Over the past few months when I struggle with writing, this phrase comes to mind: write from where you are.
It is a reminder to accept where I am in my writing life and not be frustrated that I am not somewhere else. I’m part of a writing group where the other members are working on novels. My novel is not clicking in my brain, but short stories are right now. Instead of annoying myself with forcing the novel, I write short stories. I have friends to write blog posts weekly, which is a goal I had set for myself at the beginning of the year when I decided “do” was my word of 2020. Well, blog posts haven’t been coming to me, so I haven’t written them.
You might be thinking, “Duh.” Well, I think that, too, because this is not a difficult concept. However, it is super easy to slip back into chastising myself for not working on my novel or posting more on my blog. I will eventually be back in those places. This change in thinking has made a difference in my writing. The joy is back and I feel like I am more productive and a better writer.
If you find yourself in the same boat, think about where you are and be there. Feeling like writing short stories? Write short stories. Is a great novel ready to burst out of you? Get to writing that novel. Only feel like you can deal with short social media posts for a while? Then write those posts.
Unless writing is your full-time gig, just enjoy being where you are. And if writing is your main source of income, I suggest trying to do something just for you on the side to maintain the joy. (My income does not rely on writing, so take that with a grain of salt.)
Whenever you decide to write, remember to write from where you are.
