I was going to do a 2016 goals post for my first IWSG but then I realised that I haven't written anything since the end of November 2015. Over the (Australian) summer break I've been watching quite a bit of Netflix and one of the documentaries called Cowspiracy has really had a profound effect one me. It never occurred to me just how environmentally damaging and unethical factory farming is. What makes it worse is that most people don't want to know about it and would prefer to turn a blind eye so that they can still buy convenient meat at the supermarket. What does this have to do with writing you ask?
Well, writing is my way of escaping into a world where I have some control. Where I can disappear and forget about reality and the terrible things happening in the real world. Except this time I can't seem to forget. Maybe it's just that I'm getting older and more cynical and writing make believe just isn't enough to push the real world demons aside. I'm worried that writing can't provide me with the escape that I need and therefore my motivation to write will just disappear. I'm hoping this is just a phase and maybe post holiday blues and that soon I'll be able to find the right balance of ethics/reality that I will be able to take it all in my stride. Here's hoping that next month I will have made some progress.
I hope you get out of your funk! Maybe it would help if I got my butt in gear and read your manuscript and give you some feedback. Sorry. I'm working on it.
ReplyDeleteFirst of all, don't stress out. You are not losing your ability to write. We go through seasons with ebbs and flow. Tease your creativity back into playing and it will give and give more. Most of all, take the pressure off. If you decide to write about pickles on the moon, awesome. If you want to write a rant, do it. Follow the muse until the muse follows you.
ReplyDeleteTake those real demons into the story and deal with them. So much we can't control or do anything about, but maybe in another realm, we can.
ReplyDeleteI've had periods of time where I don't write at all. You're not alone in that. Alex is right-writing about the things in the world that torment you is a great way of dealing with them!
ReplyDeleteAnd meanwhile, why not do some writing centred around these issues that matter? Letters to the editor, perhaps, petitions, research and post about it...well, you'd think of something. My sister has always had one comfortable market for her articles and now that market has gone and she hasn't written anything in ages. I am trying to persuade her to have another go at fiction. ;-)
ReplyDeleteSometimes you just can't think of what you'd normally write, you just can't. So you do something else. I do it by blogging.
Heck, how about starting an autobiography?
We all go through funks, so I bet you'll feel better one day with time. Maybe you will always care about this issue, but that doesn't mean writing will cease to ever be an escape for you, as it has always been. I think it'll come back one day.
ReplyDeleteHi and Happy New Year!
ReplyDeleteJust a thought, but have you ever tried writing non-fiction. Since this series has opened your eyes to factory farming, do more research and write about it.
I wish you a successful 2016 and hope that you continue writing.
Shalom,
Patricia