New Approach

Here’s the thing. I’m going through a creative procrastination phase. Yes, that’s a real thing, so let me elaborate. 

Writing, and I’m counting since I seriously decided to write and learn about the craft, has been my life. To the first waking hour until late at night when I would lie in bed, many times even after lying down, my mind couldn’t stop thinking, exploring, imagining and mentally writing the stories that would get hold of me and wouldn't let go. 

The Machine

The Machine started with a loud noise, showing off its power. It growled and got on with its job, cutting the hair, moving through it fierce and powerful. 

The man pressed it harder against his skin, he moved it up and down, urging it to cut more and faster. He shifted it to and fro, left and right, listening with pleasure to the sound of cutting hair. 

Take the Wheel

At the end of 2016 I found myself lacking motivation.

I wasn’t in the mood to read a book, even if I was craving for a good story, I couldn’t even write a post, even if the ideas were floating in my head. I was feeling like there was an invisible wall stopping me and just like that I stopped doing all those things that made me happy.  

At first I thought that my day job had gotten the best of me and that was of course the reason I wasn't writing. Then I watched a ted talk about procrastination.

And all that drafts

I’m swimming in drafts.

I don’t say drown for the truth is that I know what I’m doing now. The knowledge I acquired through those years of learning the craft of writing is like a life jacket, so I float for I have tons of things yet to learn. But this doesn’t change the fact that I created a pool of drafts and dived into it for quite some time.

The drafts

August seems to be my month. Or better my novel month. It was last August that I finished the first draft of the second book in my trilogy and it was March when I decided to rewrite it.

I took my time, I didn’t write full time and I decided to create a new file and start writing from scratch. And I did it.

It’s August again and the second draft of my book is ready!

Voice of the Soul

I have this thing. 

I love loud music. And when I say loud, I mean maximum volume while the same song is playing on repeat and I write. This is my thing and I have missed it so much.

On writing: Burnt out

There comes a time when life seems upside down. When you suddenly stop doing the things that you love to do. For me, that’s reading a book or finding some time to write a few sentences for the book I’m writing.

So, I’m there, at that part of my life and I feel hanging in the air, but as the blood floods my brain, I realize the reason.

Shooting the Characters

There's this thought in my head, one that I cannot easily dismiss, and I happened to think about it while rewriting that second draft of my book.

Why do we torture our characters this much?

The Hive

I’m tired.

Here it is, I admit it out loud or else the words won’t leave my mouth. I’m so tired, both physically and mentally. I’m one of those persons who just can’t shut down, I always have to do something since time is like a noose and if I stop I think that it’s going to choke me.

On Writing: Struggle

There was a book on my shelf for quite some time now. It waited since it was more different than those I’m used to read. The title was: Daily Rituals: How Artists Work. 

Until I woke up one day and I told myself: It’s time! I do want to know how artists work. I do want to know, and maybe I’ll find myself a bit related to some of the rituals, I’ll read? Maybe?

On Writing: Rewriting

There is a magic in rewriting a story and I discover its beauty the more rewriting comes to an end. I’ve rewritten 21 of the 27 chapters and even if I cut some of them and expanded others, the fact is that the original story is on its end.

But my story is not!

On writing: Deadlines kill creativity

When I’m planning to write or edit or when I set a deadline or something, I know for a fact that I WON’T make it! It’s like when I’m trying to make plans, little goblins surface from their underground caves just to make sure that I'll miss that deadline.

And they always win!

Did you ever wonder why this is happening?

I can’t find a logical explanation but I know some ways to stop the goblins! We will get those chapters done! Here’s how:

On Writing: Show me some teeth

These last few months, I'm rewriting the second book of a story I started years ago and so far it’s been like child's play. I created a new Word File and since I knew where the plot is heading, I wrote chapter after chapter and created a new story. It was wonderful and easy and I felt so powerful and happy that I foolishly let myself believe that I would finish it up in a blink of an eye.

Yesterday though things got an unexpected turn.

On writing: Castaway

It came like a wave, as it usually does, and I gladly let it wash over me and carry me away like a raging river. I took a deep breath and let the water guide me until my lungs screamed for air.

When I surfaced, I didn't find myself in the cold, pale waters of a river but in the vast, deep blue waters of an ocean. And in the back of my mind I knew that I had swum in these waters before.

A Letter to You

Dear self,

Sometimes I know that you just let it go. You're tired, maybe your head hurts or you are not in the mood, and you think: I'll do it tomorrow there's no harm done.

And tomorrow comes and passes by so fast and you're still lost somewhere between life and responsibilities that you barely realize that another day is over. You lay in bed, thinking that you'll do it tomorrow and without even acknowledging it you're in a loop.

On Writing: Rewrite it

So this it it, guys. The Hard Stuff.

Don't let yourself be fooled by editing. Be extra careful because time is precious and we do need so much time in order to properly write that book we have in our mind! 

When you finish that first heart-aching draft, and let it aside for a month or two, it's time for rewriting. Yep, rewriting and then editing because it's not the same. It ain't at all!

Seriously, editing can go on forever but now I know why! And I won't do this anymore!

Rewrite and then edit and maybe you'll have a book that you can proudly say it's finished! I'm heading that way.

Here's the thing. 

Dive into the unknown

The first wave of heat is here. The sun is blinding, and it's hot on my skin, the air chokes me and I can't stand the tight jeans and sneakers. It's summer and I crave for the sea, even the sight of it.

So I need to make plans, I need to take some days off and march on the first beach I can reach. I don't know about you, but I prefer the quiet beaches, those peaceful places where you hear the sound of the water on the shore and even the cicadas or crickets resting on the nearby trees.

When I think of moments like this, calmness spreads inside me like a cool breeze on a hot, sunny day. And you do know what happens when a mind is at peace, right?

It's in your head

I'm taking a break.

Lately I find myself a bit detached from the writing part of my life and that is not a deliberate choice.

It's just that there is no time and if you read my post last week, you know why. But I read. Not as much as I'd love to, but I do. Everyday even if it's just for half an hour, I read.

Idle days

I feel like I'm on pause. 

I'm not exactly shutting down, but I just stop for a while. My brain is frozen, my strength is limited and I feel like all I can do are those necessary things to help me get pass this day and maybe have some fun. I feel both physically and mentally tired. Have you ever felt like this?

On writing: Guts and Stardust

So, I was reading about motivation, about the ways to keep you focused on your writing, about the self-discipline of writing and stick to it. There are tons of things we know we have to do, we've read them again and again, some we have tried some we are still trying to do. Establish a routine, say no to sudden invitations from friends when writing is on schedule, make a schedule, close your door and let the chaos outside, read, create your writing space.