Don't Be A Fool. Be A Writer!
I’ll come right out and say it – sometimes I feel depressed. Not a deep, droopy, dull-eyed, “what’s to become of me” despondency, but the more shallow sort, lurking on the surface. This is what happens when I shift into slacker mode and stop writing. I do write fairly consistently. But what’s sent me into this dip is that I’ve yet to finish my second book. It should have been done by now. I’m halfway there. The manuscript sits in my full view daily; I’m not blind (only very near-sighted), yet I choose to ignore it. All I have to do is complete it, take the pages, clean them up, give them a scrub, and polish them till they glitter. But I don’t.
Could I have indolenza? You know, that affliction that combines laziness and indolence, meaning my teacup is full, and I lack the drive to look for more (excuse me, while I give my fingers a rest from typing).
It’s no fun to stand still. As my heroine says in my novel, “We’re not here for compromise or small victories. We’re here for complete victory.” For the win.
Many people, including experts, have trouble following their own advice. Is not one’s greatest enemy oneself (or at least one’s thoughts)? Did Dr. Wayne Dyer ever want to beat the heck out of anyone? I think so. I can read between the lines. Don’t get me wrong – I’m a big fan of Dr. Dyer’s, but I think we fall off the wagon sometimes, and it’s not always easy to chase the rickety thing down and leap back inside, especially while it’s moving.
What’s preventing me from completing my book, you might ask? Well, there’s the windowsill in the kitchen that hasn’t been dusted all week. And I haven’t written a thank you note to Geico for the insurance information they send me each and every month. But ultimately, I think it’s some sort of a fear. A ridiculous, ludicrous, nonsensical fear of what will I do once it’s done? Or what if I do a half-cocked job? Or what if I fail? Or (insert your own convenient “what if”)?
When I find I’m hiding beneath my excuses instead of standing atop the pile, I know I need help. I try to find another writer and discuss what ails me. Last night, I found my friend whose third book is coming out any minute, and who exudes motivation and gives a natural boost to all in her presence.
May I suggest that if you find yourself dragging in any undertaking, grab someone who embodies the attitude you should have and tell him/her how you feel. Talking it over may give you the direction you need and the motivation to do what you should.
At the moment of commitment, the entire universe conspires for your success ~ Goethe
