This month I’m feeling very nervous and insecure. Why? I
haven’t felt creative in a long time. I used to feel pretty good about my
creativity and now not so much. I haven’t had any new, fresh or fun ideas.
Aside for a little rewriting here or there, I haven’t written anything new in
months. I know I just need some inspiration. But I fear that maybe I’m not a
creative person. Maybe my writing ideas aren’t that original at all. Or maybe
my depression is just messing with my mind, because I agreed to do another week
of banting. Why-oh-why? My family begged me to hang in there with them. So
maybe everyone should just ignore my insecurity about my lack of creativity. I
haven’t had a carbohydrate in over a week, so my mood is in the dumps. Man,
would I love a burger.
The Insecure Writers Support Group was created by the talented Mr. Alex J. Cavanaugh, so that writers can share their insecurities and/or encourage others who need support with their own. You can visit Alex Here, or if you want to join us in discussing our insecurities on the first Wednesday of each month, you are welcome to join by going Here.
Creativity can wane (mine does) but it never goes away. Just hides. Maybe yours is hiding in that burger.
ReplyDeleteTime to go out and do something new and fresh to inspire you!
Thank you Alex! My creativity might just be hiding in that burger and some fries :)
DeleteOh man! Dieting is the WORST while trying to create. Sugar is your friend. Get as much sunshine as possible, eh? And a little exercise. It will help tonz. (Oh, and cheese too.)
ReplyDeleteThank you! I would love some brie right now. Sugar does make me happier.
DeleteNo carbs in a week? I'd be on my balcony contemplating jumping. I HATE diets. So I don't do them anymore, and I'm so much happier, not to mention having energy to do things. I went through a creative dry spell for about a year, then forced myself to write something which I trunked after months of work and 45k. Then I got a great idea and am writing away now! Sometimes it just takes a while until that special idea bubbles to the surface. Good luck! :)
ReplyDeleteThank you! I agree about the diets. I used to be on a lot while I was a dancer and now I hate them. But I did gain a lot of weight. Exercise and I will just have to become friends. Being without my creativity is also driving me a little crazy, but I know it will return...eventually.
DeleteI was a no carb diet and I found a no carb desert I love. Heavy cream (low in carbs) and sliced strawberries. I ate it like cereal. It was really good. It helped the craving for sugar and still almost no carbs.
ReplyDeleteI feel like that too off and on, but a lot more of late. Sometimes just getting out in the sunshine and having some fun helps.
Juneta at Writer's Gambit
Thank you for the great tip. I will try it. I definitely need some fun,
DeleteI can understand your grief....I went through a VERY long period of zero creativity....like, say, for a year. I finally started forcing myself to write a small journal entry every day, even if it was just randomly jotting down words that came to mind. That seemed to help a lot, because my creativity is back on track.
ReplyDeleteThat sounds like a great idea. I should write a few sentences even when I don't feel like it. Thank you.
DeleteI think the drastic change in your diet is affecting your mood, Murees. I think we all have times when we can't think of anything new to write. But eventually, something will pop into your head, don' t worry. If you quit writing you'd always wonder what might have been if you persevered.
ReplyDeleteThank you Deanie. This diet is driving me crazy, but the whole family is on it and I don't want to disappoint them. I think my creativity is mad at me about the lack of carbohydrates and sugar. Thank you for stopping by.
DeleteI think every creative person ends up doubting their creativity. And it's multiplied by about 100 when you throw depression/anxiety/panic attacks into the mix. I went through a phrase of not mentally being able to think of any new story ideas for about a year and a half when my anxiety first kicked in. And just a few weeks ago I was in the worst black spot I've been in for a while, and all I could do was doubt myself and my writing. But eventually the feeling passed :). Sometimes when we over-think things and it can stop us from seeing the whole picture - I'd say go and do something that YOU want to do that's completely unrelated writing - just put writing completely out of your head for a while and you might surprise yourself and think of something when you least expect it :). Or even if you don't, at least you'll have had a nice, relaxing break :)!
