SISTER WISDOM : build a better life

How to keep writing even when your brain is mush, your fingers are numb, and your eyes are bleary…me, right now. Two cups of coffee later… it’s still me.

You Threw Off My Groove

It’s been a dead couple of weeks, inspirationally speaking. Do you know what I mean? I’m used to the day or so like that every now and then, but I can usually get excited about blogging by stopping to plan, getting some titles and outlines and series ideas together. Once I have a page or two of notes, I’m ready to write again.

Usually.

Squawking as an Art Form

I have about 10 pages of notes, both handwritten and on my computer, and I’m still just staring at the screen with that one feeling I hate the most… the parrot feeling. I’m just squawking out ideas and tips and lists and pointers that have already been said, in much better ways, by people much more qualified than I am.

That’s how I feel as I force my fingers to keep moving, and it sucks the little bit of inspiration that’s left right out. There’s a little pile of it on the floor beside me now. It’s not very useful there, but once it leaves it’s hard to gather up again.

Sometimes when I feel uninspired, I take the time to browse other sites, the really big, chock-full of amazing and helpful information sites. They tend to perk me up to topics I hadn’t thought about covering, or perspectives I want to discuss. This time all they did was reinforce the parrot sensation. Squawk.

If they are already saying everything that can be said, why do I keep writing?

Why Do I Keep Writing? No, Really… Why?

I keep writing because I’ve made a commitment, more to myself than to anyone else. I considered and I made a decision: Yes, I will do this/blog about this/write this/commit to this until I am successful. Not until I quit enjoying it or until something distracts me or until I have a better idea or until I run out of ideas. Success is the benchmark.

I have a definition of success as a freelance writer and a plan for reaching it, and a plan for what to do as I get there. I love blogging, but I don’t want to have to blog forever. My goal as a freelance writer is to reach self-sufficiency, by which I mean… well, here’s the long version:

Working toward self-sufficiency as a freelance writer means reaching success in the following ways: creating steady sources of income, including passive income; setting and maintaining practical work standards; creating and marketing your brand; eliminating client codependency; understanding and choosing the right publishing options; being prolific and producing consistent quality of work; refusing to participate in scams, get-rich-quick ideas, and other ways of avoiding hard work; working hard and loving it; maintaining balance; setting and reaching goals; operating as a small business; planning for the future.

At this moment, I don’t feel anywhere close to success in any of those areas, but I know that the more I write the closer I get. Sometimes progress is so subtle that you can’t track it while it is happening. Sometimes we do feel that we are just walking in place, and it takes time before we gain the perspective to see how far we have traveled.

Let Me Sum Up

Let me summarize in a more simpler format. If you’re stuck, if you’re uninspired, if you’re wondering why, if you’re ready to go back to the day job, if success feels unreachable, if you’re squawking like a parrot, remember this:

1) You made a commitment. You can’t break it. It will hurt who you are.
2) You are moving toward success. You can’t feel it, but it is happening.
3) The more you write [or whatever it is you need to do], the closer you get to success.
4) Once you reach success, you can quit writing forever if you want to!
(Sometimes #4 helps more than anything else...)

Image courtesy of TheAlieness GiselaGiardino²³