Writer's Block: My endless love

[totchipanda]

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I had to think about this rather a lot, and I came to realize that writing really is my greatest passion. I've been writing for most of my life, though the prolificness has reduced greatly in the last few years, for many reasons. My head used to be bursting with stories, evidenced by all the fanfic and original stories from high school I found in my boxes (and promptly tossed), and I used to read a lot more too.

Now... even though I participate in Nanowrimo every year, it's not quite the same. I only have the editing of last year's novel, a fanfic prompt challenge, a couple other fanfics on hold*, and... that's it. Where are all the characters I used to create? What are their adventures like? Did they reach their goals? Are they happy in their lives, with the choices they made?

When I tell people that I write novels, the first question is usually "oh, are you published?". I never wrote with the intention of submitting anything to a publisher at all. But it does make me think, so why DO I write? Why is it such a focus for me when there's no "finale" like that? I have tons of half finished fanfics on my hard drive, a few unfinished novels, another complete one, almost no original stuff outside of those novels, and... why am I writing these days?

Would it be something I could give up, if I decided that I am not writing to any purpose? I kinda doubt it, but there is a part of me that says it would be easy to give up, to reduce my computers to the sole use of Facebook games, sudoku and Mah Jong.

I think what I need to do is join some communities, webforums, etc, and get out of this pit, a pit I had no idea I was even in until now.


*The hilarious thing is, I put them on hold with the adage "if I don't like writing it, no one's gonna like reading it" and I was having no fun writing. Just last night, an email list I joined sent an email that basically said the same thing XD

Comments

[dobbin477.livejournal.com]

Writing is my passion too! :)

[harpergrey.livejournal.com]

It's really not that easy to give up. There are times when I've tried, and the momentum just builds and builds, like a dammed river, and I'm really not sure what I'm going to do with all of that stagnant water... Might have to bite the bullet and figure out what blocked it all up in the first place.

My point (or something like it) being that writing might BE the purpose, in and of itself. That the flow needs to keep happening, or you stagnate. If that makes any sense at all...

[totchipanda.livejournal.com]

It really does... My writing's been steadily declining for the last several years, I think I know of at least one specific catalyst, and I really think joining some timed prompts or something would help a lot, cuz I really don't think I could give it up entirely...

[harpergrey.livejournal.com]

Yeah, I've been noticing the same trend with my own. But in trying to give it up, you end up shutting down such a massive part of yourself that you end up like half a person. Nikki's said that there's something that isn't alive in me unless I'm enthusiastic about writing something, and just from reading your LJ and talking to you I would guess that the same is true for you. *hugs* I've found that timed prompts do help somewhat, as long as you don't beat yourself up about it if you don't end up doing them. I'd say go for it! :)