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July 20, 2016 at 1:35 pm #203163
When I as a kid, writing a novel was one of the things I wanted to do one day, but until now (30 years later) I had done virtually no writing outside school.
Almost a year ago I got an idea for a story, which really started out as a daydream/fantasy to amuse myself. I had no intentions of writing a story or novel. But while I was bedridden for a week with nothing to do, I expanded on that story idea, until it was an epic saga with detailed scenes (and me in tears at the end!).
When I got up, I still had no intention of writing it all down, but felt compelled to write out a basic outline just to get the order straight in my head. So I sat down to my computer and wrote the first scene. I didn’t mean to! It just came out instead of the plot points I meant to write. Then I wrote another scene, and another (not lineal). Oops! And I kept on writing and writing. For the first couple of weeks, I kept wondering “Why am I doing this?” because it’s fanfiction so I can’t publish it – so why am I wasting my time? But I was enjoying the process too much so I kept going.But it wasn’t just that I enjoyed it – I felt compelled to write down this story in my head – and to continue to create it.
Initially I thought I’d spend a few days, then I realized it would be a few weeks, maybe a couple of months.
For 8 months now I have poured all my time into writing this novel (well over 150,000 words! and much to add) – obsessively. I am fortunate in having a part-time job I do from home. Since starting to write, I spend the minimum time necessary to keep my business going, and same goes for everything else (housework, relationships, sleep, etc.) – so I can write for hours each day. When I’m not at my computer writing, I’m still thinking of my story most of the time. When I spend time with family or friends, sooner or later, my thoughts will stray back to my story and I look forward to the time I can be alone to write. Some days when I have to do hours (like -gasp 4 hours!) of real work, when I want to write, I feel almost jittery in my stomach from the tension of keeping myself at my work desk when I’m dying to run to my writing desk. I’m unhappy if I go a day without any writing or story planning.I have an exciting holiday booked for later this year, but I actually wish at times, that I wasn’t going because of the time I have had to spend planning it, booking, etc. I kind of resent anything that takes me away from writing!
This wasn’t meant to be a confession – this isn’t the thread I set out to write! But I guess it’s what I needed to write. This obsessive, addictive behaviour is fairly typical of the way I get into hobbies, but it has never been this extreme. It worries me sometimes, yet I don’t want to stop. My spouse & kids are pretty supportive (though I don’t think they realize quite how much it fills my thoughts and time), but I know they are hoping I’ll finish soon and spend more time with them.
I hope that the obsession goes when I finish the novel, and I hope that doesn’t take years!
Do others feel compelled to write or addicted to writing – to the extent that it’s all you really want to do?
July 20, 2016 at 4:21 pm #249966First: Congrats on finding the writing bug!
Second: As you’ve discovered, it can be quite compelling and addictive to write, and it sounds as if it’s quite taken over your life.
What I’d suggest: I know a lot of authors deal with what you do–having the writing on the mind constantly (so do I!), and most writers have, like you, multiple responsibilities outside of writing. One of the things I (used to) and a lot of other writers do is schedule writing time. Basically, we set aside the hours we’re going to write, and write during those hours (extra time to write is okay too, as long as other responsibilities aren’t being ignored!).
Yes, I know that trying to tear the mind away from the story is hard. But working on your paying job and taking care of your relationships with your family are important things to do too. I think, if you schedule your writing time, and you stick to that schedule, you’ll train your creative urges to respond when you are ready to have them work for you. Yes, you’ll still have story on your mind when you’re doing other things, but it is possible to function like that–and you might find that having a set time to write keeps your mind from obsessing too much on the writing when you’re away from it.
I think all writers go through what you are. I know for me there have been times I’d far rather be writing than doing anything else. There are times when a story is just so much fun to write, so fascinating to think about, that we become obsessed with it. And that’s a good thing! Still, you may want to try what I suggested above to bring some order into your creative life and to ensure you don’t ruin your relationships or lose your job. I know when I worked, and had to schedule my writing time, having the “limited time” made me better able to put those hours to good use with writing, and knowing I had those hours set aside just for writing gave me the freedom to really focus on things outside of writing.
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Ashe Elton Parker
"Just love me, fear me, do as I say, and I will be your slave." ~ David Bowie as Jareth in Labyrinth
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Member since 1998.
~*~July 20, 2016 at 8:07 pm #249967Hi, LoneWolf. I’m too under the weather today to try and respond to your question (not enough brain cells!), but I wanted to say —
Welcome to FM! I’m glad you found us.
Happy writing,
Deb Salisbury
The Mantua-Maker, Quality Historical Sewing Patterns and Books
www.mantua-maker.comThe Art of the Hoop: 1860 - 1869, Dress, Sewing, and Clothing Care Advice
https://www.mantua-maker.com/a---1860s-fashion.htmlDead Wizard's Loot: Wizard Whitewing #1
http://www.djsalisburybooks.com/Dead-Wizard-s-Loot.htmlJuly 20, 2016 at 8:35 pm #249968Welcome to FM lonewolf! I will say, that yes that is addicting to write. But I usually have the problem of wanting to write when I can’t and then when I can, I sometimes do anything but. I don’t write as much as I used to despite having more time to do so (currently unemployed). I found I wrote more when I had a time limit to work with. It made me appreciate the time I did have writing even more.
