On days when I don't wanna write scenes for my novel, I do other necessary chores to keep the momentum going. Maybe I'll spend my writing time editing. Maybe I'll do a piece of research that needs to be done. Maybe I'll start reading an exciting new literary novel for inspiration. For me, staying in motion is the important thing.
Oh, I love this. "Staying in motion is the important thing." That is such a lovely way to give yourself grace, and to value other parts of the creative process aside from writing (when the words just won't come).
This is exactly what I needed. You read my mind. I’m having the same syndrome, fall is one of my busy seasons and I got no rest this summer. It’s so good to get perspective. Thank you!!!
I just got back from a vacation with friends and I'm having the strongest feelings of wish I were back there, much as I love being back with my family. The end of summer always brings up these feelings for me, even though I love fall.
Oof, I feel this. I've been afflicted with the I don't wannas for all of August and realized I may be subconsciously giving myself an advance—borrowing from the future— on time I know I won't have in September. And I have to remind myself that's OK!
grrrrrrrllll I FEEL THIS SO HARD! I don't wanna either. I spent the front end of the summer "in Florida" not against my will and we had a great time (in the Keys) but also totally get your reluctance to go there and since, well, Hurricane, it's a good thing you didn't plan something. Hang in. I will attempt to do so myself.
love this post. I do get the "I don't wanna" feeling. Sometimes it can be overwhelming. On my white board where I can see it from my computer, I have in large letters, MANIFEST EASE. Seeing this makes me take a deep breath, calm myself, and think about what I can do to get past it. Usually it's just reading something that I've been working on. I tell myself, "No pressure, just have a read and see how it's going." Usually, the next thing I know I've been editing and writing for the last couple of ours. Manifest ease. That's the kee for me.
I should also mention that a good part of my writing career was in television, and it was a great training for getting over the "I don't wannas". You simply can't say "to your executive producer, I don't wanna finish my script today", or when on set, "I don't wanna rewrite this scene you'll be shooting later today."
Feelings are information, according to Susan David and a whole bunch of research. We don’t have to let them control us and we need to experience them. Emily Nagoski says in Burnout that feelings are tunnels, you have to go through them. Wishing you safe passage Kate, and sympathy for the stuff that is keeping you from the beach. Australians officially get 4 weeks’ paid vacation though grind culture means not everyone takes it.
Thanks for discussing the I don't wannas. I run into this mostly with long work, like my novels. So I switch to short short stuff, flash fiction. I also set some artificial deadlines with my writer buddies, because we all hit this regularly. Somehow, someone else who gets it, makes it easier to get out of it. I also try to face whatever is there inside the no. Usually it's fear. The book is going someplace that feels outlier to me, not safe. I relook at my boundaries, personal and otherwise, to see what I've unconsciously crossed. Renegotiate the contract with that inner gatekeeper that has stopped me cold.
I had the I don't wannas this past Sunday. I'm revising, working daily, and I hit a wall. One day isn't so bad, I know, but it still makes me itchy, so I ordered Nordic socks and mushroom coffee on line. It helped. Walking away for an afternoon and playing with my dog helped, too. I think my daughter may have discovered your beach this summer. She said it was like being on another planet. I hope your path back to the wannas is a smooth one. Thanks for sharing.
On days when I don't wanna write scenes for my novel, I do other necessary chores to keep the momentum going. Maybe I'll spend my writing time editing. Maybe I'll do a piece of research that needs to be done. Maybe I'll start reading an exciting new literary novel for inspiration. For me, staying in motion is the important thing.
Oh, I love this. "Staying in motion is the important thing." That is such a lovely way to give yourself grace, and to value other parts of the creative process aside from writing (when the words just won't come).
This is exactly what I needed. You read my mind. I’m having the same syndrome, fall is one of my busy seasons and I got no rest this summer. It’s so good to get perspective. Thank you!!!
I just want to unsubscribe from all things adult, including parenting, for like two days to just REST.
SAME
I just got back from a vacation with friends and I'm having the strongest feelings of wish I were back there, much as I love being back with my family. The end of summer always brings up these feelings for me, even though I love fall.
I’m sorry your trip was canceled! That would give me a big case of the don’t wannas too.
I definitely deal with these feelings at times too. It is nice to be older and know that they’re normal and they pass. Still no fun though.
Oof, I feel this. I've been afflicted with the I don't wannas for all of August and realized I may be subconsciously giving myself an advance—borrowing from the future— on time I know I won't have in September. And I have to remind myself that's OK!
grrrrrrrllll I FEEL THIS SO HARD! I don't wanna either. I spent the front end of the summer "in Florida" not against my will and we had a great time (in the Keys) but also totally get your reluctance to go there and since, well, Hurricane, it's a good thing you didn't plan something. Hang in. I will attempt to do so myself.
If we had gone this week we would have been totally rained out indeed!!! So, small mercies etc.
love this post. I do get the "I don't wanna" feeling. Sometimes it can be overwhelming. On my white board where I can see it from my computer, I have in large letters, MANIFEST EASE. Seeing this makes me take a deep breath, calm myself, and think about what I can do to get past it. Usually it's just reading something that I've been working on. I tell myself, "No pressure, just have a read and see how it's going." Usually, the next thing I know I've been editing and writing for the last couple of ours. Manifest ease. That's the kee for me.
I should also mention that a good part of my writing career was in television, and it was a great training for getting over the "I don't wannas". You simply can't say "to your executive producer, I don't wanna finish my script today", or when on set, "I don't wanna rewrite this scene you'll be shooting later today."
Feelings are information, according to Susan David and a whole bunch of research. We don’t have to let them control us and we need to experience them. Emily Nagoski says in Burnout that feelings are tunnels, you have to go through them. Wishing you safe passage Kate, and sympathy for the stuff that is keeping you from the beach. Australians officially get 4 weeks’ paid vacation though grind culture means not everyone takes it.
Thanks for discussing the I don't wannas. I run into this mostly with long work, like my novels. So I switch to short short stuff, flash fiction. I also set some artificial deadlines with my writer buddies, because we all hit this regularly. Somehow, someone else who gets it, makes it easier to get out of it. I also try to face whatever is there inside the no. Usually it's fear. The book is going someplace that feels outlier to me, not safe. I relook at my boundaries, personal and otherwise, to see what I've unconsciously crossed. Renegotiate the contract with that inner gatekeeper that has stopped me cold.
I had the I don't wannas this past Sunday. I'm revising, working daily, and I hit a wall. One day isn't so bad, I know, but it still makes me itchy, so I ordered Nordic socks and mushroom coffee on line. It helped. Walking away for an afternoon and playing with my dog helped, too. I think my daughter may have discovered your beach this summer. She said it was like being on another planet. I hope your path back to the wannas is a smooth one. Thanks for sharing.
I definitely have my case of the “I don’t wanna” and need to remind myself that, this too, shall pass.
A great mantra to get through this week (or any, really): I don't wanna, but I WILL.
Very normal to have I don't wannas when you mind &/or heart expect to be somewhere you are not.
"Chip away at what you can and then rest" - excellent advice. I find that sometimes once you start chipping away you can more.
So real. Thank you for sharing, it is good encouragement for all the “I don’t wannas” in my life right now.