During the past three weeks, my life has been altered drastically by a new set of circumstances. That tends to happen when you live in the real world. (And in fictional worlds; just ask Frodo Baggins or Oliver Twist!) So what happens to writing when life changes? It gets shoved to the side in favor of important things. You know, like relationship changes, moving to a new house, an addition to the family, a promotion at work (or even a demotion). What can we say? Stuff happens.
The doom it spells for our writing, however, shouldn't be permanent. In fact, if anything a break from writing should only give us more enthusiasm for our work. So...what do we do when that doesn't happen? What do we do when the enthusiasm just doesn't come back?
The first thing is: DON'T DESPAIR! My first instinct is usually to assume that I'm some sort of terrible writer because I can't be consistent. But hey, consistency problems affect everybody - ESPECIALLY when you have a new interest that you have to devote your time and efforts into. When I first got engaged, writing was the first thing to go. Now, a full year later, I'm only months away from publishing my first novel. See? Just give it time.
The second thing is: DON'T FIGHT PROCRASTINATION. Work with it. You don't feel like writing right now? You have something else that you'd really, really rather be doing? Fine! Do that other thing. Enjoy what you feel like doing for a little while; then get back to the writing later. Unless you're bound to an impending deadline, the writing will wait.
The third thing is: MINIMIZE GOALS. Something that will almost literally kill your writing is setting enormous goals for yourself. It will sound logical; it will seem like the only option left. After all, you're way behind now. But the last thing you need when you have a busy schedule is a massive writing project that you wanted to be fun and now just...isn't. Keep it as a fun project (no matter how seriously you want people to take your writing). Set small, feasible goals, I'd say half of what you normally do. Then as you check off each section, you'll find yourself regaining momentum.
I chose not to despair when I ran out of steam for blogging; I refused to fight the procrastination and let life take its coarse. My only goal just now is to get something posted this weekend so that I can say that I did. And here it is - I just had to make myself sit down and do it when nothing else was going on. See, folks? Not that difficult. Now, YOU go out and do it!
Sincerely,
Yours Truly
