Trust the Process
If you have been reading my recent ramblings, you will know that I have been caught in a hormonal, emotionally overwhelmed creative fog on and off for a few months now. Well…
Good news, the fog seems to be lifting and I have been working on my novel again.
I have been around the block enough to know that this happens sometimes. For no apparent reason I lose my energy, lose my drive, lose every creative thought in my head. I also know that it returns, given time and rest.
I read a note on here the other day (and I wish I had saved it so I could credit the author, but sadly I didn’t think about it at the time), it was an author who had been talking to a fellow author about the fact that it had taken a full half days away from “life” before they were able to even think about getting in the zone with their WIP.
How many of us are able to have half a day away from life to find that creative flow?
I consider myself fortunate, I have had more time than ever alone in the house, my son is at college and hubby at work, but those days aren’t just floating about waiting for me to reconnect with my novel. They are filled with admin, clients, writing jobs etc. Then I get a few hours when I could work on my book and I can’t get my head in gear.
What I have to remind myself
I may not be physically writing my book, but that doesn’t mean that I’m not working on it. I have made so many decisions, and jotted down ideas for scenes, thoughts on characters, plot progression etc over the last few weeks.
I haven’t added much to my word count - honestly, what I have written probably won’t be used, I just haven’t been in the right place - but I have made lots of progress with my book.
Sometimes it is the time between writing sessions that is the most valuable. When we take time away we are able to return with fresh ideas and a renewed energy for the project.
I truly believe that some books are meant to be created quickly, with that intense energy that sometimes possesses us, while others brew slowly, like a good cuppa.
Here are a few books which took a while to write for the sake of perspective:
The Lord of the Rings trilogy - JRR Tolkien - 16 years
Les Miserable - Victor Huge - 12 years
Catcher in the Rye - JD Salinger - 10 years
Gone with the Wind - Margaret Mitchell - 10 years
This is company I am happy to sit among. If I am able to write a book anything like as magical and compelling as these classics, I will take as long I need to, to feel that I have truly done my best.
