At last, after dodging it carefully for over two years, I got Covid-19. My wife also has it, with symptoms a day or two behind my own. It is grim.
That’s why I didn’t send out the usual Monday newsletter yesterday, but it got me thinking: how do you keep writing when life is throwing bad things at you? What are your techniques for keeping the creative spark alive when the world is beating you down?
Let me know in the discussion. Asking for a friend.
Tbh, writing is often an escape when life IS shitty. But I've never forced it, if I'm in the zone, I write. If I'm not, I don't. And this is why I published my first book at 46
Yeah, same for me generally speaking. That's what's been frustrating about Covid - my concentration is so altered that I can't write, which ordinarily would be a pleasant escape. Hoping I'll be out the other side by the weekend...
Lately, I started sketching one tiny thing in my journal. When the spirit moves me. I’m definitely not an artist, so it’s usually pretty bad art but something different when words are elusive.
Having alternative creative things to poke at when the main one isn't quite working is a really good approach. I know a lot of writers keep multiple projects spinning for specifically that reason.
Get well soon, Simon! I sometimes just can’t write for days or weeks at a time and I haven’t necessarily implemented a good strat to fix it. I do think journaling helps to keep my mind in the story and get me excited to sit down to work. Other than that, letting myself decompress by reading or watching a show seems to also motivate me to get back to work somehow. Hope that helps!
I have health issues that mean I'm often tired and sick. This has been a lifelong problem. Here is some advice I got from my doctor.
Use your time like you use your money--which is, hopefully, wisely. But not always in my case. lol.
Factor the most important activity of the day in first, then the smaller things. If you can't get to those smaller things, somehow make yourself okay with it so you don't feel it hanging over your head.
I do both of these things. For writing specifically, I have a low word goal. That way I don't feel a lot of pressure, which gets to me. Most writing days, I go over my goal. That gives me either extra words or some leeway on a day I feel very bad.
Hope this helps and that you only need this kind of advice for a short time. :)
Hey Simon -- so sorry to hear this, and wishing you & your wife a speedy recovery.
I've struggled with writing when things are tough. While I'm sure the best approach is different for everyone, there are two things that really helped me.
1. Find the Joy.
I try to find one element of the story that I love, and focus on just that. It might be dialogue between two characters, a cool visual, creepy atmosphere, or whatever, but I only worry about that, and forget about all the other heavy lifting.
2. Forgive Yourself.
I have a bad tendency to beat myself up for not hitting my goals, and my natural inclination is to double-up my workload until I catch up. Thing is, that's ultimately counter-productive, and creates a downward spiral.
Much more helpful (and healthy) for me is accepting that I didn't hit my goal, then adjusting the timeline accordingly.
Hope you're on the mend soon, and it looks like there's lots of other great suggestions in the comments already!
I have always written for myself first and a fictional ideal reader second. That is really the only audience that matters, and I can never bore them or offend them. That keeps me motivated to type on.
Hello Simon. A fellow serial fiction writer here, experimenting with substack lately--one fat chapter a month, and an audibook podcast that is slowly catching up with those. Would you like to be my friend? (Asking for a friend.)
Sorry you have Covid--horrible. I got it for the first time at the end of April. Just fatigue for me, but that continues post-Covid. It may have gone mild but long :(
As such I have been thinking a lot about your question recently, because it is hard to write with long Covid / post-Covid fatigue.
Here's what I've got:
1. Remind oneself of previous writing successes.
When I'm feeling down about writing I look at short stories I've had published, flash fiction competitions I've won, feedback I've had from readers and editors, good reviews I've had, and those counter the 'you can't do this' voice.
2. Put on music and write to music.
That can also drown out the voice.
3. Take proper breaks with proper rest and recreation.
I had a proper holiday recently, with no writing. (Well, only a bit of planning, because I couldn't help myself). It didn't solve the post-Covid fatigue, but it helped.
4. Clarify goals and values.
I worked out recently that, at least at this time in my life, I would rather be making quality work than a quantity of work, and I would rather make quality things that I am proud of than make lots of money with my writing. With a family to support and a job, like you, I just don't have enough time or capacity to churn out reams and reams of fiction (quantity), as apparently is required to make money in the indie scene. So I will take my time building up a higher quality body of work. Clarifying that means less false pressure and hopefully less likelihood of burnout.
I might expand these points and others into a newsletter sometime...
-
Anyway, I completed your serial fiction writers survey a while back. Looking forward to seeing the results.
Tbh, writing is often an escape when life IS shitty. But I've never forced it, if I'm in the zone, I write. If I'm not, I don't. And this is why I published my first book at 46
Yeah, same for me generally speaking. That's what's been frustrating about Covid - my concentration is so altered that I can't write, which ordinarily would be a pleasant escape. Hoping I'll be out the other side by the weekend...
