Blogger: Michelle Ule
Location: Books & Such Main Office, Santa Rosa, Calif.
This week I’ve touched briefly on significant impediments to writers being able to produce quality work. Physical ailments, such as hand problems and blindness, can be frustrating for writers with the urge to create. Emotional impediments and addictions tossed into the mix of ailments can be nearly impossible to overcome. Yet for writers with an impelling voice or story to tell, such hurdles made a challenging life just a little more difficult; their stories still got told.
For those of us with less vexing circumstances, healthier lives, and fewer demons, writing still can be full of obstacles.
How do you encourage yourself on days of discouragement?
How do you keep the spark of creativity flowing?
What steps do you take to enable your body to physically handle the stress of sitting in a computer chair hour upon hour, day after day, possibly forever?
How do you get past barriers to the pure joy of telling a story in your unique voice?
People are designed for fellowship. As a writer, you really can feel misunderstood by those around you and somewhat on an island. Discouragement is never far off the shoreline.
I find this social media community of editors, agents and writers to be edifying and encouraging. I consider our “virtual gathering” a critical ingredient to my writing success.
Thank you for your continued efforts with this BLOG.
I got this tip from Randy Ingermanson. Using a timer, work for 50 minutes, take 10 minutes off. Get up, walk around, check emails, etc. Then get back to work for another 50 minutes and so on throughout the day. It really helps with fatigue and also keeps the work fresher.
Michelle, I’ve been lucky to not have a physical impediment, but I believe everyone has one, be it emotional, mental, spiritual or physical or a combination.
I try to stay positive and have a sense of balance though it’s not always easy.
Going to try Julie’s idea of timer – as I do have an egg timer available.
Thanks for the post Michelle.
Take a walk, work out, watch a movie, read… destressing is the key to creativity.
I have found that by reading other genres than the one I write in really helps with my own work.