
Writing
is for those with malleable hearts, insatiable curiosities, and ironclad
resolve.
Because there are joy stealers lurking and ready to rob you
from the unexplainable joy writing can inspire.
And they are…
Disillusionment
When you hold up the picture of what you thought the writing
life would look like and it doesn’t even vaguely resemble what writing actually
is.
Distraction Deluge
When life hits you with a bombardment of commitments and
you’re squeezed dry of time and energy.
Disbelief
Somewhere along the way you lost the majestic wonder that
motivated you when you began writing. The confidence and belief that you were
meant for this shrinks to the size of a mustard seed. (Hmm…a mustard seed.)
Dry Spell
Ideas disappear into thin air like genie smoke, triggering a
season of drought. You find yourself flirting with the belief you were wrong
and that you’re ideas won’t ever grow green and vibrant again.
Daggers
Criticism comes your way without a shred of anything
constructive in it.
Derelict Characters
You’ve gotten so caught up in the story you’ve forgotten
who’s writing who. Until one day your characters rebel and attempt to throw you
entirely off course. Worse than a rabbit trail, this is a career direction
detonator. (A key time to listen because characters always have something
interesting to teach us, but ultimately to also remember whose boss.)
Deceptive Deathblow
Rejections, people who promised to be you’re biggest support
but who fail to meet your expectations, the love of writing shriveling like
embers turned to ash. Somewhere along the way you mistakenly substituted love
of craft for so many other seductive loves—approval, acceptance, validation,
timing, attention, etc.
Deadline Drift
Date looming and your mind draws a big fat blank. You feel
like you’re writing for the man. A machine. The romanticism of the craft is
stripped away.
Dead end Delusion
With writing there is no end
in sight. It’s all about exploration and learning and discovery. But
there’s nothing like the publishing industry to fool a writer into entertaining
these familiar thoughts:
“I’ll be happy when…
I finish my
novel
I get an
agent
a house buys
my book
I see my
book in print
or my formatting is done for e-book
I meet my
sales goals
I sell
another book…”
& so the
dance begins again.
Debilitating
Doubt
I can’t. Therefore I won’t.
Dedication
Commitment to write through the highs and lows.
Determination
A “I’ll write no matter what I feel” attitude that presents
opportunities for you to learn far more about yourself during the process than at
the outcome.
Decision
Because it always comes back to choice.
You have a choice in this. Freedom to keep at it or to chuck
the whole thing.
As for me and my mouse (bad computer humor), we will surf the
lore.
What have you found
to be a joy stealer during your writing journey? And a joy planter?
*photo by stock.XCHNG
Clever lady. :-) All the above for me!
ReplyDeleteI write from experience on this. ;-)
DeleteLove these. Suffering hugely from Distraction Deluge right now. A newborn will do that to ya!
ReplyDeleteI'm not sure I was awake for about six years there. Ah, memories!
DeleteWe are getting ready for the big reno...should be interesting having all kinds of noises and traffic in the house.
Comparison. Big time.
ReplyDeleteYep, this and jealousy. I figured they take up at least a post (if not a dozen) on their own. Good & worthy mention.
DeleteThese are so great, Wendy! Distraction Deluge. So much going on that I lack the amount of writing time I want. Frustrating!
ReplyDeleteI'm finding I'm squeezing it in at the oddest times. I even (yikes...why) am waking up before the kids to fit it in. Must be love.
Deletei like as for me and my mouse we will surf the lore! love it - now thats a real joy planter!
ReplyDeleteI had fun with that. ;-) Crazy what this mind comes up with.
DeleteWorking on turning my debilitating doubt into dedication and determination.
ReplyDeleteI miss being able to read your weekly thoughts, btw. Reading this was like taking a nice big sip of ice water. Ahhh, okay, I feel better now. :)
Glad I could offer a drink in my words. Miss you too, Sarah, but prioritizing is gold.
DeleteHaha, I think I might be in the deadline drift one right now. :) But more often than not, it's doubt that trips me up. I love your joy planters, though! Those make all the difference!
ReplyDeleteYep, without those it would be one dreary road.
DeleteI think I've experienced all of these, Wendy. My joy planter is keeping the original vision for my story front and center.
ReplyDeleteI love your joy planter & I've also found that helps tremendously. I'm thankful the writing process is life-giving for me...otherwise this is a crazy gig.
Delete"Somewhere along the way you mistakenly substituted love of craft for so many other seductive loves—approval, acceptance, validation, timing, attention, etc."
ReplyDeletethese words just jumped out at me, Wendy! I think I'm walking through this right now in writing and faith. This quote also applies to seeking God (substitute the word craft for God). Wow.
Those words just jumped right back at me too. ;-0 I always love how entwined writing and faith can be. Was just speaking to a dear friend today about how I believe I'm in this line of work in order to grow my faith.
Delete