Wednesday 5 February 2014

IWSG February

I'm looking forward to hopping around and finding out how everyone's feeling now that we've got through January and the New Year's Resolutions are in full swing (or not!)

I was feeling distinctly insecure in January... I was working on a project I wasn't feeling the love for but felt I had to continue with, and was also finding it very hard to find enough time to write. The situation is now resolved and I'm working on something else instead when I have the time.

TIME! The greatest bug-bear of all! I have decided that in February - and in the rest of 2014 - it will not be my enemy. I am going to write when I can... and if I simply can't for a few days, so be it. I've read so much about 'write every day, no matter what it is,' that I was developing a bit of a paranoia about my skills slipping away if I didn't.

I can't, though. End of.

Trying makes me feel stressed and ill.

So, I'm going to chill!

Cat Chilled Out www.orangedonkey.net

One day, I'll have more time on my hands. Until then I'll do what I can.

So - how are you feeling?

Thanks for visiting - and as always thanks to Alex for starting it all off. You can find all the participants here on his blog.

Oh, and while I'm here... I'd like to introduce you to my husband who has just started his blog. He's a sort of 'urban poet', I think! You can find his first ever post here - please go and say 'hi'!


10 comments:

Sarah Foster said...

Trying to find as much time to write as I'd like is very difficult. But I also hate having to force myself to write if I'm just not feeling it. Better to chill!

Unknown said...


I hate time too. I feel like it is always slipping away from me. Then I read an article that said one of the differences between a professional writer and an amateur is that the pros don’t rush. Crazily that made me feel like it was ok to be calm because I would still get where I wanted to be and have a better product at the end of it. I’ll share the link if you want, but it’s a long one.


Suzanne Furness said...

Time to just write often seems in short supply for me too. There are so many other pressures on your time. Like you though I have decided to be more flexible in my approach and take the pressure off myself a bit.
Good luck to you with your progress.

Patsy said...

'Write every day you can' is better advice than 'write every day' for most people, I think. Ignoring friends and family, or missing part of an important event just to scribble a few notes you'll never use seems silly. Better to do what you really want to and therefore have something to write about.

Stephsco said...

That picture is funny (I'm a sucker for cats). Sometimes changing a project really helps with motivation and inspiration. I hate to leave things unfinished, but I've made a lot of progress by leaving a few manuscripts behind.

Misha Gerrick said...

Yeah that write every day rule just isn't healthy for everyone. Someone who can write every day, should.

Not everyone can, though, and I think pushing yourself to write every day regardless of circumstances is bad for creativity.

Rena said...

Yes, time is a troubling mistress as far as I can tell. We never seem to have enough of it, but when we do we never use it well. At least that's me. If I have all the time in the world, it will never get done. If I'm up to my ears in other things, boy oh boy, stuff gets done.

Denise Covey said...

Good for you ! Yes, we can feel a failure if we don't write every day, but let's face it, unless we are writing full time, what are the chances ? Write when you can is good advice.

Annalisa Crawford said...

Writing something you don't love can be a huge soul-sucking experience. Hope the new project is going better!

Unknown said...

I like your attitude of writing when you can. You need to do what is right for you. Keep at it. Doing it that way still produces words on the page!