I was going to do a post on book covers today but for a couple of very good reasons that has been delayed. This left me thinking about what I should write about. I'll do it first thing in the morning, I thought. Up bright and breezy, an idea will pop into my head, and no one will notice the blog is late. I was certainly up early but a raging sore throat left me, not bright and breezy but, staggering downstairs to find some soluble aspirin. Can someone please explain to me how I've managed to get a sore throat and struggling to speak, when I haven't been anywhere. The grocery delivery yesterday obviously brought more than groceries. Anyway I digress.
This has got me thinking about thinking. My post last month was about motivation and how many people seem demotivated to write during this pandemic. I had planned a day of writing today and my WIP is whipping up like a storm. My protagonist is poised on the edge of a momentous discovery and I was looking forward to seeing where this would take them. Is it the big denouement, or is this discovery going to lead them down a different path, one maybe fraught with danger? Now, I've barely got the energy to type this. So, is my day wasted? You know what, I actually don't think so. I think I may need a day off but my brain will be busy pondering on the intricacies of my WIP. I believe that what will emerge will be better than I can ever imagine. Taking stock and pondering is not wasted time, it is an opportunity to think and to allow something new and beautiful to emerge.
I love the quote from Milton 'They also serve who only stand and wait.'
Let me rephrase that 'They also write who only sit and think."
If you've struggled to write over the past year, look at this a different way. This may be a period of thinking for you then something beautiful will emerge. Just because you are not writing it does not mean you are not creating. Just as there are times when we are waiting on our creator, often we can be waiting for our own creation.
My advice to you is, you can spend time thinking. However, if I may be so bold please don't go down the sore throat route. Doing it in a healthy manner is key.
I would be interested in your thoughts on this topic as I know it may be contentious. All the best with the pondering and writing.
About the Author
Wendy H Jones is the Amazon #1 international best-selling author of the award winning DI Shona McKenzie Mysteries. Her Young Adult Mystery, The Dagger’s Curse was a finalist in the Woman Alive Readers' Choice Award. She is also The President of the Scottish Association of Writers, an international public speaker, and runs conferences and workshops on writing, motivation and marketing. Wendy is the founder of Crime at the Castle, Scotland’s newest Crime Festival. She is the editor of a Lent Book, published by the Association of Christian Writers and also the editor of the Christmas Anthology from the same publisher. Her first children's book, Bertie the Buffalo, was released in December 2018. Motivation Matters: Revolutionise Your Writing One Creative Step at a Time, was released in May 2019. The Power of Why: Why 23 Women Took the Leap to Start Their Own Business was released on 29th June, 2020. Marketing Matters: Sell More Books was released on 31st July 2020. Bertie Goes to the Worldwide Games and the third book in the Fergus and Flora Mysteries will be published in 2021. Her new membership Authorpreneur Accelerator Academy launched in January 2021.
Deborah Jenkins has been telling me for years that going for walks helps you to ponder and that sometimes plot ideas or character development will appear in your brain as a result of being out and about with trees and fields. My lockdown walks have proved her very right and me very wrong!
ReplyDeleteI will have to bear that in mind. Thanks for the tip
DeletePS Hope and pray the sore throat disappears very quickly, Wendy!
ReplyDeleteThank you. Aspirin is my friend.
DeleteI think I need to engage brain when reading blog posts....I read 'contentious' in your last bit as 'contagious' and thought you were interested in ponderings about sore throats. Don't get me started.....!
ReplyDeleteI agree about thinking being writing. My local park is a great place for writing.
That made me laugh. It’s obvious pondering needs to be done outdoors
DeleteI find boring tasks such as the housework can be conducive to creative thinking. It's about the only thing to be said for doing the vacuuming!
ReplyDeleteThat is such a good way of thinking about housework.
DeleteHousework is certainly useful for creative thoughts to arrive, often unbidden. Though I would find it contentious that it is boring... I must be very peculiar, but I do actually enjoy the achievement of keeping my home clean and tidy, doing the ironing (I enjoy the colours and features of the items!!) and all that stuff. And, as for writing, time off is really helpful - whatever takes us away from the desk, it's good. One can become stale if only trying to write. well, that my 2 penny'oth anyway, just from experience. Even though it can be frustrating to have to do something 'boring' - like trying to buy a carpet on-line, understand what's wrong with Zoom, or other dreary task...a personal opinion...
DeleteClare, I think ordering a carpet online sounds jolly exciting at the moment 😁
DeleteYes I agree that time aside, pondering, is also important for authors. I find that ideas will pop into my mind for my WIP while I am doing something totally unconnected with it. Take some time apart from your writing to relax and look after yourself. You may find new inspiration when you return to the actual writing.
ReplyDeleteI'm definitely guilty of beating myself up for not 'getting things done.'
ReplyDeleteThis reminds me of an article I read last year about 'The Importance of Staring out the Window.'
A link here - https://www.theschooloflife.com/thebookoflife/the-importance-of-staring-out-the-window/
Thank you, Lydia. I love the sound of staring out the window.
DeleteThis has made me feel a lot, lot better about days when I feel I haven't achieved much. Deborah's right - walking really does clear the mind and allow creative thoughts to come rushing in. I hope your contentious sore throat is better, Wendy!
ReplyDeleteI’m liking the sound of the going for a walk version of pondering/writing
DeletePondering should be part of a writer's job description. It's so important! I'm reminded of a quote by Pooh: "some people say nothing is impossible. I disagree, I often do nothing."
ReplyDeleteThat’s a brilliant quote. Everyone should be more Pooh.
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