[From the Archive] Breaking the Rut

Last week I talked about writer’s block. This week I think I’ll talk about getting back on track. It’s all well and good to mention things that combat writer’s block, but when you’re really good and discombobulated, it’s difficult to pull yourself out of the spiral and get back to the job of writing.

I know this very well, as I’m right smack in the middle of it. Many writers are creatures of routine. Or it could just be me. It’s one of the things I liked about the movie Shakespeare in Love. It dealt with Shakespeare’s (this version’s anyway) little issues as a writer. His rituals, his compulsions, and his quirks.

Now, I don’t have to have my pens lined up just so, or turn around three times before I sit down. Or any other things that would now be diagnosed as Obsessive Compulsive Disorder, but I have my own issues. I’m a planner. I have to have a plan of some sort. Such as this column – if at all possible, I do it on or by Wednesday so the week doesn’t get away from me, and I lose it.

Unfortunately, sometimes life gets in the way. You have houseguests for over a week. Or a new job that pops up, or the time in your year when you work 7 days a week. And it throws the whole routine and productivity off. What happens then? How do you apply butt to chair when chaos swirls you around in a dozen different directions?

Well, honestly, sometimes you don’t. Sometimes you just have to let the chaos win. You do what you can and you let the rest go. Unfortunately, this isn’t usually the best or most appropriate option; however, there are times when the chaos wins. You just have to recognize when that is the case and if you can let it go. Have an emotional meltdown day or mental health day or whatever and get back to it the next day.

Other times it comes down to muddling. You do what you can. I have a contract that I’m working on that’s still in the research stages. During my chaos lately, I, at least, carved out reading time for the research materials, even if I didn’t get any “writing” done. At least it was something productive while my routine was shot to pieces.

Make use of unforeseen events. Though all I wanted to do one day this week was get my routine back, my car battery decided I needed another day of routine hosing. I didn’t have anywhere pressing to be that day anyway, so I had a day at home to write. I *wish* I could say that I made use of it, but it turned out to be a reading and research day.

If all else fails find a deadline. If you can write a short story, find an anthology with a theme you’re interested in that gets you up and moving. Which is what I should be doing. I have two anthologies I really want to submit to but don’t have pieces written for. That’s my focus now. My chaos is subsiding. I have goals to meet. It may not be much, but it’s something that gets me inspired and back to looking forward instead of dwelling on the chaos and stress.

Life is always going to get in the way of the writing. Life is always going to get in the way – period. It’s all in how we choose to deal with it. We can let it steamroll us, or we can make it work for us. So now instead of writing about it, I’m going to go apply my own advice.