Slipping

I’m really slipping with my writing, editing my next novel has ground to a halt after slower than snail like progress, ditto my twenty word challenge where I was chugging along nicely with ‘Lake’ but have left my main character stranded on a cabin cruiser in the middle of one, and other writing has fizzled out. Even the story I’m writing in my head is stuck in a barn – why a barn? I don’t know – there are no barns so far in this story which is set in a Yorkshire village. There might be barns in west Yorkshire, but none have appeared until my two characters are there in one, having an urgent discussion about their future.

I’ve had times like this before where I’ve had to force myself to attack the keyboard, but usually there is some reason, but now… well, who knows? Who indeed, because I don’t. I’m feeling a bit lacklustre about everything very dull and disinterested. Other people say ‘go out for a good walk’ – well, unfortunately I really don’t like walking unless it’s to get from somewhere to somewhere else. Do some exercise –  no thanks,  do something else creative to distract yourself… creativity is the problem! Be resolute –  I think that’s the only way, I must wake up tomorrow and resolve to write, to write anything in order just to write.

I used to say – no, I used to boast, that I could sit down and write anything anywhere about anything. I’ve mentioned writing in my head – I’d write in my head while shopping, on a train, waiting for friends, standing in a queue, driving (as long as I kept half my brain on keeping safe) plodding up the stairs in a car park, doing some gardening (but I’ve also gone off doing that too) – I used to be able to be creative wherever i was, whatever I was doing.

I have to take myself in hand, take to my keyboard and get going again. I know it’s a busy time coming up, friend’s birthday,  husband’s birthday, Christmas, New Year, another birthday, my birthday – and somewhere in the middle of all this a friend is having a baby, but I have to get back to juggling ideas and actions, imagination and reality. I hope when i write here tomorrow I will have something more positive and interesting to report!