Every so often, we all find ourselves stuck in one of those periods when each day seems to bring a new problem. There are more negatives than positives. I'm in one now, and have been for the past 18 months. I won't go into details, and I claim no special attention for this. It happens to us all at one time or another, and for some people those problems last an awful lot longer than 18 months.
(All I'll say is that if someone asks you to be the executor of their will, say No. Don't even hesitate or say you'll think it over. Say No. Immediately!)
So what does this have to do with writing? It's this. Writing was a pleasant escape, especially in the early months. But as the weeks and months have rolled by, that pleasure has decreased. And I realise that one essential ingredient for (good? any?) writing is peace of mind. Instead of waking up and wondering what new upset the day will bring, I now relish the thought of being able to get out of bed with nothing more to think about than whether or not the shopping has been done.
Okay, I exaggerate. Nobody's life is ever problem-free and, as I say, some people have a lot longer-lasting problems than I've been dealing with. But I think the principle is reasonable: just having the time to sit and think and let the ideas slowly evolve is not just a luxury for a writer, but an absolute essential.
And having said that, I'm curious as to what others may think.
3 comments:
I agree. You need time to let things simmer - and then (possibly!), new iseas will rise to the surface like beautiful bubbles!
Thanks, Sue. One thing I didn't point out is that during times of stress (for me, at any rate) there might actually be a moment or two to sit and think, to let the ideas emerge, but the stress makes even the sitting still next to impossible. It becomes less a moment of relaxation than yet another task.
Nick, sorry to hear about this. It's hard to think creatively or constructively when one's mind is full of pop-up reminders to do this or that next important and essential thing, and the stress can be tiring in itself too.
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