t have inspiration strike me every single day. Sometimes it comes on the weekends when I’m finally able to relax after a long week of working. Some days it comes randomly during the week when I’m watching my favorite show.
I guess, what I’ve learned this month, is that I don’t have to ALWAYS be punching out words right and left for my latest WIP (work in progress). It’s okay to expand my brain to other things so I don’t get super burned out.
If your WIP has you stressed out, it’s time to take a breather. Write something different. There are TONS of free write starting phrases on Pinterest and other websites. Who knows, maybe writing something different will inspire your main project!
What a Waste
At some point in everyone’s life, we all go through a situation that makes us question what we are doing. And sometimes a very familiar phrase will cross our minds, “This is such a waste of my time.”
Over the years, I have found myself saying that all too often, whether it be an Algebra class in high school or a new, artistic endeavor. See, that was one of my biggest fears not too long ago. I had a principal in middle school who once said to me, “I don’t mind wasting money, that’s something I can get back. But my time? I can’t get that back.”
And this stuck with me and any new choice I made in my life; I had his words echoing in my memory. Which, honestly made me steer clear of anything that I thought wouldn’t serve me a purpose.
But this past month has greatly changed my perception of wasting time.
As I’ve probably mentioned in the past, I LOVE doing family research for my family and for others. I’ve been doing it for about as long as I’ve been writing and through those years, there are still unanswered questions that I have. Sometimes I find different methods to further my “investigation” and sometimes my theories lead to a dead end and I have to wait for another theory to emerge. But, is each method a waste of my time? Absolutely not, because not only do I find more ways of utilizing the different DNA websites out there, but the stories I learn about my ancestors give me inspiration for the characters that I write. It gives them more life.
So, I want to encourage you to change your way of thinking this coming month. If you’re in a situation that you think is a “waste” of your time, ask yourself—how can you apply the situation to your career or passion? Because, if you can learn from something, then, it’s not really a waste of time!
Over the years, I have found myself saying that all too often, whether it be an Algebra class in high school or a new, artistic endeavor. See, that was one of my biggest fears not too long ago. I had a principal in middle school who once said to me, “I don’t mind wasting money, that’s something I can get back. But my time? I can’t get that back.”
And this stuck with me and any new choice I made in my life; I had his words echoing in my memory. Which, honestly made me steer clear of anything that I thought wouldn’t serve me a purpose.
But this past month has greatly changed my perception of wasting time.
As I’ve probably mentioned in the past, I LOVE doing family research for my family and for others. I’ve been doing it for about as long as I’ve been writing and through those years, there are still unanswered questions that I have. Sometimes I find different methods to further my “investigation” and sometimes my theories lead to a dead end and I have to wait for another theory to emerge. But, is each method a waste of my time? Absolutely not, because not only do I find more ways of utilizing the different DNA websites out there, but the stories I learn about my ancestors give me inspiration for the characters that I write. It gives them more life.
So, I want to encourage you to change your way of thinking this coming month. If you’re in a situation that you think is a “waste” of your time, ask yourself—how can you apply the situation to your career or passion? Because, if you can learn from something, then, it’s not really a waste of time!
Relationships
This month has mainly consisted of gathering material for my Amber Oak film series as well as developing a very solid marketing plan. And although it has been crazy busy, this one thought has broken through my preoccupied mind. Writer’s block. Now, yes, due to this month’s packed schedule, I had very little time to write which occasionally led to the inevitable writer’s block.
And although I’ve spoken about writer’s block more often than any other topic, I thought of a new approach to it. See, the phrase, “Writer’s block” can often have a derogatory meaning to it. I’ve heard some writers say that it doesn’t exist and it’s really just procrastination, but there are others, like myself, who don’t believe that.
What if we called it something else? What if we take these blocks as an opportunity to get to know our characters or world even more? I’m not talking about brainstorming or even re-outlining, I’m talking about just putting down the writing utensil or computer and think. Imagine ourselves being that specific character or even a sub-character in the world we’re trying to develop.
I started doing this a few weeks ago and when I went back to my story, I had such a refreshed perspective on my story. So, I want to challenge all my writer friends out there, stop saying “writer’s block” and instead say that you’re developing your relationship with a character or exploring your world. Not only will it sound like you are really getting into your craft, but it will give a positive twist to a normally negative phrase.
And although I’ve spoken about writer’s block more often than any other topic, I thought of a new approach to it. See, the phrase, “Writer’s block” can often have a derogatory meaning to it. I’ve heard some writers say that it doesn’t exist and it’s really just procrastination, but there are others, like myself, who don’t believe that.
What if we called it something else? What if we take these blocks as an opportunity to get to know our characters or world even more? I’m not talking about brainstorming or even re-outlining, I’m talking about just putting down the writing utensil or computer and think. Imagine ourselves being that specific character or even a sub-character in the world we’re trying to develop.
I started doing this a few weeks ago and when I went back to my story, I had such a refreshed perspective on my story. So, I want to challenge all my writer friends out there, stop saying “writer’s block” and instead say that you’re developing your relationship with a character or exploring your world. Not only will it sound like you are really getting into your craft, but it will give a positive twist to a normally negative phrase.
