Midwinter (or Mid-Edit?) Blues, or Falling and Getting Back Up Again

Who else out there is feeling unfocused? Blue?

Dejected?


I stare at my manuscript I'm in the midst of editing and wonder:

Does it hang together?

Have I developed a strong enough storyline? Secondary plot lines? Characters? Is my setting being given the fullness it deserves? Should the ending go this way or that way?

Why do we go through cycles of feeling really great about a project and then - poof - all that self confidence seems to have evaporated?

I watched the Oscars last night and the Best Actress winner, Jennifer Lawrence, as she went up to receive her statue. One minute she's thrilled to hear her name, the next minute she's face down on the carpet.

But the girl picks herself up and keeps on going.

Writing can be isolating. Being so focused on my work, I feel like the proverbial ostrich with my head in the sand. You tend to lose touch with other people, the outside world and perspective in general.

I know these feelings are temporary, but it sucks. Even so, I'm not inclined to join Facebook or Twitter. If I were to be on any other social media I'd worry it would be too distracting! Even blogging can be addictive and I have to limit that. I wonder - how does anyone have time to go on all that social media and give enough attention to their work (not to mention the rest of their life?)

I don't get it.

It's times like this when I read - and re-read- books that always make me feel better. Re-boot my psyche. Take a break, step away and remember what I love, at the core, about telling stories.

Then I roll up my sleeves, pick myself up again

and get back to work.

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