Moods Change My Inspiration to Write

Are you losing your inspiration to write? Me, too, but hopefully the mood will hit me once again. This is not the same thing as a writer’s block. A writer’s block is when you lack good topics to write about or you can’t seem to put your thoughts together as you want to. No, losing your inspiration to write is nothing like that.

I have tons of information. I have a long list of ideas and I have several works in progress needing my attention. I have a wide variety of subjects and I like to write poetry as well as short stories. I enjoy writing reviews to inform others of what to expect from products, books, movies and television shows. I enjoy writing fan fiction about the classic westerns. After I have researched something I’m interested in knowing about I like to share my findings with others looking for the information. There is no lack of topics, but I lack the inspiration to put any of it on paper or in cyber space.

So, where has my inspiration went? Is this a mood swing likely to pass or should I put away my notebooks and just forget about writing all together?

I seek advice where ever I can. The great Stephen King has written a book On Writing. I found him to have many great tips for us wannabes. Mr. King is an expert in his field. I admire every word of advice he has to offer. How to find inspiration was not one of his advice topics, but he did elaborate on how he would not consider trying to publish anything his wife had not read. If she likes it he will continue working on the piece. Inspiration for him comes from having his own private proof reader/critique.

Mr. King’s advice given to cure writer’s block could work to find inspiration. I have moved my desk to a private corner out of the way of distractions and I have removed clutter from my work space. As Stephen King advised, I try to avoid anything stopping me from writing. However writing every day has been a chore to me that I use to consider to be fun.

“Amateurs sit and wait for inspiration, the rest of us just get up and go to work.”
― Stephen King, On Writing: A Memoir of the Craft

My fan fiction audience has grown through the help of Face book groups even though I haven’t posted any new stories. This should help get me back in the mood to write. This should be enough inspiration to post another story. The social media is a good way to get traffic to anything on the internet. I’ve been writing online for about three years now. I had high hopes to get better at it and to make a dollar or two while doing something I love doing, but this has not been the case. Practice alone cannot make you a writer. You must have some sort of talent and patience to go with it or you will be a big disappointment to yourself.

Feedback from my Hubpage articles has always given me inspiration. I don’t expect anyone to remark on something poorly written unless it is to help me improve, but even that would be welcome. At least then I would know if I’m being read. If I am being read and no feedback occurs I assume the article was no good. I know I need to work harder. I have not seen feedback in quite some time. My last two articles did not receive one comment between them. The traffic has not come to these hubs either, so my keywords may need to be different. After three years at Hubpages I only managed to see a payout once and that was over a year ago. Inspiration to write here is getting less all the time. I keep telling myself it doesn’t matter and I don’t do it for the pay. This is true, but it does a number for one’s ego just the same.

I quit smoking on September 18, 2012. It was the best decision I ever made. What does this have to do with writing, you might ask? Maybe nothing, but I think it does. I used Chantix, a mind blocking drug. It worked like a charm to reduce the craving for nicotine. I only took Chantix for five weeks, but the effect lasted for months. As silly as this may sound the side effects like the weird dreams and sleepless nights were not the only reason I did not go through with the whole twelve week program. I lost my mood to write. I blamed it on miracle anti smoking medicine. I’m thankful to be smoke free, but I think the crutch I used altered my mind. It changed my moods to do things I’ve enjoyed doing for years. Writing was not the only hobby I neglected. I had stopped doing artwork and craft projects, too. I stopped sewing or crocheting. I begin my emotional eating pattern again that I had discarded years earlier. I put pounds back on in just a few months that took me two years to lose. I’ve been brain washed or so it seems. Inspiration to get back on the right track again is desperately needed.

Now I have a new challenge. I need the curve the cravings of food and get back to my own theory of “Write, don’t eat.” It worked before. Perhaps nudging myself some more will make a difference. I surely hope so.

For the next few weeks my work hours at my day job will be cut, giving me a couple extra hours each day to do something else. I’m planning to use the time to write and I plan to get more exercise. Both will keep me from eating. Perhaps I’ll write more hubs, but more likely I’ll work on other projects. Maybe I’ll work on my book I put on a back burner.

I thank you for reading my rant and hope to get inspired soon to write something worth your time to read.