Hi everybody!
I just wondered if I could ask your advice. I used to be a die-hard creative writer, every minute of every day (okay - slight exaggeration) was spent writing but over the past few months I feel like I'm too busy to even pick up a book to read! I’m either working or doing jobs for the family and for the first time in years I don’t even feel like I’ve got the motivation to type. Has anyone had this before? How can I get back into my favourite hobby?
Many thanks!
- Cate
You don't need to drag yourself back to it. Ignore it completely for a few months and you will be itching to write. At least, that's how it goes for me.
I started a course last September and ignored my writing completely. By December I was like a woman possessed and couldn't wait to stop the course for Xmas so I could churn out some of my novel. If you've ever been obsessed with your work, and it sounds like you have, that obsession will find you, wherever you choose to hide, like it or not!
I disagree with Lorraine that writing has to be the one thing that makes you happy and that calling it a hobby is downgrading it. To me, hobbies always should be whimsical and wonderful, but more importantly, part of you. There's no reason for it to take the lion's share if you don't want it to. I think we all have a time where we obsess over our work and it takes over our lives. That doesn't have to be permanent (thankfully!) and those who've been writing a long time learn exactly what they want from it and place it exactly where they need it in their lives. Writing is still a huge part of my world and I don't often go a day without the characters in my head, but they are quietened by the other things I want to achieve in my life. I'm not any less of a writer for that; I am more.
Don't beat yourself up for looking after your family and earning a living. If you're too exhausted at the moment for creative writing then don't force yourself to burn your candle at both ends. Take the break that Sue suggests and when you've reached the end of your creativity-holiday, I suggest you build up your strength again by finding the time to read first. Once you get reading again you might start thinking, 'I can do better than this.'
Why not give yourself permission to have this break, but set a time in the future that you WILL get back to writing? I find a complete break every so often is really constructive. I still note down any bits & pieces that occur to me during this time for future use.
When you're ready to pick up your pen again, Trent's suggestion of a definite time/place is a good one, even if it's during a 15 minute tea break.