Once upon a time, in a galaxy not so far away, there lived an author. That author worked really hard, and she loved the idea of crafting and creating new stories for readers to enjoy. Then, something strange happened. The writer began to dread the act of writing. The ideas were still there, the passion to create was there, but the drive and motivation to put it all together seemed to be gone. POOF! Disappeared.
This is an all-too familiar story for many writers. Though we have the passion and the ideas, we lose the drive. I've often been told that I've "dried up my creative well" but I think it's more appropriate to say that it's the motivational well that's dried up. We live in a world where every act is supposed to be monetized. If we're doing something that doesn't directly provide us income, it should indirectly support whatever provides us income. Even hobbies have become a victim of the hustle culture. And because we are always in the race to be more and more productive and every moment of our lives has to be meaningful and pushing us toward "the dream" it makes complete sense that we eventually run out of steam. I know that it happens to me a lot more than I'd like.
I work a very hectic job that requires me to expend a lot of brain power to do well. At night I come home and I work on the things that help me be a great writer. All of the pushing ahead in both areas often makes me feel like I don't have my feet firmly under me. I lose the motivation and the drive to do the things that aren't absolutely required to get through the day, and that kind of mindset does me no favors as a corporate professional or as a writer.
When I recognize that I've begun to slip into the bad habits of demotivated doldrums, I have several coping mechanisms that help me get back on track.
HERE'S WHAT I DO:
Plan. It seems counter-intuitive, but sitting down with my bullet journal and actively planning out my next steps helps me see that I'm doing more than I realize.
Stop the negative self-talk. It's okay to take breaks. Everyone needs them, and knowing when to rest is an important way to take care of myself. I can't work at my best if I never allow myself time for rest and reflection.
Actively pursue the things that give me joy WITHOUT requiring me to participate or give more than my time. This includes listening to my favorite music, watching my favorite shows, and reading my favorite books.
Chat with my friends. It's important to have a tribe of people who actively understand and support you. Letting your hair down to vent, scream and curse out your frustrations helps. You'll also learn that there are plenty of people in the same boat, and even though it shouldn't, it makes you feel better to know it!
Talk to your readers. They'll tell you exactly why you should be writing. They like your stories and they want more. Hearing their encouraging words will always get me back on track!
Sometimes, the only option is to SUCK IT UP AND JUST DO IT. Demotivated doldrums is sometimes more like a hump to get over than a wall to go around. I push through and stick to my plan and write even when I don't necessarily want to, and eventually I find myself loving my story too much to stop. Crisis averted.
It's hard to be everything to everyone all the time. In our lives we're all feeling the pressure to make our dreams come true and to pay our bills. A lot of times, those are mutually exclusive things. We find ourselves on parallel paths trying to do both. It makes perfect sense that we run out of steam now and again. We are surrounded by people on social media who are seemingly constantly creating, "living their best lives" and pursuing their dreams relentlessly. Those kinds of pressures make us all fight to go farther, faster and pay little heed to the need for rest. In the end, though, we all experience this dead air when we just can't seem to drum up the energy to do one.more.thing.
Rest. Regroup. Refill. Come back stronger and better prepared for the next time you hit the doldrums. It's bound to happen, it always does, but if you can recognize it and remediate it, you can move on with your life once you get over it.
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