A lovely post in my inbox. The regular reading treat from yourself that I have looked forward to I have missed. What a treat to receive the ping in my inbox and a hint of normality will resume.
I agree with the rest of the world that we should look after one another always. Will we all do it? I’ll do my bit and I’m sure you’ll do yours.
Hi Ramona. What a great-looking bay. Just curious, is that a Lake Michigan or Lake Huron kind of bay? It looks northern, flat, and not on an ocean (but what do I know?). Happy New Year.
It has indeed been quite a year. I've also had an intense time with my writing - both bad intense and good intense. I went through a period where every word felt as if it was being wrung out of me. My writing ended up taking so much more time than it should have. Fortunately, my writing didn't sound like it was being wrung out of me, but the joy was gone. Then I did a whole lot of free writing to try and unstick myself and realised just how much my perfectionism was affecting me. I'm now in a period where I'm full of ideas and new projects, which is a really fun place to be.
I wish you all the best for the holiday season, and a productive new year.
"I went through a period where every word felt as if it was being wrung out of me." Oh, how I can relate! It's the creative part that puts us through the wringer. Creating something out of nothing using only brain power can't be learned, it can only be experienced, and sometimes it either turns against us or teases us into thinking we've got it.
That's where the idea of a muse came in, I'm pretty sure. Sometimes mentor, sometimes tormentor--because we obviously can't blame ourselves. And why should we? We have to admit at some point that we really have no control. It's either there or it isn't, and no amount of analyzing the whys and hows will ever settle it. We get stuck sometimes.
But those golden moments! Aren't they the best? They're why we keep going.
We should talk about this. And we will. Right after the holiday dust settles. How about it?
You're right about the "sometimes mentor, sometimes tormentor". Writing gave me some of my best moments last year. Actually, it gave me almost all of my best moments. But it's hard work as well. At least with, now, a year and a half of consistent work on Substack I feel as if I finally have something to show for it. I'm also having a go at writing a novel, just for the hell of it, because it's fun. However once I'm no longer on holiday, I don't know I'm going to find the time to enjoy that along with everything else. But I'll find a way.
Finding time to write is always a challenge for me, and I don't always meet it, but I'm writing in my head all the time. It might look like daydreaming but when I'm staring at that wall words are forming and if I'm lucky I'll remember them when I sit down to write.
I haven't been consistent here at Substack, and that's something I have to work at this year. Good luck to us!
Good, you! Worried when you hadn’t shown up for a bit (too many online friends sidelined for too many reasons); glad it’s because you’re busy. Good busy. 😊
A lovely post in my inbox. The regular reading treat from yourself that I have looked forward to I have missed. What a treat to receive the ping in my inbox and a hint of normality will resume.
I agree with the rest of the world that we should look after one another always. Will we all do it? I’ll do my bit and I’m sure you’ll do yours.
Thinking of the bears too xx
Aw, Hayley, thank you so much. Thanks for being you! I hope you're enjoying the holidays. See you soon. 💖
Hi Ramona. What a great-looking bay. Just curious, is that a Lake Michigan or Lake Huron kind of bay? It looks northern, flat, and not on an ocean (but what do I know?). Happy New Year.
Hi Ned, it's the northern reaches of Lake Huron. Good eye! Happy year ahead!
Yeah for me. I used to live in Minnesota, and it looks very familiar.
It has indeed been quite a year. I've also had an intense time with my writing - both bad intense and good intense. I went through a period where every word felt as if it was being wrung out of me. My writing ended up taking so much more time than it should have. Fortunately, my writing didn't sound like it was being wrung out of me, but the joy was gone. Then I did a whole lot of free writing to try and unstick myself and realised just how much my perfectionism was affecting me. I'm now in a period where I'm full of ideas and new projects, which is a really fun place to be.
I wish you all the best for the holiday season, and a productive new year.
"I went through a period where every word felt as if it was being wrung out of me." Oh, how I can relate! It's the creative part that puts us through the wringer. Creating something out of nothing using only brain power can't be learned, it can only be experienced, and sometimes it either turns against us or teases us into thinking we've got it.
That's where the idea of a muse came in, I'm pretty sure. Sometimes mentor, sometimes tormentor--because we obviously can't blame ourselves. And why should we? We have to admit at some point that we really have no control. It's either there or it isn't, and no amount of analyzing the whys and hows will ever settle it. We get stuck sometimes.
But those golden moments! Aren't they the best? They're why we keep going.
We should talk about this. And we will. Right after the holiday dust settles. How about it?
You're right about the "sometimes mentor, sometimes tormentor". Writing gave me some of my best moments last year. Actually, it gave me almost all of my best moments. But it's hard work as well. At least with, now, a year and a half of consistent work on Substack I feel as if I finally have something to show for it. I'm also having a go at writing a novel, just for the hell of it, because it's fun. However once I'm no longer on holiday, I don't know I'm going to find the time to enjoy that along with everything else. But I'll find a way.
Finding time to write is always a challenge for me, and I don't always meet it, but I'm writing in my head all the time. It might look like daydreaming but when I'm staring at that wall words are forming and if I'm lucky I'll remember them when I sit down to write.
I haven't been consistent here at Substack, and that's something I have to work at this year. Good luck to us!
Good, you! Worried when you hadn’t shown up for a bit (too many online friends sidelined for too many reasons); glad it’s because you’re busy. Good busy. 😊
Thanks, Jack. Should I admit I'm happy you were worried? Nah. 😉
See you in the new year. 💖