Help!! What do I do when.....

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   Beth100posted 13 years ago

   I've lost my motivation to write?  Or is this just writer's block???  I'm having difficulty in just composing a simple sentence.  This has never happened before.  Have you experienced this?  What did you do??  HELP!!! 

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      IzzyMposted 13 years agoin reply to this

      Just chill out...relax! It'll come back - don't stress. Use your time reading hubs instead

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         seanorjohnposted 13 years agoin reply to this

         Beth you need to relax as Izzy said. Go on down to the religious forums and enjoy some light hearted banter with the likes of Mark Knowles and Cagsil on the evils of christianity.

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      Lisa HWposted 13 years agoin reply to this

      I'd never had writer's block in the past, but over recent months I'm really struggling (and it shows in the stuff I've written  ).  At this point, I've gone beyond writing stupid stuff and onto writing kind of weird stuff. 
      
      In my case, I'm overall tired with a bunch of other things going on.   I just figure I need to get of the habit of trying to use my spare time to write for now.  I'm OK with it.  Taking a much needed break is better than writing odd stuff.   

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      AdeleCosgroveBrayposted 13 years agoin reply to this

      If you're still struggling, then why not simply set that particular MS aside for a while and try your hand at writing a few short stories?  This will help move you beyond the idea that you're somehow stuck.
      
      Also, if you haven't done so already, why not join a writers group which meets locally to you?  This can be a great help in encouraging you to keep writing.

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      Cagsilposted 13 years agoin reply to this

      Hey Beth, if you are going to stress out about it, then I would suggest you put on some boxing gloves and start punishing a large bag with your frustration.
      
      Or you could change your view? An obstacle, such as writer's block is the lack of focus and not motivation. To organize random thoughts into coherent sentences is about focus.
      
      If you are NOT motivated to write, then I would suggest you figure WHY? you write in the first place and renew your objective.

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      kmackey32posted 13 years agoin reply to this

      Happens to me all the time... I went months without writting anything.. I just didnt write....

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   DoorMattnomoreposted 13 years ago

   It happens to me. Its happening right now!! I hang out in the  forums, or read hubs, or go for a walk. Mostly I dont stress out about it. Eventually something grabs my attention and I am ready to write again.

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   Kangaroo_Jaseposted 13 years ago

   Take a break. A few days up to a week, what ever time you need.
   
   See what is happening around you, what are people doing, what events are happening, whats going in Canada or even your own locale now, etc.
   
   Then when your fresh come back and write.

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   manlypoetrymanposted 13 years ago

   Beth100: You deserve a break today....like everyone has been saying. Remember a very old saying: "You can't rush art!"

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5. 69

   Beth100posted 13 years ago

   Thanks everyone!    I've taken more than a few days: 6 weeks to be exact.  I get ideas, jot them down but I have no motivation to write.  Worse -- I'm not even enjoying the religious banter!!!  What's wrong with me?!? 

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      Nell Roseposted 13 years agoin reply to this

      Hi, have you ever written anything in the past? on paper, or in a notebook. go and find out all your old stories or poems that you have jotted down in the past, and put them on here. it will also get you feeling like you want to write something new again, okay?

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         Beth100posted 13 years agoin reply to this

         Thanks Nell.  I read some of you hubs yesterday, and they've got me thinking.  It's all in my brain but somehow I just have to get it onto paper.  I just might pull out some work I've written in the past -- I just have to copy type!    No brain work needed there.  And, you're right, it might get me back in the mood.  Thanks again Nell.

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            Nell Roseposted 13 years agoin reply to this

            Hi, Beth that's what I do, especially on my last one, I got completely stuck so I thought I would go through the drawers to find something, and realised that there are loads, I even wrote a book once, but got rejected twice  and put that in the proverbial drawer as well, talk about giving up to quick! lol

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6. 69

   Beth100posted 13 years ago

   I don't think you give up too quickly.  Maybe the time wasn't right for you to publish it.  Sometimes, a delay is better as the audience may be more "ripe" for the work.  Try it again soon, and see what happens.   
   
   How are you doing Nell?

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      Nell Roseposted 13 years agoin reply to this

      Hiya, I'm fine, apart from looking for a job! you okay? I am loving the really hot weather we are having, it has gone on for about two months now, apart from a few showers! great, that's the good thing about living in the south of England!

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   BobbiRantposted 13 years ago

   I find it is best to walk away for a while, take notes on different things you see.  There is a story in most anything you see, just jot down some interesting observations while taking a break.  It will come to you.

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   Sext_Meposted 13 years ago

   this happened to me continuously.
   i started losing my writing ideas and thoughts. and i started getting pissed off D:
   but i just relaxed at a point. sometimes just taking a walk and sitting alone somewhere helped me. Try and find something that may motivate you in writing something ^_^ itll come back, it always does
   
   -- Sext_Me --

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9. 69

   Beth100posted 13 years ago

   @ BobbiRant -- Thanks for the advice...I now have a notebook that is almost filled to capacity.  Guess I'll have a lot to write about over the next few months. 
   