July 20, 2016 at 11:22 pm #249969Well, you took a bit to get started, but it sounds like your subconscious knew your destiny early on .
There’s this thing I have the habit of telling people who think they want to write but find it abhorrent. If you can stop, do. Writing is no picnic. It’s addicting, it’ll flip your mood, and there’s no guarantee of anything good coming of it.
Those who cannot stop have no choice but to keep going. Welcome to the madhouse.
She remakes mechanical devices, and he dreams of becoming a steamship captain in The Steamship Chronicles. Book 1 is free in eBook.
https://margaretmcgaffeyfisk.com/the-steamship-chronicles/July 21, 2016 at 10:55 pm #249984MarFisk wrote:Well, you took a bit to get started, but it sounds like your subconscious knew your destiny early on .There’s this thing I have the habit of telling people who think they want to write but find it abhorrent. If you can stop, do. Writing is no picnic. It’s addicting, it’ll flip your mood, and there’s no guarantee of anything good coming of it.
Those who cannot stop have no choice but to keep going. Welcome to the madhouse.
I can stop. Any time I want to. Really. 😆 But all my fountain pens would grow bored with nothing to do. I’m doing it for their sake…
July 22, 2016 at 1:04 am #249990LOL! Sadly, my fountain pens are bored and dried up so I can’t use them as an excuse, but my computers miss me. Does that count?
Seriously, though, I thought I’d given up writing for 10 years to raise my kids. Went back and found I wrote a novel and a handful of short stories that I submitted all around. Guess I couldn’t stop even when I thought I had .
She remakes mechanical devices, and he dreams of becoming a steamship captain in The Steamship Chronicles. Book 1 is free in eBook.
https://margaretmcgaffeyfisk.com/the-steamship-chronicles/July 22, 2016 at 5:50 pm #249993Computers, yes, they need help to keep from feeling lonely, too. 😆
When circumstances get in the way of my writing, I find I am very unhappy. I feel that I’m missing something essential. (Well, of course, I am.) There is almost nothing else in life I feel quite that way about. The sole exception is the presence of cats. A cat free environment is a dull and sterile environment to me. Those who disagree are welcome to their opinion, but they will never convince me. Writing and cats. With them, life is good. Without either one, life grows dismal. Without both – that would be my definition of hell.
July 23, 2016 at 2:29 am #249994Wandering Author, I agree whole-heartedly with both – writing & cats! But I think I would have to add chocolate – Writing + cats + chocolate = heaven!
July 23, 2016 at 8:10 am #249995Yeah, I’m on the adding chocolate into the deal, but yes, when I was not writing enough, I was quite miserable and didn’t know why.
She remakes mechanical devices, and he dreams of becoming a steamship captain in The Steamship Chronicles. Book 1 is free in eBook.
https://margaretmcgaffeyfisk.com/the-steamship-chronicles/July 23, 2016 at 5:59 pm #249996I get the same way with my wrtiting. When I have ideas, and I am able to write (because Creative Mind is actually working), and I can’t for some reason (circumstances, or no access to a computer, or whatever), I get depressed. The only time I don’t get depressed when I can’t write is when I have a writing downswing. Which makes me glad–at least if my bipolar takes my creative mind away for a few days or so, it also takes away the emotional connection to my writing so I don’t end up severely depressed over not writing.
Ashe Elton Parker
"Just love me, fear me, do as I say, and I will be your slave." ~ David Bowie as Jareth in Labyrinth
~*~
Member since 1998.
~*~July 28, 2016 at 1:08 am #249970Honestly you are not wasting your time even if you cannot publish your fanfiction. It sounds as this is something you enjoy, so there is that, and if one day you go off to do your own story then you take with you all the practice and skill you mastered from your fanfiction. So nothing is wasted at all.
However, it is important to balance your life as much as possible. There is always the risk of burnout if you OCD for too long. And your family and work like is important as well. How you find this balance? Don’t ask me, I’m still figuring that out. But realizing it is important is a least a step. lol
July 28, 2016 at 1:25 am #250109What do you do when a scene for your story springs into your head but you don’t have time to write?
One of the reasons I write when I shouldn’t is because if I don’t write scenes and conversations as they pop into my head I will forget them.
July 28, 2016 at 1:45 am #250110I’d suggest keeping a notebook with you. Something small (not miniature, but about half the size of a standard page). When a scene pops into your head, write a few sentences about it down, focusing on the most important aspects. Or, alternatively, you can keep a little mini recorder (or use your cell phone if you have one, with a recorder app), and essentially do the same. I’ve tried both methods and found the paper method better for myself (I can’t stand the sound of my voice). One asset I discovered, for me, was that writing down my notes about the scene helps solidify it in my mind until I can write the full version down, so, as long as I get what seems to be most important about the scene, I’m good to go when I can actually write it out. And this was the case even early on in my writing habit.
Ashe Elton Parker
"Just love me, fear me, do as I say, and I will be your slave." ~ David Bowie as Jareth in Labyrinth
~*~
Member since 1998.
~*~August 10, 2016 at 6:18 am #249999Ahem…
You are missing hot tea in this equation! Must have the hot tea!
J.A. Marlow
The String Weavers, Salmon Run, Redpoint One series.Writer alter-ego of Dreamers Cove
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