Lately, I started sketching one tiny thing in my journal. When the spirit moves me. I’m definitely not an artist, so it’s usually pretty bad art but something different when words are elusive.
Having alternative creative things to poke at when the main one isn't quite working is a really good approach. I know a lot of writers keep multiple projects spinning for specifically that reason.
Get well soon, Simon! I sometimes just can’t write for days or weeks at a time and I haven’t necessarily implemented a good strat to fix it. I do think journaling helps to keep my mind in the story and get me excited to sit down to work. Other than that, letting myself decompress by reading or watching a show seems to also motivate me to get back to work somehow. Hope that helps!
Thanks, Winston!
Poetry.
Or don't.
Accept that it's time to rest. Focus on salts, orange juice, fresh air, love, clean water, sleep.
Things we should be probably be more focused on anyway.
Feel better, fella. Sending you a digital warm, wet cloth on the head.
I hope you and your wife have a speedy recovery.
I have health issues that mean I'm often tired and sick. This has been a lifelong problem. Here is some advice I got from my doctor.
Use your time like you use your money--which is, hopefully, wisely. But not always in my case. lol.
Factor the most important activity of the day in first, then the smaller things. If you can't get to those smaller things, somehow make yourself okay with it so you don't feel it hanging over your head.
I do both of these things. For writing specifically, I have a low word goal. That way I don't feel a lot of pressure, which gets to me. Most writing days, I go over my goal. That gives me either extra words or some leeway on a day I feel very bad.
Hope this helps and that you only need this kind of advice for a short time. :)
Thanks, Maira. I'm definitely a follower of the 'low word count' approach, even when I'm not covid-ridden. Human brains are weird, aren't they?
Hey Simon -- so sorry to hear this, and wishing you & your wife a speedy recovery.
I've struggled with writing when things are tough. While I'm sure the best approach is different for everyone, there are two things that really helped me.
1. Find the Joy.
I try to find one element of the story that I love, and focus on just that. It might be dialogue between two characters, a cool visual, creepy atmosphere, or whatever, but I only worry about that, and forget about all the other heavy lifting.
2. Forgive Yourself.
I have a bad tendency to beat myself up for not hitting my goals, and my natural inclination is to double-up my workload until I catch up. Thing is, that's ultimately counter-productive, and creates a downward spiral.
Much more helpful (and healthy) for me is accepting that I didn't hit my goal, then adjusting the timeline accordingly.
Hope you're on the mend soon, and it looks like there's lots of other great suggestions in the comments already!
Thanks, Dan. Very good advice!
I have always written for myself first and a fictional ideal reader second. That is really the only audience that matters, and I can never bore them or offend them. That keeps me motivated to type on.
Get well soon, mate!
Thanks, JB!
Hello Simon. A fellow serial fiction writer here, experimenting with substack lately--one fat chapter a month, and an audibook podcast that is slowly catching up with those. Would you like to be my friend? (Asking for a friend.)
Sorry you have Covid--horrible. I got it for the first time at the end of April. Just fatigue for me, but that continues post-Covid. It may have gone mild but long :(
As such I have been thinking a lot about your question recently, because it is hard to write with long Covid / post-Covid fatigue.
Here's what I've got:
1. Remind oneself of previous writing successes.
When I'm feeling down about writing I look at short stories I've had published, flash fiction competitions I've won, feedback I've had from readers and editors, good reviews I've had, and those counter the 'you can't do this' voice.
2. Put on music and write to music.
That can also drown out the voice.
3. Take proper breaks with proper rest and recreation.
I had a proper holiday recently, with no writing. (Well, only a bit of planning, because I couldn't help myself). It didn't solve the post-Covid fatigue, but it helped.
4. Clarify goals and values.
I worked out recently that, at least at this time in my life, I would rather be making quality work than a quantity of work, and I would rather make quality things that I am proud of than make lots of money with my writing. With a family to support and a job, like you, I just don't have enough time or capacity to churn out reams and reams of fiction (quantity), as apparently is required to make money in the indie scene. So I will take my time building up a higher quality body of work. Clarifying that means less false pressure and hopefully less likelihood of burnout.
I might expand these points and others into a newsletter sometime...
-
Anyway, I completed your serial fiction writers survey a while back. Looking forward to seeing the results.
Cheers,
Faenon (Luke)
Thanks, Faenon! Good tips.
And I'm intending to get to analysing the survey at the end of the month. Should b interesting!
Yes, they are. lol. I often have to trick myself into doing something--or doing something better.
Thanks, Gerry.