This is exactly what I needed this morning. I haven’t felt like doing any fiction writing for the past two days, and reassuring to hear that others after the feeling the same.
But guess what after watching your inspirational video I’m writing again! Thank you 🤩
Other things that have helped me:
1. Listening to happy music in a loop in my headphones, and singing the lyrics until I believe them. Try it. The worse your singing voice the better, and after a while it’s impossible not to smile.
2. Reflecting on the power of words after watching your video. In my day job I’ve helped write and edit speeches for Government ministers for years, and you’re right that even here the best ones involve story telling, so much more impactful, than reading out a list of policy descriptions (which we sometimes also get them to do by the way.) A speech which illustrates this perfectly (and which is hopefully non-controversial unless your ancestors were Spanish Armada commanders -if so sorry) is Queen Elizabeth I’s ‘I have the body of a weak and feeble woman but heart and stomach of a King’ speech. Go and read it if you need some further inspiration today .It’s awesome, and I would love to have written it. If Robert Dudley was indeed the author then hats off to him.
I took your advice and put on Sophie Ellis Bextor’s Kitchen Disco for my journey home from Leeds last night. I was able to make a start on sketching out the learning from the week and where it belongs within my text so I can continue working on that today
I really, really, really needed this! It's been hard to get back to writing after Tuesday. For me, when I feel this way, I find that I can't stop thinking about "all the bad things", and then I end up feeling like I shouldn't even bother to try to write.
In the past, here are things that help me continue, even when it's tough:
-Putting on headphones to listen to something that blocks out other noises - even if it's just white noise
-Telling myself to give it a try for at least 10 minutes, and see how it goes. I usually end up continuing past the 10 minutes.
Thanks so much for the video Katherine - it was exactly what I needed. I only wished that I had looked at it this morning! But better late than never :)
Thanks for your lovely post, Katherine! The lead up to the election was hugely stressful for me and, without a doubt, impacted my ability to put pen to paper. Waking up to the devastating outcome yesterday morning was a further blow. Funnily enough, I sat down yesterday afternoon (with only a blank page and my imagination :) and was able to write. I can safely say it was not a conscious decision to battle the angst of living next door to a soon-to-be Trump-led country. But your post articulated what, I think, was at the root of my desire to 'create' in spite of (or perhaps because of) the darkness of our times.
Things helping me to keep showing up this week:
- the accountability of this community (if I can't do it, then how can I ask others to do it?)
- perspective (getting outside in nature helps me with this)
- lowering the stakes - focusing less on output and remembering gentleness
- allowing rest - I've taken some time out to watch Wolf Hall on the BBC
- deadlines! What can I say - they work for me!
Thanks Katherine!
This is exactly what I needed this morning. I haven’t felt like doing any fiction writing for the past two days, and reassuring to hear that others after the feeling the same.
But guess what after watching your inspirational video I’m writing again! Thank you 🤩
Other things that have helped me:
1. Listening to happy music in a loop in my headphones, and singing the lyrics until I believe them. Try it. The worse your singing voice the better, and after a while it’s impossible not to smile.
2. Reflecting on the power of words after watching your video. In my day job I’ve helped write and edit speeches for Government ministers for years, and you’re right that even here the best ones involve story telling, so much more impactful, than reading out a list of policy descriptions (which we sometimes also get them to do by the way.) A speech which illustrates this perfectly (and which is hopefully non-controversial unless your ancestors were Spanish Armada commanders -if so sorry) is Queen Elizabeth I’s ‘I have the body of a weak and feeble woman but heart and stomach of a King’ speech. Go and read it if you need some further inspiration today .It’s awesome, and I would love to have written it. If Robert Dudley was indeed the author then hats off to him.
Sending hugs,
Laura xx
I'm glad this resonated, Laura. It's a funny old week and it felt wrong to not acknowledge it. Keep scribbling!
I took your advice and put on Sophie Ellis Bextor’s Kitchen Disco for my journey home from Leeds last night. I was able to make a start on sketching out the learning from the week and where it belongs within my text so I can continue working on that today
Well done, Jenny. I’m so pleased it worked. I love Sophie EB too - her joy is infectious xx
I really, really, really needed this! It's been hard to get back to writing after Tuesday. For me, when I feel this way, I find that I can't stop thinking about "all the bad things", and then I end up feeling like I shouldn't even bother to try to write.
In the past, here are things that help me continue, even when it's tough:
-Putting on headphones to listen to something that blocks out other noises - even if it's just white noise
-Telling myself to give it a try for at least 10 minutes, and see how it goes. I usually end up continuing past the 10 minutes.
Thanks so much for the video Katherine - it was exactly what I needed. I only wished that I had looked at it this morning! But better late than never :)
I think so many of us are feeling like this! You are definitely not alone!
Thanks for your lovely post, Katherine! The lead up to the election was hugely stressful for me and, without a doubt, impacted my ability to put pen to paper. Waking up to the devastating outcome yesterday morning was a further blow. Funnily enough, I sat down yesterday afternoon (with only a blank page and my imagination :) and was able to write. I can safely say it was not a conscious decision to battle the angst of living next door to a soon-to-be Trump-led country. But your post articulated what, I think, was at the root of my desire to 'create' in spite of (or perhaps because of) the darkness of our times.
Exactly this! Writing can be powerful, and a refuge, too.