Inspiration and 'that' Brick Wall

Oh yeah.
















It's happened again you guys.

In regards to writing and blogging, I have hit that unavoidable, no matter how hard you try, wall.
It's sneaky that way. You go along quite happily and then it appears from outta no-where. *POOF*

I have been a relatively rubbish writer and blogger of late, and I can only apologise. After being deluged, we are now baking in the long awaited summer sun and it hasn't done anything for my motivation... I am a lot like my poor wilting tomato plants. No fruit to harvest... (Is this a metaphor or a simile? I don't care now anyway. Humph! ... You see; this is what the heat does to me!)

The state of my poor tomatoes aside, I was actually considering pulling the plug on my blog... I just felt I had nothing to share or give to my lovely followers... Then I pulled myself together before someone decided to slap me in the face with a fish, just to snap me out of it.

I'm just going through a writing drought, that's all.

Everywhere I turn; there seems to be one distraction after another and it has really thrown me off course. I have been too relaxed in my writing commitments and it's left me feeling rather distant from my writing goals.

This week I had two "thanks, but no thanks" reply emails to picture book submissions. The first one was pretty standard, no clue as to what the agent thought about the work and the other was from a publisher and it was:  "ooooooh, so close!" The email described how the submissions dept. had considered it and had even gone so far as to take it to the editor for consideration. (Heart skips a beat!) Unfortunately, the publishing list for the next two years is full, so they won't be taking my submission further. It was descibed as "having potential" (Deflates)

When do you know that you should give up writing?

I know that the odds of being published are stacked against me. Not only has the industry hit upon tough times, with many places shutting their doors to new authors; I have no formal writing qualifications, just a dream and a passion.

I dreamt of being the next Beatrix Potter when I was a tiny tot. To create beautiful pictures and stories that would be loved by children everywhere...

Link: Wikipedia

It's not exactly going according to plan...

For a start I can't express my work visually, which is to no end a frustration for me. In my minds eye I can see the book as a whole. Picture book writing is harder than you think. Picture book stories are mainly told through the pictures (sounds obvious right?), so words are just the foundation. The pictures maybe something going on in the background that only the observer can see. (E.G. a charater sneaking up on another)
Therefore, it's difficult to convey the whole idea of a picture book to an agency/publisher if you have no pictures to support the idea.

Since starting this crazy writing venture, I always feel that I have come so close, yet not close enough. At what point does an aspiring author know that it really is time to let it go and put thier energies into something completely different? (*Side-steps another fish-slap* ... I know, I know, suck it up right?!)

As you can probably feel from my rant, I am having a: I'm feeling a bit poopy-pants-blah at the moment, so I am going to wrap things up here and try to leave things on a more positive note:

Five postive reflections

1. Although the replies I recieved this week meant I was unsuccessful, at least I got a reply!
2. My work has potential...
3. I still have plenty of stories to get onto paper...
4. ..and plenty of agents/publishers to harass approach
5. I have planty of time to hone and perfect the craft

So, fellow bloggers... If you find your face against that brick wall, how do you turn it around? Have you ever felt that you should retire from your blog, and if you have, how did you deal with that? Any tips?!

Thanks for reading the ramble!

The Moon and Tide Effect



The moon and tide
an incredible wonder of the world

It starts with a musing

I was thinking..

(Uh-Oh...)

Creativity and inspiration are rather like the moon and the tide... Inspiration controls creativity.
As a result we must wait for the turn of the cycle. There will be ebbs and flows as each has their time and phase.

Okay. So it sounded more poetic in my head, but it's just my own reflection on my current situation.

I have recently noticed I have stopped writing. I am actually referring to my novel. It's been MONTHS. The story is in my head and I carry it around with me like something precious. In my head I continuously add to it and think about it everyday.The characters are developing all the time. But when it comes to sitting and writing about it,  well, I haven't done so in a very long time... So what am I doing about it? Instead of typing the next exciting chapter, I'm sat blogging about it. I know, I know.. Duh.

Will I ever reach that finishing line?

It appears I have been finding every excuse/filling my writing time with other jobs. It's almost like I'm frightened that I am going to find out that this project is too big. That I am not capable and my dream of becoming a published writer is waaaaaaaaaaay out of my grasp.

So what have I been doing about my writing?

That doesn't mean to say I haven't been working. But it's mostly been about contacting publishers/agents about by picture book manuscripts. (How do you sell your work without sounding like a pompous %ss?! How do you sell something where the competition is so ferocious?)

I guess this must just be the phase my writing is at and I am at the mercy of the ebb and flow of creativity.
Maybe I just need a bit more self discipline as a writer and just get back on track. (Is there such a thing as over thinking something?!)

What about you? Are there current projects that you are waiting for the tide of creativity to carry you forward?!

Riding the waves or run aground?

Distracting Distractions



That's it.
NO MORE ANGRY BIRDS

I think I have really come off track in the last couple of days.

The idea is that I put the kids to bed and then I work on my blog and/or my writing projects. Typing letters to agents/publishers, writing up drafts, developing story ideas etc.

So I switch on the computer and what happens?

I open a tab or two and find myself being sucked in by the other glittery distractions of the net.

Facebook, Twitter, Goodreads, the general blogshere... and...(I'm ashamed to say) my newest time wasting activity: Angry Birds.

Distracted

Just lately things have suffered. Everywhere I look there are projects unfinished, such as my current read is left unread (I really want to get through this one as The Hunger Games is next on the list!), half finished picture book ideas, a writing competition deadline looming and no typed version etc... The list goes on.

I start off meaning well. For example, I might have an idea for a post and I start writing. But then I decide that a link or picture would benefit the piece so then I go look-sies on google. Somehow this innocent little thought turns into "I'll just check this...Ooh I wonder if... I'll see if such-and-such has a new post on their blog, and: I'm soooooooo gonna smash my best score..."

It's a horrible feeling when I finally give up in the early hours of the morning, only to discover that I've made very little progress in anything.
If you have slogged for hours, you wanna see a result right?!


Getting Focused

Of course, we all get distracted from time to time. Everyone needs to kick back/take a break once in awhile, but this latest cycle of time wasting has been happening for over a week.. Or more... I think??  Like I said; I've lost track!

Writing means developing good writing habits; such as a writing schedule that is stuck to as much as possible: discipline and focus are also required. Sounds more like martial arts...

Time for this writer to shape up and get focused

So tonight, I'm taking a stand. After I post this, I am shutting down and getting some kip. (Well, actually I am getting a hot chocolate with extra marshmallows then I will be getting some kip but that's just details!)

Tomorrow, when I boot up the old faithful here, I will not switch on the Internet and I will get the most current project up and running. May be then, just maybe, I won't be tempted too sneak off and see what else is going on out here!

you can never have too many marshmallows

What distractions throw you off track and how do you get back on it?!