Getting Back on Track

It's funny how things turn out. I know I say that a lot, but as time goes on, the more and more I think about just how strange it all is. Just as I was ready to shelve my script, I hear a little voice in my head that says "well you spent the time and money to print the damn thing, you may as well read it."

So I do. I sit down, I put on My Bloody Valentine (the band, not the 3D horror film) and I start reading. And it all comes back. I relive the drama, the burgeoning love, the heartache...and in a heartbeat, it hits me like a breaking wave. I remember why I wrote the script, why I created these characters. I wanted to feel life through their eyes, to see things as they saw. I lost that for a while, and I felt the loss as surely as if I had lost my own sight. But things change, and I found my muse.

Go out and find yours.

Shelf It

Part of being a competent writer is knowing when something isn't working. While Writer's Block can play a part in things, there may come a time when a particular project hits a brick wall and you, in turn, need to take a break from it. It's not easy, and may be one of the most painful experiences of your life. But if nothing is happening and not because of Writer's Block, it may be time to put the project on the shelf for a little while. And I'm not talking "20 years" kind of "a little while."

Three to six months on the shelf can help you gather perspective on a project. You needn't ponder it every waking moment, or even think about it on a daily basis. Just keep it on the back burner, give it the occasional thought and come back to it when you feel ready to work on it (or when six months has passed, whichever comes first.) Putting something away for a little bit can give you a much-needed rest and prevent you from getting burnt out on something that has promise.

Let me reiterate: this process can and probably will be quite painful for projects you really care about. But as with so many things, you can prove your love for it by letting it go for a little while.

Keeping Sane

As with so many things, my fiance pointed out to me yesterday that there may be something of a flaw in my logic. Normally, I pride myself on writing every day and doing things I find inspirational in order to fuel my work. My recent/ongoing bout with Writer's Block has forced me to reconsider this perspective and consider the possibility that by doing so, I may have inadvertantly burned myself out.

I'm sure some people can write every single day and not burn themselves out, but it seems that I'm not one of them. It took quite a while for me to figure this out, but I suppose it's better than I learn the lesson now and not when I'm in the midst of a mid-life crisis.

That being said, consider some new words of wisdom. If you find writing every day to be tiresome, don't. Write three times a week, every other day, every second day; whatever you find works for you. Try to find a balance of maintaining your creative steam and keeping your sanity intact.

My fiance was also kind enough to point out that perhaps I should enjoy the things I find inspiring simply for the sake of enjoyment. I had completely lost sight of the fact that I was using things I loved (not people, mind you) for inspiration, but wasn't actually stopping to enjoy them for what they were. Not everything needs to be a font of inspiration; it really is ok to just sit back and enjoy some things.