   @ Lisa -- Yea, taking a break is a good thing.  I'm not stressing as much as I did before.  I've been reading a lot more and just taking in the sun over this summer.  Maybe I just needed some Vitamin D! 
   
   @ Nell -- Good luck in the job hunt!  I'm positive that you'll find work soon.  I'm doing okay. I'm adjusting to my new job but there is a lot of pressure.  Most of it, I'm able to ignore and keep the mantra "you can only do what you can" in my head and play it all day long.    Other than that, loving the hot weather and sun!
   
   Adele -- Good idea! I've been trying to help my daughter write, and helping her edit in her own style.  It feels like I'm writing, even though it's really her.    It's helping me get back into the swing of things.
   
   @ Sext_Me -- I think that you've hit it on the nail for me -- I need alone time to write.  I'm busy with two new puppies, new job, and a whole bunch of other things whirling around me.  Maybe by September, I'll have things back on track.  Thanks!
   
   @ Cags -- I was stressed when I posted this thread, but not so much anymore.  I've kinda given up and decided that if I have anything to write, I'll do it sooner or later.  Sometimes, I push myself too hard and end up with zero progress.  That's what I'm probably doing -- it's been almost 7 weeks since I've published anything and more than than since I've actually written anything.  Not good in my books, but hey, who's counting? Just me, no one else.    I've decided to pop back into the forums for some stimulation and fun...think that's where I began to lose the motivation when I dropped out before Christmas.  Ah, I'm smiling now and not stressing.  Just published my daughter's first chapter to her book.  I'm happy about that.  At least one of us is writing and publishing! 
   
   Thanks Cags!!

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      Cagsilposted 13 years agoin reply to this

      You're welcome Beth!

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    SilentReedposted 13 years ago

    For writer's block there are a lot of good hubs written for overcoming it. But if it is writer's fatigue then take a vacation away from writing until you feel the urge and have the motivation to write again. Writing is a solitary occupation.Perhaps your mind is telling you that it needs more interactive activities.

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    Fluffymetalposted 13 years ago

    I just start editing my old hubs, reading other hubs, and researching.

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    I am DB Cooperposted 13 years ago

    Do something else instead. If you find that you're setting time aside to write hubs and you're not doing it due to lack of motivation, you could be using that time better doing a different activity. Eventually you might find motivation to write more hubs and you'll come back. There's no point forcing yourself to do something you don't want to do.

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13. 69

    Beth100posted 13 years ago

    @ SilentReed -- That's an interesting point -- writer's fatigue.  I never thought of that.  I am a bit tired of writing as I write here on HP but also do it professionally as part of my career. I also perform a lot of editing and proofing.  You might just be right -- I'm just tired of it for now.  Thank you.
    
    @ I Am DB Cooper -- Oh, I have filled my time with other things.  I'm somewhat addicted to Farmville (sooo non-productive but stress relieving) and also have been spending time out in the sun and trying to relax.  I have made it a point to come back into the forums, though it is random and the lengths are intermittent.  I'm feeling a bit more brain activity since I've come back. 

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       Lisa HWposted 13 years agoin reply to this

       Beth 100, it seems to me as if you have a similar thing going on that I do - only I wouldn't say I'm tried of writing on Hubpages.  I'm tired of writing in general.  It's been months and months now, and I've been coming up with worse and worse crap.      THEN I get disgusted because my crap collection is growing. 
       
       I think, for me, I might disagree a little with Silent Reed's comment that writing is a solitary activity.  I mean - I know it is, but when I'm writing I never stop thinking about the potential reader, so, for me, it's like I'm having a one-way conversation the whole time I'm writing.  I need to have other people do the "talking" for awhile, and take a rest.   I need to get away from thinking of anyone else at all for awhile.  To what I extent I end up doing that, I don't know.
       
       On the one hand, writing is pretty effortless for me.  On the other, I put a lot into it in some ways.  Writing aside, I think I also need to make a point of shutting my computer off for x number of hours a day (for goodness sake!) and getting away from the monitor light.   I don't know...   I don't think a person can write for work and write for fun and write for business - and not wear out after the first x number of years (at least for awhile).   

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14. 69

    Beth100posted 13 years ago

    @ Fluffy -- I would never guess that you run into this problem.  It's really odd -- I never go back and read my old hubs, with the exception of "My Final Goodbye" and it's epilogue.  Perhaps I'll try that.  Thanks Fluffy.  Good to see you. 

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    Jane@CMposted 13 years ago

    It will come back.  Enjoy the sun & farming for awhile.  When I get "stuck" which I have been for quite sometime, I still journal and within those pages I write down all my ideas to go back to.  There is something about writing with a pen & paper everyday, when you read back - you see so much.

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    lovebuglenaposted 13 years ago

    Don't panic. All hope is not lost. You'll be fine. I would pay attention to everything that surrounds you and happens around you. There is bound to be something that strikes a chord and gives you an idea of what to write about. Maybe the words will even flow out of you without trying. But if it's not working out for you at the moment, perhaps it is best to give yourself a short break from writing and come back to it again with a fresher and clearer mind.
    
    Lena

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