Sir, I am experiencing exactly the OPPOSITE problem. I am having (what I think) are GREAT ideas, but I can't sit down and commit to bits and photons. I have limited mobility (herniated discs, bilateral sciatica, and both knees and both shoulders replaced). My wife compound fractured he ankle about two weeks ago, and I have assumed all household duties, heavy lifting, and caring for her. While I am doing these things, I think. I have come up with some excellent ideas, but I need to commit them to virtual paper. I made an effort to sit down and write them down, but I get dragged away more often than not. I have tried to make quick outline notes, but I find new ideas pushing the older ideas into a back "file," and I believe that I am losing a lot of inspirational in-the-moment "flavor." Any suggestions? Thanks, Chuck Wadlington
Great advice, particularly what you say about acceptance. An odd segue here, but I get a lot of good information about the mental side of writing (and life) from tennis players; they talk about acceptance all the time as a key to performance, avoiding distraction, staying focused on the present moment, avoiding negative thoughts, how to keep going in the face of failure, which all apply to writing. I see a lot of similarities between writing and tennis (stop laughing), such as working alone/dealing with loneliness, and overcoming your own thoughts and demons while trying to perform in the moment. The best tennis players have a supportive team around them, and I think a writer needs the same. There's nowhere to hide in a tennis game, it's just you and your opponent, and with writing it's just you and the blank page. If this interests any of you, watch the press conferences of Nadal and Djokovic after their matches, they are masters of the mental side of tennis. Perhaps I'll start a Substack one day called 'Tennis and Writing', but I'll probably need to publish something first before anyone would be interested haha...
Also, I have unintentionally (for writing purposes) injected most of these suggestions during ten years as a Substance Abuse Counselor in the Navy, and living with injuries. They are great ideas, and in my experience, they are ideal for living a happier life.
Sir, I am experiencing exactly the OPPOSITE problem. I am having (what I think) are GREAT ideas, but I can't sit down and commit to bits and photons. I have limited mobility (herniated discs, bilateral sciatica, and both knees and both shoulders replaced). My wife compound fractured he ankle about two weeks ago, and I have assumed all household duties, heavy lifting, and caring for her. While I am doing these things, I think. I have come up with some excellent ideas, but I need to commit them to virtual paper. I made an effort to sit down and write them down, but I get dragged away more often than not. I have tried to make quick outline notes, but I find new ideas pushing the older ideas into a back "file," and I believe that I am losing a lot of inspirational in-the-moment "flavor." Any suggestions? Thanks, Chuck Wadlington
Great advice, particularly what you say about acceptance. An odd segue here, but I get a lot of good information about the mental side of writing (and life) from tennis players; they talk about acceptance all the time as a key to performance, avoiding distraction, staying focused on the present moment, avoiding negative thoughts, how to keep going in the face of failure, which all apply to writing. I see a lot of similarities between writing and tennis (stop laughing), such as working alone/dealing with loneliness, and overcoming your own thoughts and demons while trying to perform in the moment. The best tennis players have a supportive team around them, and I think a writer needs the same. There's nowhere to hide in a tennis game, it's just you and your opponent, and with writing it's just you and the blank page. If this interests any of you, watch the press conferences of Nadal and Djokovic after their matches, they are masters of the mental side of tennis. Perhaps I'll start a Substack one day called 'Tennis and Writing', but I'll probably need to publish something first before anyone would be interested haha...
Also, I have unintentionally (for writing purposes) injected most of these suggestions during ten years as a Substance Abuse Counselor in the Navy, and living with injuries. They are great ideas, and in my experience, they are ideal for living a happier life.