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Creative writing

State of Mind

4 replies

user4564376534875487 · 23/03/2019 13:26

Have name changed because I am posting on other boards about issues regarding my children.

I have just completed my first novel (in the process of editing) and usually work on it every day for an hour or so. However, an issue has arisen with my middle child (which has actually caused me to lose sleep, amongst other things) and I feel totally out of kilter, like I cant return to my writing, I don't have the mental energy due to being stressed. I am concerned I am going to lose momentum with my book which I hope to publish one way or another, hopefully, it is just a blip. Anyone else find that their state of mind drastically affects their writing? I love to write, I find it helps me to unwind if anything but these past few days have just not felt mentally settled enough, which is very unlike me.

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Sicario · 23/03/2019 13:32

Do yourself a massive favour. Shove the novel in a drawer and forget about it. Come back to it in a couple of months with fresh eyes. You'll be amazed at the perspective a bit of distance gives you.

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user4564376534875487 · 23/03/2019 18:28

Thanks Sicario, I had heard that. The trouble is with children (3 of them), I have to grab time when I can and make the most of it and that's why I do little and often. When the Summer holidays are upon me, I do almost zero writing, so that is my break I suppose.

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Sicario · 24/03/2019 15:48

Writing with children around is like "Nightmare On Elm Street". I feel for you.

Get stuck into the editing, piece by piece, because editing is easier from a broken-concentration point of view than writing on the blank line.

Then shove it in a drawer and write something else. Anything. Just keep writing, giving yourself resting time, and coming back and refining. Because you only get one bite when you submit your work and it needs to be the best it can be before you send it out there. Trust me on this.

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user4564376534875487 · 24/03/2019 17:50

Yes, it is. Usually I write when baby naps during the day or else late evening. I haven't got the freedom to write when I feel at my most creative - BUT I probably would procrastinate and not get much done at all if that were the case.

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