If your heart isn't sufficiently in a project at a given point in time, then delaying work on it can be a good thing. I've shelved projects for six months or even a year because I wanted to attack the project with freshness and energy rather than slog through it with half-hearted commitment.
so good! thanks for being real. I have felt ALL of these things before. Remember I shared that I have been putting off my book since last August? Well, I joined a mother's writing club with ladies I connected with through Substack and our first meeting was thoroughly refreshing! I'm hopeful that some accountability and a good measure of commiserating together over our percolating projects will help me find the insight and excitement again 🥰
That sounds seriously fantastic!! Ever since I joined a writer's group at my library, I've felt a total change in my relationship to writing. Us creatives need each other to survive and thrive!
And I'm so glad this feels relatable - there's so much out there about the beautiful side of creative life but I feel like the more real and honest I am here, the more people connect with my words. And that makes me want to be even more real, more me. So, thank YOU! 🥰
The magic of writing and Substack is in the authenticity. And if we let it out, it helps everybody! I get the letting the thoughts form to come back to the project. I have also been suspicious of myself too. I have a 100 day project that halted at day 60 something with permission from myself to return. I finally knew i was the one in charge and I trust I will uncap that discipline. It's a turning point. But also, accountabillibuddies are sooo necessary.
This is such a good read Jess and I can relate to all of these! I've found that I just can't force it sometimes and I have to let everything stew for a bit. 'what's even the point' comes up a lot when I'm knackered and maybe pushing too hard. I remind myself of the quote from Big Magic - "I am going to spend as much time as I can creating delightful things out of my existence, because that’s what brings me awake and that’s what brings me alive." That's my point, my reason. So if I'm not feeling the love, I know that it's time for a break.
Aw thanks I'm so glad this resonated with you, Emily! 💗 And yes definitely with you on the “pushing too hard” piece… I sometimes wear my own self out 😅
Thanks for sharing this quote too, such a great reminder of what the point is. It sometimes seems too simple and I know I overthink it, but really that's it. ☺️
I've come to give myself grace regarding the projects I've grown bored with. I think those represent me getting what I came for. But the third scenario, the resistance that leads you down the path of telling yourself it's not worth doing after all, or at least not right now--that's the insidious one that I wrestle with daily. It's why my novel still isn't finished 🙈
It's so smart of you to have identified the differences so you can respond accordingly!
If your heart isn't sufficiently in a project at a given point in time, then delaying work on it can be a good thing. I've shelved projects for six months or even a year because I wanted to attack the project with freshness and energy rather than slog through it with half-hearted commitment.
That's a good point, sometimes it really can take that long! But all good things take time so it's usually worth the wait ☺️
so good! thanks for being real. I have felt ALL of these things before. Remember I shared that I have been putting off my book since last August? Well, I joined a mother's writing club with ladies I connected with through Substack and our first meeting was thoroughly refreshing! I'm hopeful that some accountability and a good measure of commiserating together over our percolating projects will help me find the insight and excitement again 🥰
That sounds seriously fantastic!! Ever since I joined a writer's group at my library, I've felt a total change in my relationship to writing. Us creatives need each other to survive and thrive!
And I'm so glad this feels relatable - there's so much out there about the beautiful side of creative life but I feel like the more real and honest I am here, the more people connect with my words. And that makes me want to be even more real, more me. So, thank YOU! 🥰
The magic of writing and Substack is in the authenticity. And if we let it out, it helps everybody! I get the letting the thoughts form to come back to the project. I have also been suspicious of myself too. I have a 100 day project that halted at day 60 something with permission from myself to return. I finally knew i was the one in charge and I trust I will uncap that discipline. It's a turning point. But also, accountabillibuddies are sooo necessary.
That's a great way to frame it, pausing with permission to return. Not the same thing as quitting - far from it! And yesss, we are the ones in charge!
This is such a good read Jess and I can relate to all of these! I've found that I just can't force it sometimes and I have to let everything stew for a bit. 'what's even the point' comes up a lot when I'm knackered and maybe pushing too hard. I remind myself of the quote from Big Magic - "I am going to spend as much time as I can creating delightful things out of my existence, because that’s what brings me awake and that’s what brings me alive." That's my point, my reason. So if I'm not feeling the love, I know that it's time for a break.
Aw thanks I'm so glad this resonated with you, Emily! 💗 And yes definitely with you on the “pushing too hard” piece… I sometimes wear my own self out 😅
Thanks for sharing this quote too, such a great reminder of what the point is. It sometimes seems too simple and I know I overthink it, but really that's it. ☺️
Needed to hear all this today!
Sending a little cocktail of creative juices + restful energy your way! 💓
Wonderful as always.
Aw thank you Katie! I appreciate you!
I've come to give myself grace regarding the projects I've grown bored with. I think those represent me getting what I came for. But the third scenario, the resistance that leads you down the path of telling yourself it's not worth doing after all, or at least not right now--that's the insidious one that I wrestle with daily. It's why my novel still isn't finished 🙈
It's so smart of you to have identified the differences so you can respond accordingly!