Confession: I’ve been having trouble writing during the quarantine. Actually, I’ve been finding any sort of motivation hard to come by in the last couple months.
Don’t get me wrong: I know my lack of creative juices is small potatoes compared to what others are going through with COVID-19. Life is so scary and unpredictable in 2020 and we’re all struggling to make it through the day. Some days seem to be easier than others, don’t they?
So when I was looking through the 600+ drafts of blog post ideas I have saved, desperately trying to find something, anything, to write about, I came across a conversation I had with my writer friend Laura.
Coincidentally, we were talking about writing and I had a realization: So much of writing happens when we’re not actually writing. That might sound a bit counter-intuitive, but it’s true, at least for me. As I always say, “my mind is always working” — thinking of ideas, fleshing out bad ideas, even writing the beginnings of pieces in my head. And, maybe what’s even more interesting is that I’m thinking about writing even when doing the most ordinary of tasks, like brushing my teeth. I’ve thought of so many ideas for pitches while staring off into space as I brushed away all the plaque — that’s sort of amazing, isn’t it?
I suppose, then, that in my current dry spell, this idea of not-working working is somewhat of a comfort. Because, really, writing isn’t just about the actual act of sitting down and typing. Even when I’m just thinking about writing, I’m being productive! It’s all part of the process. Yes, I do wish I could try and speed up the “process” sometimes (and, yes, I have tried that in the past), but maybe the lesson in all of this is that I should just trust that process more? I figure it can’t hurt, right?
Do you sometimes find that you spend more time obsessing about writing than actually doing it? Think about writing than actually sitting down and actually doing it? That obsession gets in the way of the act itself, I’ve found. It’s something I’m definitely going to try and work on, friends… xoxo
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Heather says
I agree!!! A vast majority of days I wake up and think, “I probably won’t write today. I have nothing to write about”. But somehow, some form of inspiration pops up just by LIVING LIFE. Today I found a spark just from going to the grocery store. Just living is where we find writing. 🙂
You’ve got this!
Angela says
Motivation is definitely harder to come by at the moment! The key to anything I think is just to start sometimes. I’ve been feeling the same with studying and working from home. These walls get a bit tired. A bit of fresh air and exercise is on the agenda!
Miriam says
I agree! And not only with writing but also with other things as well. Im not quite sure but maybe it is related to the Parkinsons theory? (The educational theory). Maybe a little bit of anxiety or stress too? Not sure! But definitely agree with you.
Bethany says
Definitely feeling a lack of creative drive, but I am also constantly thinking about stories while I go about my daily (new normal) life. I’ve definitely felt a lot of pressure from people asking if I’m doing a ton of writing right now. While the fact that I’m working full time from home definitely affects my energy level when it comes to my personal writing, I also try to explain to them how being emotionally and mentally exhausted from the pandemic really puts a damper on my creativity!
Lauren says
Hey Melissa,
I just want to say that I really enjoy your writing and found this post to be particularly interesting. I have ADD and struggle with the same issues on a daily basis. There is a really great book called ‘The War of Art’ which touches on this very subject. I think you might like it! Let me know if you end up reading it…would love to get your thoughts!
Very best,
Lauren