Am in my first week of retirement from a job with oppressive, vindictive management. Needing to build back strength after a long series of physical stuff (a dislocated femur is so rare some ER doctors have never heard of it, for example) and Covid lockdown. In a disorientation of starting to swim again, pick up a bike today that should be relatively safe for my totally revised knee, feeling drained with relief of lifting of work weight - the need to write is surging. Alison recommended I write the ending of a novel I feel has been so long in the making that it's gone stale, and I wrote a couple of hundred words on that. Pulled out a short story, never completed, that started nagging at me again, and after reading critique comments and mulling them over, will take a stab at that, too. Don't have a proper routine yet. Seems to be swim or walk after getting up, sitting at desk for a couple of hours with a lot of dawdling - reading news, househunting, thinking about story....
My advice is to be very patient during this transition, because in my experience it will feel like it isn't moving forward fast enough at first. When I unexpectedly retired at age 57 because of a family crisis, I took the manuscript out of the drawer that I had written 20 years earlier and had been pecking away at every couple of years. Since I decided to self-publish, it took me 2 years to figure out what I needed in place (website; how to format, etc) as I did that last major rewrite. But I also know the slow pace was because I needed to take care of myself, fill up my well again, adjust to all my structure and discipline being self-imposed, not imposed by the job, etc. Every word you get down, every book you read, every step you take to heal is all part of being a writer. I published that manuscript in 2009, and I have had the most wonderful second career as a writer in my retirement imaginable, so I wish the same thing for you.
Hope you both had good writing days. I go by Mary Lou, Lou, or Louisa. Mary was always my grandmother or aunt (smile). When I took the pen name M. Louisa Locke for my Victorian mysteries, I don't think I really expected to have fans, who of course don't know how to address me when they write to me. Kind of problem I'm glad to have!
Trying to write or even think about writing from a 33 foot C&C sailboat is a hopeless task. Just as one is settling into a thought about how to develop a character from my novel a boat task appears to short circuit any progress.- even my husband who can spend long periods of time being non- communicative suddenly senses a lack of attention and needs to talk. The solution, I think, is to be in the moment of my experience and wait until I return to my writing cave.
Sailing does strike me as a place where one might need to be in the moment. I hope, though, that you might have a bit of reflective time to either jot notes about your WIP--work in process--or the sail-time itself. Or don't write, just mull. Mulling is so good, and there is never enough time for it. Enjoy the sail!
It’s so interesting to see how others work. I get those niggling feelings when I’m working sometimes too. For me, that usually means I’m off track and need some thinking time to clarify where I’m going. It works best for me it I leave it for a bit and work on something else..another part of that manuscript or something else entirely. I haven’t reflected on my own process for a while. Thank you for this.
Yep...a literal break. Normally I make a daily effort to write or plot out a story or at minimum do a little research, but I've spent the past two weeks doing nothing. It felt awful, especially being so new to Substack and knowing the importance of consistently releasing my newsletter. Much of it stems from a serialized story that is taking longer than expected to finish, but the rest is all related to motivation. I've started to power through this week, mostly thanks to a few surprise subscriptions and reading newsletters by other writers.
Projects almost always take longer than expected, I find. And there are times to "power through." Even if "powering" resembles a whole lot of sitting and not much writing. Or walking and thinking. A few surprise subscriptions does help--that feeling that the work is connecting, yes! Journal writing through a break is good, too. There is never enough time for journal writing--something I wish I'd done more of through my decades.
I have taken the summer off to write and to find stories of all sorts. The first gift I gave myself was this subscription, Alison you are such a radiant muse. This is the gift of time and focus, so much if which I give to others. Right now I am on Maybe Island, actually that was a typo I, but it makes sense…maybe I’ll write about this or that, maybe something will surprise me, maybe I can craft a story from it. Maybe it will be a good one…carving out this time and space, adding a muse and a community, getting caught in a rip tide and lost in an enchanted forest has nourished me. Looking forward to being present with all of you in the Unschool.
