Damn You, Mojo!
So maybe I've been a bit quiet lately.
This is mostly because my already crippling penchant for procrastination increases tenfold when I'm stressed, as I genuinely need to relax.
So since the end of october, when I got slammed with my whole identity fraud fiasco, through to it's conclusion at the end of november, leading me directly into christmas (I work retail, it's super not fun), I've basically been doing little other than Youtube and webcomics. I can't write when I'm stressed, and that's probably something I could do with fixing.
When all this kicked off, I was on a hell of a roll. I was hitting 2000 words a night, I was really feeling it and as far as I was concerned, I was some kind of literary god-in-waiting.
Now I'm back, and I simply can't figure out where it's all gone. I'm excited to write, but when I sit down to it, I draw a blank. It's not so much writer's block, as I more or less know where I'm going, and I can sort of plod along, it's more that I've lost the flow.
I suppose it's like rowing down a river, only to have it dry up beneath you. Sure, you can walk the rest of the way, but it's just not how you wanted to do it. My brain-boat is beached. Worse still, I can't bloody well figure out what got me into my super-mojo-flow in the first place.
I am, perhaps still a little stressed and unhappy, for whiny-arse reasons I'm not even getting into. I'm not sure thats the problem.
I may just need to kick my own butt back into gear and make it all work again.
That's mostly why I'm writing this right now. I need to oil the brain-gears a bit. (Brain boats have gears. look it up).
Actually, to tell the truth, I think I'm starting to figure it out already. I may have actually figured out the secret to 'Mojo', and I'm here to puzzle it out, make myself realise it, and to lay it down.
So. Here I go.
Mojo, the subtle sensation of being 'on the ball' and ready to dollop out pages and pages of delicious wordy goop from your brain, isn't some kind of floating, divine force that occassionally wanders over and sits on your head like a hat for a bit, before buggering off. Simply waiting for it just won't do.
Mojo has to be worked for. You can't be on a roll until you start moving in the first place. The trick is not to panic. Sit down at your keyboard, or your pen and paper if you roll that way, and just start making words happen. It doesnt matter if those words arent perfect right now; that's why we edit.
The key is to get moving. There isnt some kind of invisible elf sitting on your shoulder, judging every word you type (He's both uninterested and not real. He told me so). Nobody is going to give you a beating for only managing 500 words tonight. Unless you belong to a really harsh writing group. Or are a columnist for a North Korean propaganda newsletter.
It's a new year, and those are always good times for a new perspective. For me, at least, it is the year of Chasing The Mojo, instead of simply sitting back and hoping it wanders over my way.
Have a good one!
This is mostly because my already crippling penchant for procrastination increases tenfold when I'm stressed, as I genuinely need to relax.
So since the end of october, when I got slammed with my whole identity fraud fiasco, through to it's conclusion at the end of november, leading me directly into christmas (I work retail, it's super not fun), I've basically been doing little other than Youtube and webcomics. I can't write when I'm stressed, and that's probably something I could do with fixing.
When all this kicked off, I was on a hell of a roll. I was hitting 2000 words a night, I was really feeling it and as far as I was concerned, I was some kind of literary god-in-waiting.
Now I'm back, and I simply can't figure out where it's all gone. I'm excited to write, but when I sit down to it, I draw a blank. It's not so much writer's block, as I more or less know where I'm going, and I can sort of plod along, it's more that I've lost the flow.
I suppose it's like rowing down a river, only to have it dry up beneath you. Sure, you can walk the rest of the way, but it's just not how you wanted to do it. My brain-boat is beached. Worse still, I can't bloody well figure out what got me into my super-mojo-flow in the first place.
I am, perhaps still a little stressed and unhappy, for whiny-arse reasons I'm not even getting into. I'm not sure thats the problem.
I may just need to kick my own butt back into gear and make it all work again.
That's mostly why I'm writing this right now. I need to oil the brain-gears a bit. (Brain boats have gears. look it up).
Actually, to tell the truth, I think I'm starting to figure it out already. I may have actually figured out the secret to 'Mojo', and I'm here to puzzle it out, make myself realise it, and to lay it down.
So. Here I go.
Mojo, the subtle sensation of being 'on the ball' and ready to dollop out pages and pages of delicious wordy goop from your brain, isn't some kind of floating, divine force that occassionally wanders over and sits on your head like a hat for a bit, before buggering off. Simply waiting for it just won't do.
Mojo has to be worked for. You can't be on a roll until you start moving in the first place. The trick is not to panic. Sit down at your keyboard, or your pen and paper if you roll that way, and just start making words happen. It doesnt matter if those words arent perfect right now; that's why we edit.
The key is to get moving. There isnt some kind of invisible elf sitting on your shoulder, judging every word you type (He's both uninterested and not real. He told me so). Nobody is going to give you a beating for only managing 500 words tonight. Unless you belong to a really harsh writing group. Or are a columnist for a North Korean propaganda newsletter.
It's a new year, and those are always good times for a new perspective. For me, at least, it is the year of Chasing The Mojo, instead of simply sitting back and hoping it wanders over my way.
Have a good one!
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8 Comments
All I can say is, whenever I feel crappy I try to do something that I enjoy, writing being one of them - good or bad, it's free! The problem with feeling down is we can end up sort of punishing ourselves and dwelling in that horrible space as it's how we think we're supposed to be feeling - like you after your ID theft situation. Rewriting the book is something we lot should be good at! 8]
I'm glad you got your mojo back. It doesn't mean it won't hide away again, but it may mean that next time you'll be able to find it quicker. Mine disappeared for about 20 years once - almost forgot I ever had it in the first place. Whatever you do, don't let that happen.
This is an excellent start to your New Year - long may it continue!
Mine took a beating last year, kept pretending to come back, then remained hidden. I've been woring in retail too- and that practically killed my Christmas spirit. But hey! New Year and all that. I'm going to find my Mojo, grab it with both hands and chain myself to it to prevent any future abscondings.
I've not done any writting over the xmas hols, by design I feel I should add lol. I'm hoping to get my backside in gear in the next few days, once I'm back into the routine of work and life etc.
Best of luck getting your ball rolling :)
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