ReplyDeleteThank you Rachel! Usually when I occupy myself with other things aside for writing all I want to do is write. So I will definitely try your suggestion. Thank you for encouraging me.
DeleteOh dear. I don't think I could be creative either if you took all my carbs away. But everything comes full circle and so will your creative spark.
ReplyDeleteThank you LD.
DeleteMy body is definitely not happy with me. Thank you for stopping by.
ReplyDeleteOnce that stuff starts it's so hard to make it stop. However, it will change and you'll find the spark again. I'm sure of it.
ReplyDeleteThank you. I know you are right.
DeleteNever think you're not creative. I love Jack London's quote. It goes something like this: You have to go at inspiration with a club. In other words, don't wait for it to happen. Face it head-on and work it. Try anything--brainstorming, something silly--it doesn't matter as long as you try.
ReplyDeleteThank you Lynda. I will work my creativity hard. She needs to come back and play.
DeleteGive it a little time. Read a series. Binge watch a TV season. Movie marathon. Those things usually get my creative juices flowing!
ReplyDeleteHeather
Than you Heather. I'm always looking for an excuse to binge on TV. Now I can actually say it's for creative reasons.
DeleteI've been through dry spells, too. I also suffer depression, and it seems like there are phases of it where I'm doubly creative and phases of it where my creativity crawls into a hole and dies. I've been finally crawling back out of the hole lately, but I know I'll be in it again eventually. I hope you can pull yourself up, and good luck on your diet. Right there with you. Blrg.
ReplyDeleteThank you. I appreciate your kind words. Like you I'm dragging myself out of the hole right now too. Best of luck to you as well.
DeleteEat carbs. There's nothing special about them - it's just a way to lower your overall calories, but in a way that deprives your body of important nutrients! You should only be looking to lose 1lb/0.5kg a week, at the most!! Seriously, email me!!
ReplyDeleteOops, pressed publish too soon. I'm a gm instructor, I give people advice on this all the time!
DeleteThank you for your concern and help. I have just emailed you. If I wasn't on this with my family I would have quit a long time ago. It must be hard work to be a gym instructor. You have to constantly work-out and help others work-out too. Wow, i take my hat off to you. Thank you again.
DeleteYou should try writing some flash fiction.
ReplyDeleteThe reward is a special feeling of satisfaction in knowing that you've created an entire story in a short space of time. It's also a great way of practicing lean, tight writing. So it's a win-win!
I tried once, but mine wasn't any good. I overwrite my flash fiction I think. But I should try again. Thank you for the encouragement Michelle.
DeleteFirst of all, eat! How can you expect to be creative if you're hungry? :)
ReplyDeleteThank you Tonja! I agree, but mom is locking the cupboards doors now. She knows I want to eat carbs.
DeleteHi there, I totally sympathize with how you're feeling :/. I was doubting myself and my writing not too long ago as well, and it sucks. All I can say is it took some time, but eventually I got over it and was able to start writing again--and when this happened, it was such a tentative yet happy moment. I hope that same moment comes for you soon, but until then hang in there, and try not to be too hard on yourself! Good luck!!
ReplyDeleteNinja Girl
Thank you. I do tend to be hard on myself. I am glad that you could get past the doubt. I will definitely try.
DeleteI can totally relate to how you are feeling. I'm going through a dry spell myself and sometimes wonder if I'll ever get out of it. But I think we both will!
ReplyDeleteI agree. We will. We just have to hang in there.
DeleteWe could be alter egos except of the banting part--is that giving up carbs? I once read that the brain actually functions better with a few carbs, good ones though, not that crumb donut I'm longing for...
ReplyDeleteI agree, my brain does function better with carbs. It is hell being without. Thank you for stopping by.
DeleteStephen King recently gave some advice to someone on Twitter about writer's block. He said the best way is to just write through it. Even if you're writing crap. If you feel insecure and depressed, maybe switch to writing something that directly addresses that for a while and see if that helps you write through it.
ReplyDeleteThank you Stephanie. I will give it a try. I'm at the point where I will try anything.
Delete