Are you a writer in need of motivation? How’s this: Writing is like a disease. It may go into remission, but it never leaves you.
Apologies for the somewhat negative analogy. I had taken a long break from my writing due to a family tragedy. For nearly two years I had not looked at my half-started novels, nor considered revising the one I finished, the one I love best. I have not written or revised a single poem. It was too painful. So I shut my computer down. I let it all go. I had to trust that the desire to write would return when I was ready. If not, well, that was okay, too. Why push it?
Two years passed. I wondered if I would ever write again. What if all the good ideas had been used up? What if I only had so many words, phrases or sentences in my vocabulary that could be put on paper, and they were all gone? Where would I find my inspiration? Would I ever feel the same thrill when I discovered a new angle or way of looking at what I was revising? What if everything I wrote really sucked?
Did you ever fear the same thing?
Rest assured. The writing and the motivation to write will come back to you. I went back to the novel I loved and started revising, and, whaddyaknow, I found myself thinking like a writer again. I was flooded with ideas. Maybe not a flood, but when I was driving to my daughter’s late one night, I had to pull the car over to take notes. When walking the dog, I had to whip out my cell phone to dictate notes.
It made me so happy. It’s a wonderful disease. And I’m not even worried about whether or not the writing sucks. All I know is I’m writing, and it feels good.
Don’t worry. You are always a writer even when you’re not actively writing.
P.S. that novel, In the Context of Love, was published.
Wholly Jeanne says
Oh Sugar, I’m so glad to see you back wordsmithing. And what a way to start!
Linda K Sienkiewicz says
Thanks, Jeanne! I’m really glad, too. <3