Musings from the couch

It’s the middle of the summer holidays and I’ve already spent much of our savings on keeping the children entertained, while failing to balance my work commitments and stay afloat. The pressure is getting to me and I’m wondering how I can reignite my interest in writing. Exhaustion coupled with distraction is a terrible combination for creative productivity.

When I reach this stage, I depend on research to aid me out of the quagmire. I presume that I will acquire much-needed inspiration from reading relevant literature, listening to topic-specific podcasts, for example. This does help. I scour the non-fiction academic literature, news feeds, and podcasts to develop interesting and current storylines. I examine new fiction and watch the latest TV dramas. This is admittedly a much more fun part of my research, and, if they are not too adult, I can get the children involved.

But this takes up a lot of time away from creative writing. I question whether I am just avoiding the task rather than helping me get started. There is some truth to this, particularly if inspiration continues to elude me.

Sometimes, instead, you have to write the first sentence. At this stage, I reflect on my research and write my thoughts and opinions, stream-of-consciousness style. Can I create a plot or character to invigorate my story? Have I stumbled upon an important theme that should be reflected in the structure?

I am currently working on two projects: I am ghost-writing a memoir and creating a drama script. As I am sitting on my couch, I will practice what I preach and let you know how it goes. Maybe I will make progress with these projects. Fingers crossed.