Am in my first week of retirement from a job with oppressive, vindictive management. Needing to build back strength after a long series of physical stuff (a dislocated femur is so rare some ER doctors have never heard of it, for example) and Covid lockdown. In a disorientation of starting to swim again, pick up a bike today that should be relatively safe for my totally revised knee, feeling drained with relief of lifting of work weight - the need to write is surging. Alison recommended I write the ending of a novel I feel has been so long in the making that it's gone stale, and I wrote a couple of hundred words on that. Pulled out a short story, never completed, that started nagging at me again, and after reading critique comments and mulling them over, will take a stab at that, too. Don't have a proper routine yet. Seems to be swim or walk after getting up, sitting at desk for a couple of hours with a lot of dawdling - reading news, househunting, thinking about story....
My advice is to be very patient during this transition, because in my experience it will feel like it isn't moving forward fast enough at first. When I unexpectedly retired at age 57 because of a family crisis, I took the manuscript out of the drawer that I had written 20 years earlier and had been pecking away at every couple of years. Since I decided to self-publish, it took me 2 years to figure out what I needed in place (website; how to format, etc) as I did that last major rewrite. But I also know the slow pace was because I needed to take care of myself, fill up my well again, adjust to all my structure and discipline being self-imposed, not imposed by the job, etc. Every word you get down, every book you read, every step you take to heal is all part of being a writer. I published that manuscript in 2009, and I have had the most wonderful second career as a writer in my retirement imaginable, so I wish the same thing for you.
This is so good to read, Mary. (Do you use both of your names, or Mary?) Words of experience and wisdom, and now shared.
Amy! Yes--this is useful, reassuring, especially in reference to the "don't have a proper routine yet." It takes time.
Thank you.
Hope you both had good writing days. I go by Mary Lou, Lou, or Louisa. Mary was always my grandmother or aunt (smile). When I took the pen name M. Louisa Locke for my Victorian mysteries, I don't think I really expected to have fans, who of course don't know how to address me when they write to me. Kind of problem I'm glad to have!
Yes--a lovely problem, Mary Lou!
Thank you. That was useful to read.
Trying to write or even think about writing from a 33 foot C&C sailboat is a hopeless task. Just as one is settling into a thought about how to develop a character from my novel a boat task appears to short circuit any progress.- even my husband who can spend long periods of time being non- communicative suddenly senses a lack of attention and needs to talk. The solution, I think, is to be in the moment of my experience and wait until I return to my writing cave.
Caves can be useful, yes!
Sailing does strike me as a place where one might need to be in the moment. I hope, though, that you might have a bit of reflective time to either jot notes about your WIP--work in process--or the sail-time itself. Or don't write, just mull. Mulling is so good, and there is never enough time for it. Enjoy the sail!
It’s so interesting to see how others work. I get those niggling feelings when I’m working sometimes too. For me, that usually means I’m off track and need some thinking time to clarify where I’m going. It works best for me it I leave it for a bit and work on something else..another part of that manuscript or something else entirely. I haven’t reflected on my own process for a while. Thank you for this.
The only reason a writer's laundry or dishes get done, surely...
You go!
Yep...a literal break. Normally I make a daily effort to write or plot out a story or at minimum do a little research, but I've spent the past two weeks doing nothing. It felt awful, especially being so new to Substack and knowing the importance of consistently releasing my newsletter. Much of it stems from a serialized story that is taking longer than expected to finish, but the rest is all related to motivation. I've started to power through this week, mostly thanks to a few surprise subscriptions and reading newsletters by other writers.
Projects almost always take longer than expected, I find. And there are times to "power through." Even if "powering" resembles a whole lot of sitting and not much writing. Or walking and thinking. A few surprise subscriptions does help--that feeling that the work is connecting, yes! Journal writing through a break is good, too. There is never enough time for journal writing--something I wish I'd done more of through my decades.
I have taken the summer off to write and to find stories of all sorts. The first gift I gave myself was this subscription, Alison you are such a radiant muse. This is the gift of time and focus, so much if which I give to others. Right now I am on Maybe Island, actually that was a typo I, but it makes sense…maybe I’ll write about this or that, maybe something will surprise me, maybe I can craft a story from it. Maybe it will be a good one…carving out this time and space, adding a muse and a community, getting caught in a rip tide and lost in an enchanted forest has nourished me. Looking forward to being present with all of you in the Unschool.
This is so good, Lori--gifting yourself time and focus. I'm grateful you are here! With us, and on Maybe Island yet... LOVE the typo!
Happy summer!