Wednesday, July 28, 2010

What to Do When You Feel Like Throwing In the Towel?

In which I state the obvious, and more of the obvious.

So, we all get to that point now and then when we get one too many pieces of bad news and think, "This industry is just too darn hard for me. I can't take it anymore!" The question is... what do you do when you get to that point?

Well, you can...

1. Eat yourself into oblivion.
2. Drink yourself into oblivion.
3. Mope around the house for days.

But I don't recommend any of these options. (Trust me, it may seem like a good idea at the time, but the five pound bag of chocolates will not make you feel any better about your writing career!)

So what other choices are available to you?

4. Vent to your writing friends.

I really don't recommend this option either. Though I ADORE my writing friends and they are extremely supportive, the more you talk about writing, the more you are thinking about writing, and therefore, the more you are languishing in your own misery.

So, what's left?

5. Read some good books (I recommend that you read books that are not in your exact genre to ward off feelings of "What? How did this crap get published when my clearly far superior manuscript did not?") Read to ESCAPE. Get lost in someone else's problems. A sure way to get your own woes out of your head.
6. Watch great films (see #5)
7. Exercise
8. Hang out with non-writer friends.

In other words, take a vacation from all things writing. Oh, and for those of you who like to shop., try getting a kick ass pair of new shoes.

15 comments:

Jennifer Shirk said...

You're so right! I love to throw myself into a good book and chill out sometimes. :)

Julie Hedlund said...

I would also add: spend quality time with your family so that the next time you are locked in a writing frenzy you won't feel as guilty about neglecting them for a while.

The last time I got hugely crushed, it took me two months before I could write another word on a manuscript. Next time it happens (because it will), I hope to shorten that timeframe some...

Travis Erwin said...

I prefer to sit my butt in the chair and use my agitation as motivation to prove the suckers down.

storyqueen said...

Say yes to shoes!

Agree so much with the bit about reading. Reading really Does make us better writers, so the more we can reconnect with out inner-reader, the better the writing will be....eventually....

Say no to the towel!

Shelley

Miriam Forster said...

You should never throw your towel, they're far too useful!

This is excellent advice. Finding the right kind of lose-yourself reading is my mainstay. It recharges and inspires me at the same time.

Little Ms J said...

I'm currently frustrated because I really want to write Barista in third person omniscient, but I'm so strong in first person. I have rewritten the first five chapters three ways and am ready to pull my hair out. I've decided to fall into reading to get my brain right.

And hang out with friends that don't write.

Sherrie Petersen said...

I went camping for five days without the computer and it was wonderful. Of course, I had notebooks to write longhand :) But having to think about the story that way and pick out the most important parts, was SO helpful. Time away is always good.

lisa and laura said...

Corey this is EXACTLY the post I needed to read today. THANK YOU. We have had a really crappy couple of weeks and I think I need to put the computer away and read some good books. I'd drink some wine, but I'm pretty sure polite society frowns upon that in my current condition.

Hardygirl said...

ALL great advice!!!

Especially the venting and film-watching . . .

Yeah, this is a tough biz. It's like rearing children--you think it gets easier as they get older, but it doesn't. You just enter into a different phase with a different set of problems.

sf

J.A. Palermo said...

I've been reading a lot lately...time to get back to writing!

Anonymous said...

All great suggestions, although sometimes my writing vacations can go on a little too long...

Rebecca Gomez said...

Good advice, Corey. I unplugged for a couple of days-- spent some time enjoying nature with the family--and I think it did me some good!

Anonymous said...

Lots of good advice Corey. Will have to keep these suggestions in mind. : )

Natalie said...

Mmm, I love a good book to pull me out of a writing funk.

Lydia Kang said...

A pinch of reality helps. I count my blessings. And then, well, shopping helps. Even if it's window shopping!