This has been a tough year. I’ve started writing two books–twice. I’ve not finished either of them either time. The only work I’ve finished this year is a single short story for an anthology that I was misinformed about and stood no actual chance of getting accepted. I’ve struggled to even keep writing. Something happened to me this year, and writing just hasn’t been fun, except for a few brief periods. I don’t know what that something was, but it was a doozy.
It hasn’t just been fiction, either. My blogging has died off considerably, too. I suppose that could be blamed on the election, because somewhere around August or September I got tired of getting political–and found that the political was all I could think to write about. I started far more posts than I posted. I don’t regret that, nor do I see any need to change that. But I still haven’t found much to blog about that doesn’t include politics, so unless I do, expect posting to be light and sporadic.
As I sit here watching my enthusiasm for yet another project die before my eyes I really have to question whether I want to keep writing. I’m not playing for sympathy or encouragement here, it’s just the way things feel right now. Writing got hard, and I’m tired of trying to force the magic. Until something clicks into place again I’m not sure why I should continue to torture myself.
And yet I’ve also got a short story I’m working on, just for the fun of it, that seems to be coming along nicely. I hope to post it here for Christmas.
So who knows. Perhaps 2017 will bring the solution. Perhaps I’ll find what I lost. I’ve given up before, and still keep finding my way back.
If you aren’t enjoying it, and you don’t NEED to do it, move on and find fulfillment in something else. I always was thrilled to see your writing projects, but, I’m sure whatever you do, you will bring the same level of detail that makes it a treat.
The trouble with doing something else is that the block of time not-writing frees up is not one that is easily filled. About the only other thing I could do with my lunch hour is read, or maybe take a walk (neither bad ideas). I could take up a new hobby, I suppose, but I have no idea what that would be.
Hmmm, maybe you could take up writing? 😉
OR, since you want to be writing, and you end up NOT writing, maybe you could take up NOT writing, and maybe you would start ….
I’m sure that my friend Sean would recommend meditation. Digital photography tweaking?
Samba? Yoga?
Could you maybe Samba AND Yoga at the same time? Soga? Yamba?
Haha! Multi-tasking. 🙂
Perhaps it would be Soba. Bring on the noodles!
I sense your new hobby being food related.