Writing again
Sep. 8th, 2010 08:55 am![[personal profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/user.png){kind=small}
brainofckIn the winter, I deliberately made a decision to try to cut back on writing and reading. Writing is a time-consuming hobby, and I have VERY LITTLE free time. I wanted to focus on exercise and fitness, and that was where I chose to direct my energies.
However, what I have realized is that now, I don't really have a hobby. I mean, yoga is great, and being strong is great, but for me, that is not a satisfying hobby. What I have as a hobby is, basically, watching one hour of Farscape per day with Husband before he goes off to work.
The thing about writing, though. It is definitely easier with practice. Words come, discipline to sit down and write the words is not discipline at all, it is a natural urge. To stop writing, I had to shut up my brain, and after so many months, I wondered if I would even *have* any ideas any more.
So, it being J/D Ficathon time and all, I have a writing project. It was not the one I would have most preferred. It's not a premise that thrills me. I've spent the last 10 days or so trying not to be disappointed by it. But last week, I sort of had an idea for it, and last night, actual words started coming, scenes started happening, characters started talking to each other, and now Jacob and Jack are loose in my head, and all is well in the world. I sat down and wrote productively this morning. It was a little rough, but it started to flow and I am feeling very happy about the whole thing.
My plan is to alternate days. Big workout one day, writing the next day, with the hundred pushups program and the two hundred situps program squashed into the cracks in my evening. Also, I want to be disciplined about the days. If a writing day gets squashed by RL, it will move to the following morning instead of being skipped. And same with exercise days. I want to try to make these equally balanced priorities for my life with neither superceeding the other.
And after all that, here, have Jack in a grass skirt with coconut "pectoral armor."
However, what I have realized is that now, I don't really have a hobby. I mean, yoga is great, and being strong is great, but for me, that is not a satisfying hobby. What I have as a hobby is, basically, watching one hour of Farscape per day with Husband before he goes off to work.
The thing about writing, though. It is definitely easier with practice. Words come, discipline to sit down and write the words is not discipline at all, it is a natural urge. To stop writing, I had to shut up my brain, and after so many months, I wondered if I would even *have* any ideas any more.
So, it being J/D Ficathon time and all, I have a writing project. It was not the one I would have most preferred. It's not a premise that thrills me. I've spent the last 10 days or so trying not to be disappointed by it. But last week, I sort of had an idea for it, and last night, actual words started coming, scenes started happening, characters started talking to each other, and now Jacob and Jack are loose in my head, and all is well in the world. I sat down and wrote productively this morning. It was a little rough, but it started to flow and I am feeling very happy about the whole thing.
My plan is to alternate days. Big workout one day, writing the next day, with the hundred pushups program and the two hundred situps program squashed into the cracks in my evening. Also, I want to be disciplined about the days. If a writing day gets squashed by RL, it will move to the following morning instead of being skipped. And same with exercise days. I want to try to make these equally balanced priorities for my life with neither superceeding the other.
And after all that, here, have Jack in a grass skirt with coconut "pectoral armor."
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Date: 2010-09-08 02:25 pm (UTC)ymmv of course. but i think you are much more disciplined and organized than i. i am trying to be more that way for my own stuff. you know how it is when you have kids... everyone else's needs and schedules come first.
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Date: 2010-09-08 03:12 pm (UTC)I don't know if my soul would/will die due to lack of writing. But I do think it has been the source of background anger for me on many occassions. "I gave up writing so my life could be in THIS state?" kind of anger.
you are much more disciplined and organized
Depends on the day and the hormones, but sometimes, if I can come up with a very clear plan, I can be very bullheaded about sticking to the plan. NO PLAN B, DAMMIT. I am hoping this will be one of those instances.
you know how it is when you have kids
OMG, yes. And teh four-year-old is being SO FOUR right now. *headdesk*
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Date: 2010-09-08 03:03 pm (UTC)*smoosh*
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Date: 2010-09-08 03:13 pm (UTC)no subject
Date: 2010-09-09 01:41 am (UTC)Always happy to be a sounding board for fic, too, if you need/want one. :) My prompt similarly baffled me for days, so I have lots of sympathy.