Need A Jump? July 9, 2008
Posted by Becca in Write On Wednesday.trackback
Last month we were at our home in Florida for a few days, and came out of a shopping center to discover our car battery was dead. Apparently my husband had been sitting in the car listening to the radio with the engine in auxillary mode, which drained what was left of the charge on the car’s already failing battery. Jim carries jumper cables (it’s a 10 year old sports car, rarely driven), and he flagged down a nice young man who did his best to jump start the car. No go. Reluctantly, Jim called our son away from his work, and he willingly drove over. They tried jumpstarting it a few more times, without success.
So we had the car towed to the service station, certain there was somthing more seriously awry – a faulty starter perhaps. The next morning our mechanic called with the news that he had installed a new battery and the car was good as new. Why hadn’t it responded to all those electrical jump starts? Sometimes, the mechanic told us, the bigger sports car engines just won’t respond to the paltry charge provided by a “normal” car.
I don’t know whether my brain can be compared to the 400 cubic inch V-8 in our old Trans Am, but for the past few days I’ve been feeling it was in desperate need of a jump start. “My thoughts are cranky and resistant,” writes Julia Cameron. “I feel sluggish and irritable. My body of information feels like that of an out-of-shape athlete. I do not want to write.” (The Right to Write)
Every writer’s muse occasionally behaves like a recalcitrant two year old – the one who lays down on the floor screaming, “No! I won’t! And you can’t make me!” My first thought (with the muse and the two year old) is to respond in kind. “Oh yes, you will write today, and it better be darn good!”
But wisdom tells us this approach will likely backfire. Good things rarely come from brute force, do they? Modern theory advises that the wiser approach with a toddler is to stand back quietly and wait for the tantrum to run its course, without lowering yourself to the child’s level. Then firmly and quietly take the wild one by the hand and move them toward your goal.
Sometimes, when the words don’t come, I start to panic, don’t you? As we did with the car, I jump to the conclusion that something is seriously wrong. It’s all over, I tell myself. I’ll never write another word again. It was just a fling, a fleeting love affair with the page, and now I’m finished.
”Try to calm down, get quiet, breathe, and listen,” advises Ann Lamott, speaking to writers in Bird By Bird. “You get your confidence and inspiration back by trusting yourself, by being militantly on your own side. You get your intuition back when you stop the chattering of the rational mind.”
Certainly the larger the drain on my “writing mind” from outside sources, the more likely it is to stall completely. Pressure from work or family, worry about health or finances, these are the things that naturally curb a writer’s imagination and enthusiasm for the process of getting words onto the page. Ironically, these are also the times when writing’s healing power can be most valuable, when coming to the page with worries and concerns can rejuvenate the spirit and even illuminate possible solutions to those pressing concerns.
Because I don’t write “for a living,” it’s easy to indulge these periods of creative lethargy. So what, I finally say in exasperation. Who cares whether I write anything or not? And off I go to the television, bag of chips in hand.
Of course, that won’t do my writing mind (or my hips!) the least bit of good. Exercising the mind is a lot like exercising the body – sometimes, you simply have to “just do it,” whether you “feel like it” or not. “You must attend to your work daily,” writes Barbara De Marco. (Pen On Fire) ”It takes sheer persistence…and stamina to heft the burden of fear…as you make your way along the path to being a writer.”
Sometimes it’s a simple as just putting a few words on paper. Sometimes, reading good writing – a favorite author or poet – provides the impetus to create. Physical activity – a walk in the park, a swim, whatever revs your heart rate might send a spark to ignite the muse.
So, how about you? Do you ever feel the need to jump start your writing? What drains the energy from your “writing mind”? What do you do when your creative battery dies?
You can write a post on your blog, leaving a comment with a link, or simply leave your complete response in the comments section. Write On Wednesday is open all week, in case you need some time to get your writing mind in gear <smiles>
There are many days when I feel I could use a jump start. Normally, it’s heat that stops my muse in its tracks – I just don’t do heat; it makes me very cranky. When my creative juices run dry, I’ll typically take out my trusty notebook and write down whatever disjointed thought that comes into my head. Sometimes it is only words, sometimes complete thoughts and sometimes snipets of conversations I overhear.
Later when my battery is restored, I can consult my notebook and come up with ideas for an article or story I may be working on.
Blogging has become an obsession for me and I catch myself in front of the computer when I should be doing something else (like cleaning or cooking or organizing).
Bobbi- Weather definitely has an effect on me too. When the air is hot and humid, my brain goes into super lethargic mode. Good for you for keeping a writing notebook – that’s a great idea.
Blogging is an obsession for me too (obviously, since I have three of them!), but it’s also a good way to get the mind working again. Who cares about cleaning, anyway!
