Getting back on the horse

by M.K. Rasmussen
31st January 2013

I've been away for a little while, exams and stuff. All the while I've felt inspired and have been jotting down notes and scenes for my book but, boy oh boy, actually getting back on the horse is harder than I would have thought. I find myself procrastinating at every other sentence even with all the help I used before to focus. I guess it'll take a little while to get into gear. Anyone/everyone else with this problem?

Replies

Hi,

I have something relating (in a funny way) the 'I can't really write well so what's the point' syndrom and a horse :)

It's in The Plague, by Albert Camus. The main character has a friend, who is a "wannabe" writer, trying to compose the first sentence of his novel. The sentence describes a horse galloping in the grass (or something like that). All along the story, he keeps changing and changing this first sentence, never finding it as good as he would (perfectionism can be a cause of procrastination, and in your (our) case is imo the only reason).

So I think, that isntead of shilly-shally on how is the best or perfect way to ride the horse, you juste have to RIDE IT, or as Sue said, KEEP WRITING ! (and let the horse do whatever it want)

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Mehdi
Kasbel
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Mehdi Kasbel
01/02/2013

Hi, the point is KEEP WRITING! If you don`t then .................. If you DO, then you will improve. I, like Jonathan, have been off the quadruped many times, but thankfully not too many times recently. But have got behind in the writing, and have made the 2013 resolution to keep at it, it is the only way.

Good luck!

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Sue
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Sue Doyle
31/01/2013

All the time, and like Christina I've not been off, literally as well as metaphorically. Well, okay - I've been off the quadruped a few times.

Sounds like you've got the 'I can't really write well so what's the point' syndrome. It's common, and the only cure is to write something, in the knowledge you can always change it later. It's sort-of like cold turkey but without physical pain, though the mental anguish has to be similar.

Fortunately it's short-lived - once you get going. Best of luck :)

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Jonathan
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Jonathan Hopkins
31/01/2013