Must - engage - brain ....

[essayel]

But probably won't.

Anyone else having a severe case of creative hibernation? I'm writing okay on paper but right now my keyboard is NOT my friend. I'm taking agin my computer. Everything from the brightness of the scene to the little purr of the fan is off-putting. I guess I ODed in November.

I'm telling myself that this is okay. I have deadlines for work and Christmas and stuff, but none for my writing, other than something for 6th January but that could as easily be art as fiction, in fact better had be if I don't want to look foolish. So nice A4 spiral bound hard backed notebooks plus a liberated 'work' pen and reused filing cards out of the rubbish are getting my deathless deathly prose at the moment and I'll worry about the typing up later.

BBC bookmeme - I've read fifty-eight but then I'm very old and have had periods of no money when my library card has been worked 'til it was illegible.

Comments

[atthe-algonquin.livejournal.com]

I'm in something of a creativity hibernation too -- at least you're not alone! (End of term insanity is probably encouraging mine along, too...)

Like you, I've been able to write longhand. Which means I didn't lose anything when my computer died, so hooray! Think of that on the plus side :)

[essayel.livejournal.com]

Your computer died!!! OMG. Horror. I mean, genuine horror. *hugs* Thank goodness for handwriting, eh? I've got into the habit of storing a lot of stuff on Google Docs just in case.

I hope you have a brilliant Christmas and a productive New Year? Are you assisting with the move to St Fagans?

[atthe-algonquin.livejournal.com]

Enh. I'm not in love with dropping a couple hundred dollars to get a replacement, but I'm absolutely paranoid about making regular back-ups, so I've lost, maybe, 2 hours' worth of work. (It helps that I wind up doing a lot of work at Uni, so everything's on thumb drives.) So keep backing it up in Google Docs! And Dropbox! And an exterior harddrive! And don't fret too much -- the stories will still be there in the New Year, when you're more clearheaded. So I keep telling myself...

What's going on at St Fagan's? I heard they were getting a new building, I think? Sadly, I'm way out of touch with the Welsh Museum world these days. Stupid edumacation :)

[wulfila.livejournal.com]

I'm in a phase of writing very, very slowly right now, but it has less to do with winter than with being in a foul mood. But writing on paper first and typing later is my usual strategy anyway.

Good luck with your "deathly prose" - I am looking forward to more snippets.

[essayel.livejournal.com]

Snippets! I've been forgetting them. Here have one now:

"Do you understand what I’m saying, Kit? Your motives may have been good, but you still broke the rule.”
Kit watched the captain’s hand tighten on his glass. “Yes, sir,” he said. “I’m sorry, sir.”
There was a mutter of voices outside the door and Griffin nodded to it. “Open that,” he said and took his seat at the table. Kit leaned across and cracked the door and hopped aside as Wigram was propelled into the cabin held between O’Neill and Protheroe. They were followed by Lewis and Valliere who moved to flank Kit, each putting hand on his shoulder. Saunders was there too, scowling at Wigram, but he drew a breath and said, “Oh – KIT!” when he saw him.
Griffin placed his pistol on the table with a thud that silenced everyone. “What,” he demanded, glaring at Wigram, “did I tell you I’d do if ever you did anything like that again?”
“Me? I didn’t do nothing!” Wigram looked a bit pale despite his bluster. “I was just looking in the cabin and there was this panel and I thought ‘ah, smuggling’ cuz that’s where I’d have hid my good stuff and I opened it and this female came out and started laying about her and I was just backing off when he came in and grabbed her. Horny little cock.”
“What did I tell you I would do?” Griffin repeated the question, his voice and eyes cold.
“Oh now Captain,” Wigram faltered, “there was no harm done. And – and what about him?” He nodded to Kit. “Fairs fair. I may have laid hands on her, but he did too. You’re not going to do nothing to me less you punish him too. He did what I did, no more, no less.”
“Mr Penrose has admitted his fault,” Griffin said. “And, as you said, the punishment for one must apply to both. Count yourself lucky, Wigram, that for Penrose’s sake I’m applying some naval discipline, rather than hanging you as you deserve.”
“You’re not flogging me,” Wigram stared at him. “That’s just – we don’t ...”
“Would you sooner hang?” Griffin asked.

[wulfila.livejournal.com]

Wonderful, thank you!

[open-the-blinds.livejournal.com]

I've been doing the blank-screen stare as well. I tell myself that Christmas is the busiest season (for both work and life in general) and that I shouldn't concern myself too much until after the holiday. Helping that along is the fact that I am mentally working on it, probing plot holes and what not...I'm just not getting it down anywhere.

[essayel.livejournal.com]

*hugs* it's horrible, isn't it? I've got stuff I really want to write but .... *sigh*

Ah well, let's hope that 2011 is more productive for us all.

[violets-r-blu.livejournal.com]

Cases of severe hibrination in winter aren't uncommon. For me it depends on the creative outlet i'm involved in. It's wierd,...it's up and down. The winter cold months seem to sometimes encourage my creativity, like music and dance (the little I can do). Anything to help keep warm!
But snow inspires me a great deal. :)
You're not alone. I'm not a good writer, although I once had a fairly good writing ability, years ago. I know it takes a different kind of inspiration. But it's still confusing for me. I wrote stories and poety up until we had a house fire when I was about 17 and then I never wrote again, with the exception of one poem. And I thought that tradgedy inspired our artistic abilities. I guess it's very individual.
I think you'll be okay though! You seem dedicated and driven and excited about your writing. Good for you! :)