Thanks for sharing with Write On Wednesday!
The more I care about what I’m writing, the less enthusiastic I am about doing any writing. I think it’s just fear blocking my way. So – do I need a jump start? What I really need is a good kick in butt to make me write. And then I’m always happy I’ve written.
Today I typed some things I’d handwritten at the retreat. That’s been the majority of my writing for the past two weeks. While it doesn’t feel creative, it does feel like writerly work, which makes me feel like a writer.
My writing group meets this Saturday night. That’s good incentive to get something ready to read.
Right now I am stressed out.
My response:
http://firmlyrooted.blogspot.com/2008/07/long-and-short-of-it.html
This is a great topic, Becca! I’m going to try to get my post up today or tomorrow at the latest at http://www.themarmeladegypsy.blogspot.com
And for me, it applies to more than just the written word!
Finally, I’m participating in Write On Wednesday! My first post is here:
http://estellasrevenge.blogspot.com/2008/07/write-on-wednesday-right-on.html
Becca, again a great question. Here’s my response: http://www.andilit.com/?p=212
Hmmm… sometimes it takes me a while to pick up on the fact that my battery has died, but when I finally figure it out, I’m learning to stop turning the key in the ignition, which only produces a lot of ugly noise. Then I try to find someplace where the car can roll — gently — down a hill and perhaps pick up enough steam to get it going again. So far, so good.
I seem to be in a bit of a lull myself. Today, I’m off to find a hill!
Great question! I’m looking forward to reading others’ responses.
You can find my response here:
http://mizwrites.wordpress.com/2008/07/09/write-on-wednesday-jump-starting-your-creativity/
Don’t know that I answered this exactly, but I did my best. LOL.
It’s the weather that does it to me, and before looking at your worries about jump starting the car, it was the wetness outside that made me write, but write things down that are totally unconnected to what I am SUPPOSED to be writing: my book, another 500 words or so and I cannot do it, I am drawn away to other thoughts and things.
You have put it so well, you need to jump start yourself. Your thoughts are very helpful and yes, it’s totally irrelevant thoughts that jump start my writing. See my post….
This is my first time joining in. My post can be found at: http://keepthisonthedl.blogspot.com/2008/07/write-on-wednesday.html
CA is literally on fire in the middle of a heat wave! I’m stuck indoors with unhealthy air so here’s mine.
http://mylifeasawarrior.blogspot.com/2008/07/3ww-write-on-wednesday.html
Becca you are the best!
I find writing to be something that flows on its own time. The jump starts that work for me are both current events when I’m writing essays and the various prompts for poetry and short stories. But I know that writing happens when you least expect it too.
When writing our books though, sometimes you just have to grind out the words, even if it seems like nothing is happening.
Wednesday, already?!
I listed a few things in response to today’s excellent questions (thank you, Becca!) , because I…am…pooped…and I’m afraid it might just be a no-write night. But having read others comments (above) may lift me above this office-drain-of-a-day.
More at http://westcobich.wordpress.com/2008/07/09/write-on-wednesdaya-list/
Hey, I’m still fiscally writing this on Wednesday, even though the clock says it’s Thursday morning.
Link: http://www.missmeliss.com/2008/07/writing/jump-start/
Voila!
http://soozphotoz.typepad.com/soozphotoz/2008/07/write-on-wednes.html
What a great idea for a blog! Love it! I’ll definitely be back. And go you! Congrats on creating another writing road for people to find their way to the page (or computer screen, as it were).
Becca-
Thanks so much for these great prompts. They have inspired much introspection on my part, even when I haven’t responded.
I did respond to this week’s, and only one day late.
http://thefountainpen.net/2008/07/10/wow-jump-start-your-writing/
“Jump start” is a good way to put it. When the muse is not co-operating, I have a couple of tricks. Sometimes I will do some extra research on a particular aspect of my worldbuilding; that can often lead to fresh ideas. Other times I’ll use one of my selection of inspiration tools to give my brain a jumpstart. Or if nothing else is working, I’ll go and do some physical activity like cleaning, and let the idea simmer.
Becca you’ve done it again – thought provoking as always – thank YOU!
Sorry wrong link showed up … please click on this one to read mine!
Thanks, Becca. It was a good prompt again.
http://qugrainne.com/2008/07/12/fessin-up-friday-and-write-on-wednesday-all-rolled-into-one/
I am so late, wrote this in draft and didn’t finish tagging it to publish! Forgot! O well!
Creative Battery
Terrific prompt!
I am at this point in my life right now. I am looking for ways to put time in my life for writing.Very good and thoughtful post.
Tahnks for posting