Anyone else suffering with possible SAD and therefore writer's block?

[walkingongreyclouds]

It's such a pain! Most evenings I take myself up to a quiet area with my laptop, full of good intentions to get a little chunk of my writing done. But when I'm up there, the words don't come! I have the plot all mapped out a pretty twisty and confusing one but I'm just struggling with getting from point A to point B in my plot. When I started the book last summer, the words flowed freely, but as winter drew in I started losing momentum with it. I've never had this problem before. I have been having some Seasonal Affective Disorder symptoms, have done for a few winters, but it's never manifested like this. My last book was so much easier to write!

The reason I'm writing this is because I decided last night to enter a short story competition - one with no prompt, which in hindsight probably wasn't the best idea! I'm normally pretty good at spontaneous scribblings, but I'm not getting anywhere with that, either! I've also tried a website online for writers that has different exercises, but that was to no avail. I've tried listening to music (which gives me loads of inspiration but no actual words), I've tried writing down ideas in a notebook as I go along, I've tried just writing the interesting bits and then filling in the gaps. It's just not going anywhere!

Anyone else having the same problem this winter?

Anyone?

I have really bad SAD

I don’t do much creative writing but when I did, it would always dry up in winter. I think this winter has been particularly bad for light levels.

I was always surprised at NaNoWriMo being in November for that reason. I’m struggling with ordinary daily stuff at the mo.

I hope you get some writing mojo back.

Thank you Autumn

I find walking helps me when I'm a bit stuck. Can you get out for 20 mins or so each day?

Sorry for late reply schmalex. I do get out every day - writing is just a hobby, not a full-time job luckily, else I'd be a bit screwed haha but I have been meaning to try and get out for more walks of an evening, so maybe I should try that when I get stuck. Thank you!

I have SAD and I’m doing an MA in Writing at the moment. The submissions before Christmas were almost impossible and I wasn’t happy with them. However, I did get them done. I decided to focus on winter. Took myself to a park at night after the rain and made notes. This time, I turned the dark and the night into a living thing. Especially that no man’s land of dark when it’s not day anymore but too early to be night. Does that make sense?

The spring is on its way OP - 5 weeks today and the clocks will change. We’re over the worst of it.

Someone once said to me that the earth is pregnant during winter. I found that very comforting and say it to myself when I want to tear my hair out in December.

I wish you well :-)

I find walking in this weather horrendous. I do it daily but today was just like being sandblasted.

at the moment I just concentrate on doing the essentials. For SAD sufferers, this is the worst winter I can remember for quite some time.

having a very bright light in the home helps. I don't find the SAD light helpful but having a room you can light up really bright is good. I use a workman's lamp.

elena "Took myself to a park at night after the rain and made notes."

I like that, but I tried it twice and being there with mostly dealers was unnerving. I know they don't mean any harm to me but I felt like....I didn't know what I was about to see!!

I've sent you a message, @walkingongreyclouds.

Autumn The point about light is interesting as I tend to have a fairly dim lamp on in the room in which I'm trying to write. I thought it would help set the atmosphere, but maybe it's just sending me to sleep

elena I wish I could take myself off to a park in the dark, but I'm always really paranoid about being raped/assaulted/other (I live in a town that's known for high crime rates which doesn't help). Another thing I miss about summer! But it's a comforting thought that the Earth is pregnant, and even more comforting that we only have 5 weeks until the clocks change! Thank you

OP "I thought it would help set the atmosphere, but maybe it's just sending me to sleep"

oh don't do that!! that's mad! My mum does that kind of thing and she's in a worse state than I am. You need the brightest lighting possible for as long as possible.

Ideally I'd like to have all the lighting changed in the flat but I can't afford it. Originally I bought a SAD lamp but then realised the fluorescent office style lighting was better.

so I have this now

www.amazon.co.uk/gp/product/B07TTMLJXY/ref=ppx_yo_dt_b_asin_title_o08_s00?psc=1&tag=mumsnetforu03-21&ie=UTF8

it's ugly but packs away easily and on a grey day, it lights up the flat properly, you don't have that horrible sense of it being dark all day.

dim lamps might suit the world your characters inhabit, but if you've got SAD, they are not your friend!

Autumn that makes so much sense, I realise that now. Harsh lights give me a headache, so maybe it's all about finding that balance. I don't really have the £ for that lamp you recommend but I'll see what brighter bulbs I've got!

OP even just a whiter bulb will help. Yellow light does nothing to combat the grey days.

I can’t stand bright light directly in my eyes either, hence the SAD lamp was a poor choice. What I find important is to have the area around you well lit. This is particularly crucial on dark days. I don’t find the time difference particularly an issue, it’s the amount of sunlight that does or doesn’t get through.

I'll try that Autumn, thanks

OP

I’m really sorry but instead of starting a new thread, do you mind if I have a quick rant on here?

I can’t even get into reading a book today. I desperately need a good long walk outside and it’s still utterly revolting outside. I still feel all itchy and scratchy and irritable and the forecast is similar for days.

All I’ve done today is eat and MN.

Rant away Autumn, and it's okay to have days where all you can do is breathe/eat/MN - you're human, everyone has off days.

Thanks OP

I’ve been like this for weeks and the flat is really messy which also annoys me but it’s hard to keep a small place in order imho

I did submit some writing to a competition a couple of weeks ago but just sent in a piece I already had.

I