October’s always like this, right? I start the month with the tail end of the new school year energy and end the month feeling like the ragged end of an old towel.
So how do you pep yourself up to write when you’re all out of get up and go?
the view from my desk: art from my younger kid, my dear friend Heather Bowlan, and an old Get to Work Book
Two quick ideas, then I’d love to hear from you:
fill your work space with encouragements. before I sat down to write on Friday, I cleared everything off from my desk and bulletin board, then filled it back in with photos and art from people I love. it’s bright and cheery, and it also reminds me that I’m doing hard work, but I’m not doing it alone. I particularly like having a brief phrase that captures the energy I’m trying to conjure.
I keep a quote from Roxanne Gay’s letter for Jami Attenberg’s #1000wordsofsummer a couple years ago (paraphrasing because I’m away from my desk): Your writing may not change the world but it will change you); and a tangible example of that: the medal my grandmother won for winning a writing contest when she was 14. The real prize was a trip to France! I have her letters from the voyage over (it was 1925), full of detailed wonder and excitement. Who knows where our writing may take us?
Hi Nancy! I surround myself at my writing desk with a beautiful candle my daughter gifted me, which I light when I start writing each day, and I randomly choose one of Louise Hay's Power Thought Cards. I also read a poem, often aloud, by a favorite poet to bring me into the realm of beautiful expression and word play. Thanks for your recommendations of newsletters on the writing process, I will definitely check them out. A recommendation: I love the work of writer/artist/poet Morgan Harper Nichols. Her daily bursts of encouraging words and beautiful colorful drawings in my inbox help keep me going and pep me up by reminding me that I have something unique to offer because there is only one me. https://morganharpernichols.substack.com/
If I'm feeling meh about getting back into a writing project, or about starting a new one, I tell myself to do something really small, like, "just revise that 1 scene today," or "just pull a tarot card and free write for 10 minutes." I often want to keep going beyond the single small task once I get into it, but even if I don't, I've still accomplished something that I can hopefully build on tomorrow, or the day after that!
Interesting prompt. I don't do anything beyond opening the laptop and switching it on (always a good idea). Your post makes me think I should do something more meaningful. But what?
I keep a quote from Roxanne Gay’s letter for Jami Attenberg’s #1000wordsofsummer a couple years ago (paraphrasing because I’m away from my desk): Your writing may not change the world but it will change you); and a tangible example of that: the medal my grandmother won for winning a writing contest when she was 14. The real prize was a trip to France! I have her letters from the voyage over (it was 1925), full of detailed wonder and excitement. Who knows where our writing may take us?
Reading usually helps me get inspired to write! Or taking a nap. Everything feels easier post nap!
Thank you for the shoutout Nancy! Can you teach us how to recover after completing a huge project next?
This is making me think I need to deep clean my office.
Hi Nancy! I surround myself at my writing desk with a beautiful candle my daughter gifted me, which I light when I start writing each day, and I randomly choose one of Louise Hay's Power Thought Cards. I also read a poem, often aloud, by a favorite poet to bring me into the realm of beautiful expression and word play. Thanks for your recommendations of newsletters on the writing process, I will definitely check them out. A recommendation: I love the work of writer/artist/poet Morgan Harper Nichols. Her daily bursts of encouraging words and beautiful colorful drawings in my inbox help keep me going and pep me up by reminding me that I have something unique to offer because there is only one me. https://morganharpernichols.substack.com/
I read poetry that I love. There’s something about it’s familiarity that is comforting, and the beauty is also usually inspiring.
If I'm feeling meh about getting back into a writing project, or about starting a new one, I tell myself to do something really small, like, "just revise that 1 scene today," or "just pull a tarot card and free write for 10 minutes." I often want to keep going beyond the single small task once I get into it, but even if I don't, I've still accomplished something that I can hopefully build on tomorrow, or the day after that!
Interesting prompt. I don't do anything beyond opening the laptop and switching it on (always a good idea). Your post makes me think I should do something more meaningful. But what?