And Even If You’re Not Sole Author, You Can Still Change The Story

Every once in a while, I get a reminder of just how much of what we tell ourselves is our “reality” is actually little more than the story we’re just telling ourselves in our head.

And There’s Not A Lot Of Tools In That Box To Begin With

I know I’ve mentioned this sentiment before, but seriously people, the cheap “Betcha didn’t see that comin'” (but makes no sense) “shock” twist is the crudest tool in the hack writer’s toolbox.

Sometimes That’s Just The Way It Is

I hate when I end up writing things like “my mother isn’t good with computers,” because I feel like that’s such a trope, and I hate tropes.

But I long ago made the decision that when I’m writing, truth trumps trope.

Speaking Of Not Writing (Part Four)

Regardless, despite me still idly considering if maybe I should invest in some new vices after all, all of this has lead me to coming back to writing with some new perspectives. It’s still too early to say definitively where this will ultimately lead me, but knowing me, the story I’m working on right now will be completed because in a backhanded way I publicly called myself out on it, and pride alone will require that I finish it even if I never write anything after that.

I’ll probably keep writing though. I generally enjoy it, I think it’s good for me, and, on occasion, at least, I think what I put out there by writing is important. (There’s that pride talking again.) But if I ever decide writing isn’t good for me, now I’ve got a better idea of what I’d need to do to stop.

Ironically enough, it’s remarkably similar to what I need to do to start.

Speaking Of Not Writing (Part Three)

The answer is, in the words of Robin Williams, “because it was fun,” until the fun was gone, at least. Even when it wasn’t fun, it still helped me not think about things that I didn’t want to think about at the time. (You may have noticed 2020 has been a particularly unfun year for many people.)

Sly observations aside, I can’t fully blame the year’s events, but they did help underscore for me how I react to stress, and how easily my methods of coping with stress can morph into their own sources of stress. Remember when I mentioned I needed to either reduce my stressors or pick up some new vices?

I wasn’t being entirely facetious.

Speaking Of Not Writing (Part Two)

Equally obviously there have been plenty of times before when I wasn’t writing, but this was the first time I’d made the conscious decision to not write and see how that affected me.

Unsurprisingly, writing fills certain needs for me, good needs provided it doesn’t become an excuse for unhealthy avoidance, so making the decision not to write meant I had to find other ways to scratch those itches, and I did. Because I wasn’t in the habit of monitoring those ways like I tend to monitor my writing time, some of them became undeniable time and energy sinks.

Because of the operative word “undeniable,” this was a good thing because they were all things I’ve done off and on for a long time, but this time around I started asking myself why am I spending so much time on things that were intended to make me feel better, but leave me drained and irritable instead?

Speaking Of Not Writing (Part One)

Alongside the usual reasons I’ve had for not writing much lately (family obligations, general chaos, etc.), I do have one unusual reason: I stopped for a while so I could learn how to stop.

This is a very me thing to do because I loathe the idea of being addicted to something, especially when I am. Writing filled a very important need in my life, but it always risked becoming something that excessively took me away from my family and my life. To be fair, that never really happened (much), but I’ve watched it happen to others, so I wanted to take a break and see what happened.

Obviously I survived.

And Today Is One Of Those Days

I don’t care if it is an overused phrase, some days the rain drops on the window really do look like tears!

I Know That. I’m The One Not Writing, You Know

You know you’re having trouble putting your thoughts into words when WordPress starts harassing you because “You haven’t written anything yet!”.

I’ve Known People Like This In Real Life

One of the best character writing examples/advice I’ve ever been given is “He is indeed the villain of the story and destined to be the heroes’ personal nemesis, but he doesn’t know that.  As evil and cruel as he is, at the moment he’s enjoying a drink by the fire, is feeling jovial and in want of company, so he’s going to call our heroes over and ask them to join him.  Since he is also polite and witty, everyone will have a marvelous time unless the heroes do something to change this.”