Writing Through Adversity

I think of prolific writers, recall legends of artists who kept creating even when they were going hungry and about to tossed out on the streets. So I try to live up to that high standard. Lately my efforts have been in vain.

I've learned that writing as if nothing else matters or is going on just doesn't work for me. Now I can't recall what author gave this advice, but it's good. Very good. The advice is this- authors should have a life because doing so enriches the writing. Amen. I could have forced myself to write during two hurricanes, health issues, and while I juggled family responsibilities. At times I felt like a real slacker, a lazy bones with questionable commitment to my creative process. Then I realized taking time off from writing is part of my creative process. My brain needs a break. I can't say my novel will be more brilliant because of it. One thing is sure though, not feeling like a hamster on a wheel pressured to write fast feels great. Not that I recommend NOT having a contract. Sure I want to sell again. I just remember that brain numb sensation each day as I pushed to write because I had to finish two books a year. Don't miss those days at all.

For a good ten years I was a "five pages a day" writer. My routine was set and for the most part I kept at it. In fact, I cracked the whip real hard. No excuses. I had deadlines to beat. That's right. My goal was to be well ahead of my deadline. I've never been a down-to-the-wire type. One day I turned down a contract. For about a minute I felt uneasy. I'd been under contract continously for ten years straight, back to back. Then I felt this kind of giddy freedom. No rules, just me writing the kind of book I wanted to take a chance on. So I went back to my original goal- to write and sell a straight murder mystery.

But I've swung too far the other way. I could use a bit more discipline. So now my challenge is to meet myself in the middle. I've taken the freedom thing a bit too far a few times and should have cracked the whip. In fact, I've got to search for the dang thing. I'm sure it's around here somewhere piled beneath a bunch of junk. Gotta dig it out, dust it off and keep it nearby. And when I'm tempted to watch one more Lifetime movie instead of write- snap, crackle and pop goes the whip on my butt.