Hi, I find that most of my ideas just keep floating around in my head and I find it hard to grab them and put them to paper or paint.. My very at the moment necessary day job is very demanding and keeps me from finding time to wind down and get in the right rythym.. So I feel blocked and of course slightly frustrated.. So my question is how do you deal with this and how can I gradually unblock myself to become the sole artist I so badly crave and desire?
Hi Nicola,
I had the same problem : a tiring, time-eating job, swarms of ideas floating in my mind, but never in the right mood to put them on paper.
I still have this exhausting job, but with time I managed to develop a method :
1. I keep a notebook by my side. I write every idea on it, comming at any time. (you can also do this on your smartphone, there's a lot of applications where you can mix notes and inspiring images)
2. Every weekend, I put together all these scattered notes and I try to get something more structured from.
3. I don't wait for the idealistic mood, is often an euphemism for procrastination, writing sometimes means harsh work, and the better way to start writing, it's to start writing ! So you have to fight this inertia, and you will be surprised to see a real domino effect.
Hope it can help )
Thanks so much Jonathan! Excellent, that sounds like something that I could do.. I'm going to give it a shot and let you know how I get on.. 22h - 00h is the only time of day - night - that I can find some space for me and my book.. I'm working on illustrations too so if not one, then the other! Hey hey!! Just before bedtime seems like a great idea too...
Thanks again!
Niki x
We used to run a small business. The only way I could get any writing done was to set a time each day (9-11pm in my case) - and that meant every day - where I would write...or not. If nothing came I'd work on something related: ideas for covers, bits of blurb etc. But that was my 'writing time', not to be disturbed unless the house caught fire or something equally drastic.
Maybe you should try something similar. I know it's difficult, but as the old saying goes - 'if you want something done, ask a busy person'.
I'd not have finished my first book without this discipline, and it was a great feeling when I finally wrote 'The End'.
Except really it was only the beginning...but that's another story.
Best of luck :)