I go round in circles, wanting to write or not

[EmmaH2022]

I feel like I go round in circles with writing.

From when I was 8, I dreamed of being a writer!

In my 20s and 30s I got quite a bit done, have about 2/3 of a novel, which I pitched to a couple of publishers at those types of events. Both keen.

But life took over and I never finished it. The market has changed hugely of course. I am now 46. The market is obviously vastly different. The novel was historical so hopefully still has a place.

I don't know if this will be relatable for anyone else but...while in theory I'd like to try again, I am not sure if I want to put all that time and effort in. But then
I must be honest and say I am not doing a lot with my spare time. The discipline of something like NaNoWrimo might be good...but I have failed at it twice, so to speak.

I was working longer hours and commuting then though.

I am a trope of ADHD - my life is full of unfinished projects. Anyone else like this? Did you push through it?

Prevarication is really, really common and you must show promise to have had publishers show interest. It's not easy and I don't have ADHD which must, of course, add an extra dimension to the difficulty of writing but, yes, I'm afraid the only way that you're going to be able to write is to push through. Maybe start with small steps - a very limited word count but make sure you do it every day?

Thank you
I don't have an official diagnosis but display the traits.

In the past, I tried to look deeper into motivation but now I wonder if it's just a good habit to get into for other reasons.

I don't want to name names but I paid (very little) to join an online group that I thought would help with regular motivation and it doesn't really do much.

so I guess I do just have to push through. Is the habit the most important thing? So if you what you write is no use, does it bother you?

sorry, I don't even know what I'm asking. I suppose I just want someone to care if I write every day, someone to be supportive.

Want to encourage each other? I'm much the same.

I totally understand - I’m the same, always wanted to write but outside a few short stories struggle to really get moving with anything. Especially with all the business of everyday life getting in the way all the time.

However I really picked up on the idea that you ‘want someone to care if you write each day/to be supportive.’

Unfortunately I think this is one of the biggest blocks - the reality is that until you’ve finished the novel/people can read it nobody does really care. You need to find that support and motivation from within. This isn’t a criticism - I have this exact same issue. I feel after every page I’d like someone to read it and provide detailed feedback to stem my worries that I’m wasting my time. But obviously that’s unrealistic!

Yes! Shall we have a separate thread or use this one?

maybe a separate "daily accountability thread". I don't necessarily want to get bogged down in the novel, just get into a habit of writing.

Kanaloa "You need to find that support and motivation from within"

yes, and this is a discipline I need to find for life in general IYSWIM.

I went through exactly the same and tried NanoWriMo a couple of times, and failed. However, with lots of encouragement from a friend, I have published two books in the last year.

I’m now trying to get into no 3, in a different genre.

Unfortunately, it is a case of just getting the words down. The first draft is just telling yourself the story - but you can’t edit an empty page!

I know it’s hard but it’s the only way.

Costa thanks for saying that, and well done.

I felt awful giving up on Nano. So I stopped wanting to set goals because I felt I'd never achieve them.

We can use this one if you like or message privately. Whichever you prefer.

I think it’s important to progress, ie don’t keep trying to perfect everyone paragraph, just plough on and sort any issues or expand descriptions on subsequent drafts.

If I hit a blank I literally type GAP then I can search for GAP and find the bits that I need to go back and fill in.

Well if you find it please let me know where so I can get some!

It’s really hard. I know I have the time realistically but it’s hard because sometimes I think my quota of being disciplined goes on other things I can’t let slip!

@Costacoffeeplease

Ooh, so you’re a published author? Don’t want to derail the op’s thread but maybe one day you could do an AMA or similar - I’d love to hear some top tips from a real author.

Kanaloa "It’s really hard. I know I have the time realistically but it’s hard because sometimes I think my quota of being disciplined goes on other things I can’t let slip!"

Totally. It's "why is this important?" And then I see someone from my life who has been successful at it in some way, or I hear/read/see something that really moves me and I think, why am I not doing that, even just for myself? Why do I spend so much time online?!

I am going to set up a separate thread. I know it's been tried before and they tail off, but I will do my best! Will link when done.

Yes, please link - I’d be happy to join and perhaps actually start writing seriously again!

Please may I join you? I am currently editing/updating a the paperback edition of a book that I published 10 years ago, and have another to update. Once I finish those I will continue to work on my current book. Although I am retired I still don't seem to have enough time, there are so many other things to do.

More authors, yay!

okay, I've set it up. Let us go forward together!! KBO!!

www.mumsnet.com/talk/creative_writing/4657572-write-this-time-the-cheerleading-and-consistency-thread

@Kanaloa I’m not sure I’m a proper author 😄 I’ve self published but both books are doing way better than I hoped.

Well, that's fab.

this is another change since I began writing, now I'd go straight to self publishing if I finish anything. Before, I wanted a traditional agent and publisher.

Yes I went straight to self publishing, for the speed and the control

If you’ve finished and published a book, you’re a ‘proper author’ aren’t you? Self published or any other way.

I don’t feel like one 😊

I had to check your name when I read your OP, because I thought I’d written it.

I have ADHD too (usual story of diagnosis in middle age) and recently got myself a coach so I can sort the unfinished tasks - I'm living in chaos and driving myself bonkers.

She said the key is making the "thing" urgent - we have no sense of time, it's either "now" or "not now". I can meet any deadline, I'll meet it by the skin of my teeth, but I will meet it - only after a huge amount of procrastination.

So, I set myself a deadline - and, amazingly, it is working! I have a year before I have the chance of a big promotion, so I either get my book done now or I won't ever do it.

I am not doing a book proposal, it's too hard to try and organise it - how on earth do I know what I'm going to write until I have written it? So, I'm going to just get on and write it and get someone to edit it retrospectively.

She suggested thinking about how much I want to have a book, then visualise holding your book in my hand. Then work backwards so I can make time to do it.

It's working for me for now