Getting to it

Sometimes you really don’t feel like writing. Not one bit. The thought of getting any words on the page is scary or tiring or just impossible with all the other things going on in your life. I find it hard to turn to a blank page with the distraction of the internet – news about the ash cloud or the election, facebook to check, twitter to scroll through, my inbox to deal with – or the millions of daily tasks that seem to grow in number every day.

Right now, I want to work on a new book. I have ideas which come to me late at night or when I’m doing one of those millions of tasks. But getting myself to actually write is challenging. If this is happening to you, then here’s my advice. Give yourself a break. Let yourself off writing for a few days. Build up a head of steam. Tell yourself that on (choose day) at (choose time) for (choose length of time) you WILL be writing. During your time off, let yourself think about the project you want to work on. Allow the words to tumble through your mind. By the time it gets to your chosen day, you’ll be glad to get all those words that are pressing at your brain down on the page because while you’ve given yourself a break and stopped nagging yourself you’ll have let some of the joy come back into writing.

And remember, when you get to the blank page don’t worry about every word being perfect. Just let yourself write and have fun.

It sound so easy when I write it for you! Now I just need to really give myself a break…allow myself some time off…build up a head of steam…