I’ve decide that this blog will be
devoted to the process of writing a novel with a focus on the
emotional impact of doing so. It will still contain the short
“episodes” of the novel as I write it, but I will also include
behind the scenes detail – what I’ve achieved this week, my
short-falls, how I’ve felt throughout, and how I’ve overcome (or
not!) the problems I’ve encountered.
My aim is to provide an honest
account of my experience of the creative process in the hope that
others may benefit from it. There are many blogs out there with
articles on the trials and tribulations of novel writing (this one
from YA highway is particularly good) but for me, the emotional side
of writing is my biggest hurdle and most enduring problem.
Why? I believe this is because of my
health problems; I have depression and ME/CFS, and both like to put
their respect spanners in my way on a regular basis. A lot of what I
read on the internet about “Writers Block” follow the
Pull-Yourself-Together school of thought – keep going, plod on,
work through it, chin up. It’s great advice that I know through
experience that my brain doesn’t respond well to. Hammering away at
a problem (in any avenue of my life) can lead to me being overwhelmed
with self-doubt and can trigger depressive episodes. Stopping,
walking away, resting and re-evaluating are always better strategies
for me but that greatly effects my productivity.
So how do I overcome these hurdles?
That’s what this blog will be devoted to: support and
advice for getting a brain that lacks motivation into gear, that
lacks concentration to focus, that gives way to irritability and
anger to chill the hell out! Can I silence my self-doubt enough to
achieve my dream? I suppose only time can tell…
