Creativity's Workshop

Extraordinary things happen in ordinary minds

Category Archives: Stress of the Writing Life


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Making Orange Juice From Life’s Lemons

A refreshing image of citrus fruit and a jug of juice from aforementioned.

Hello all. It’s been a little while since my last post, but I’m finally getting back into routine!

Yes, life has thrown us some lemons of late. For those who would like an update on my life, there is some good news and some not-so-good news.

The good news is that my health is picking up. After a couple of months being unable to write, I’m working my way back to something resembling normality. The not-so-good news is that my husband’s health has deteriorated further. We are none the wiser as to why he is so ill, though thankfully cancer and a couple of other nasties have been ruled out. It seems this one’s going to be a long haul.

At times like these, writing and creative projects tend to go out the window as you rush from doctor to doctor. Over the past couple of months I’ve learned how to be creative under the deluge of life’s flying citrus.

Here are some of my suggestions. I’d love to hear yours too!

1. Get Back to Basics

Sometimes all you can do is sleep, eat and manage essential household chores. When that happens, don’t be shy about cutting out everything that adds unnecessary stress or takes essential time/energy.

If this includes writing or other creative pursuits, don’t panic. It’s not forever, just during your current showering of lemons.

2. Find Little Outlets for Your Creativity

Doodle, write humours notes, fold paper hats from junk mail or any other little things which give your Creativity an opportunity to show a little flair. Try doing a small creative project that no one is relying on – something just for you.

Creative moments like these help to keep you sane under the pressure. Just remember, stressful situations are not ideal times to be creative. Use creative moments to release tension, not criticise yourself for what you’re unable to accomplish.

3. Return to Your Routine Slowly

Once you’re in a position to return to your creative pursuits, do things gradually. Don’t expect to jump straight back into the same quality and quantity as you managed before.

Be reasonable with your expectations and goals.

4. Be Patient as You Return to Form

After a hiatus, your first attempts at ideas, writing or any creative endeavour will be below par. You’re rusty and out of practice. Ignore your output for the first few days or weeks.

In the same way as an athlete will need to slowly work his muscles back into form, you too are working yourself back into condition. Be patient.

5. Ignore Advice

Waiting in your inbox will probably be plenty of blog posts and articles telling you all the things you should be doing – post to your blog three times a week, write 1,000 words a day, make sure there’s conflict in every scene.

This advice applies to people who are already in routine. You are building yourself back into routine, therefore this advice does not apply to you.

If anything in the article overwhelms you or discourages you, then ignore it. Only expose yourself to positive, gentle, motivating advice.

At this point, getting yourself back into writing is most important. You can polish and refine your work later once you’re able to face that stuff again.

So, that’s what I’ve learned from my recent experiences.

Have you been through anything similar? Do you have suggestions to add? I’d love to hear them.

P.S. If you’re interested in further tips on how to manage stress with your Creativity intact, try reading my e-book Tips for Those Contemplating Insanity.


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The Fear of Being Wordless

The Atacama desert

Image Credit: Microsoft Clip Art

I’m one of those writers who bubbles with words. I’m always scribbling in a notebook. I’ve lost count of the number of notebooks I have ‘going’ at any one time. Each has its own purpose. They are there to collect my words as they bubble up inside me.

Except when the words dry up.

One of the greatest fears a writer has is the fear of their words disappearing.

What happens if one day I sit down at my desk and nothing comes?

That happened to me just before leaving for Malaysia. I had so many things to do, to finish, to check before I left that the words just dried up.

I didn’t want to write. I didn’t even want to read.

No bubbling.

Nothing

I was empty.

I no longer felt like me.

Who was I without words?

Accepting the Fear

I’d been in this situation before. This time, I decided, I was going to treat it differently.

Instead of dissolving into a panic and wondering a) where my words had gone and b) if they’d ever come back, I would trust.

I know my Creativity. We’re friends. We’ve been through thick and thin together. Through torrents of words and wordless deserts.

She looked tired. I looked tired. We needed a break.

No pressure to write. No pressure to read. A proper break.

I still felt strange – like a part of me was missing – but I accepted it. I had been here before and I would make it through to the other side, not by forcing myself but by relaxing.

The Niggling Itch Returns

The desert lasted through Thursday and Friday and Saturday and Sunday.

On Sunday someone tried to snatch my bag. The emotion of the day and all that had gone before was overwhelming. I wrapped up our belongings in my husband’s jumper and carried them home sobbing.

I didn’t want to write about what had happened, not even to tell my family. I’d had enough.

But then, sometime early Monday morning, while barely awake, Creativity and I felt the merest hint of a bubble. And then another, and another.

By breakfast time a short story was already forming, based on the bag snatcher from the day before. Reaching for a notebook, we set to work. Eight pages of notes followed.

The words were back. And they were back with a vengeance.

I grinned. My Creativity grinned.

With a little trust and acceptance we’d made it through another wordless desert.

Have you ever experienced something similar? How do you deal with your wordless deserts?


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What Stresses You in Your Writing Life?

A woman with a headache.

Image Credit: Microsoft Clip Art

Life is stressful – managing things at work, paying the bills, looking after the house, fixing the car, communicating with the family.

But the writing life comes with its own unique stresses.

  • The potential embarrassment of identifying yourself as a writer.
  • The fear of the fickle muse.
  • The panic of actual writing.
  • The anxiety of what to do after you’ve written.
  • The pain of sending your work out into the world.

Sounds overwhelming, doesn’t it?

The good news is: these stresses can be managed!

I’m currently working on an e-book taking each of these above stresses and breaking them down into manageable parts. The process is doing wonders for my stress and I can’t wait to share the information with you.

But to make sure I’m creating a book that will be useful to you, I need your help.

Please take a minute to tell me what stresses you face in your writing life. What are you finding overwhelming, frustrating, intimidating or just downright annoying?

The better I understand what you’re facing, the more detailed and helpful I can make my book.

Feel free to either share your thoughts in the comments, or e-mail me privately at jessica@jessicabaverstock.com.