Most of my writing comes from inspiration. Like a random shooting star or lightning bug. So I've molded my writing style around that. Preparing for the eventual moment when the damn breaks and the words flow from my keyboard like pebbled water. Though writing is not my profession, it is what I tell people I do because it is what sparks joy.
I totally empathize with you, Faith! This happens to me often with short story ideas, and it's so rough!! I spend twice as much time trying to think of an idea than I do actually writing. When this happens, I always seek out other forms of artistic inspiration -- paintings, sculpture, movies, gardens etc. and sometimes I think seeing someone be creative in another medium shakes something loose for me and gets me going again.
this is such a real piece. i feel like i've been in such a slump lately since i'm in the middle of school. i try to tell myself that writer's block isn't real but i've been feeling it so hard lately
it seriously sucks but you’ll get out of it eventually i promise!!!! sometimes it helps to actually write the “bad” stuff to get to the good stuff, in my experience :,)
Faith, thanks for sharing these intimate thoughts about the dry spells which are part of being a creative person. I've found that when I'm not able to write, it's because I need to live a little. When I get out in the world, I usually come back with my cup full.
I relate to this so much! As much as I love Substack, I hate the way the current online era of writing makes writing into something that needs to be constantly produced when this isn't realistic to what creates high-quality writing. The best things I've ever written happened because I had the idea first, not because I told myself I needed to write something. And I also think it's nice to be able to dwell in a single idea as a reader rather than constantly being inundated with new ones.
Also just realized the song that was playing in my Discover Weekly while I was reading this is also by you and was so confused when I glanced over to see who it was by and saw the same name. Your voice is gorgeous!
wait this is so crazy to me! what a coincidence- I’m so glad you found me on different platforms and in different mediums :,)🫶🏼 and thank you so much for the kind words!!
What a great read! I feel this so hard at times. It reminds me of a quote from the book "Writing Down the Bones: Freeing the Writer Within" where the author says "It is important to have a way worked out to begin your writing; otherwise, washing the dishes becomes the most important thing on earth- anything that will divert you from writing will... Our monkey minds would much rather discuss our resistances with a friend at a lovely restaurant..." When I get in these blocks the crumbs between my laptop letters also sends me on a side-tracked frenzy!!
i loved, loved, loved reading this essay so much faith!! 💗 i call myself a writer and always say it’s my dream to publish a novel one day but i haven’t been writing anything nearly as much as i wish i would be. it’s something i used to try and force and it never really worked out (my attempts to write for substack is evidence of that) but i’ve been learning that sometimes even writing about how you’re writing nothing isn’t the case (though it very much can be; i journal a lot more now after i just wrote about absolutely nothing and how i don’t know what to write about), sometimes it’s just about living and the writing will come back to you.
there’s something i started to say to myself a long while ago, “your words will ebb and flow but they will always come back to you” and i find it to be true; my words always come back to me eventually. i’m currently leaning into living and not writing but i trust that the writing will come back to me in its nothingness, then at its full strength when it’s ready to. i trust that when your words ebb and flow, they’ll always come back to you too 🫶🏼
Most of my writing comes from inspiration. Like a random shooting star or lightning bug. So I've molded my writing style around that. Preparing for the eventual moment when the damn breaks and the words flow from my keyboard like pebbled water. Though writing is not my profession, it is what I tell people I do because it is what sparks joy.
I really like your writing style btw. Reading this stack felt validating and it was cool to see a glimpse into your writing life!!
the way i can relate to every single word... your writing style really is beautiful, and i love this piece sm <3!!
I totally empathize with you, Faith! This happens to me often with short story ideas, and it's so rough!! I spend twice as much time trying to think of an idea than I do actually writing. When this happens, I always seek out other forms of artistic inspiration -- paintings, sculpture, movies, gardens etc. and sometimes I think seeing someone be creative in another medium shakes something loose for me and gets me going again.
this is such a real piece. i feel like i've been in such a slump lately since i'm in the middle of school. i try to tell myself that writer's block isn't real but i've been feeling it so hard lately
it seriously sucks but you’ll get out of it eventually i promise!!!! sometimes it helps to actually write the “bad” stuff to get to the good stuff, in my experience :,)
you are an inspiration to me as a beginning writer and i appreciate everything you share on here!
:,))) warms my heart. thank you so much and best of luck to you <3
can’t wait to read this a thousand times
adore you!!
this is everything to me
you are everything to ME!!!
my god i loved reading this
love youuuu
comfort post of the dayyy
love this so much
thank youuuu love you
“ being a writer is like being in love” oh my god.
no literally like. yeah.
I had to pause after that because wow.
Faith, thanks for sharing these intimate thoughts about the dry spells which are part of being a creative person. I've found that when I'm not able to write, it's because I need to live a little. When I get out in the world, I usually come back with my cup full.
I’m trying to adopt this viewpoint!!! it’s so true, thanks for sharing & for the kind words 💌💌💌
I relate to this so much! As much as I love Substack, I hate the way the current online era of writing makes writing into something that needs to be constantly produced when this isn't realistic to what creates high-quality writing. The best things I've ever written happened because I had the idea first, not because I told myself I needed to write something. And I also think it's nice to be able to dwell in a single idea as a reader rather than constantly being inundated with new ones.
Also just realized the song that was playing in my Discover Weekly while I was reading this is also by you and was so confused when I glanced over to see who it was by and saw the same name. Your voice is gorgeous!
wait this is so crazy to me! what a coincidence- I’m so glad you found me on different platforms and in different mediums :,)🫶🏼 and thank you so much for the kind words!!
This gave me some hope that I can be a writer (or am one lol) Thank you for sharing this! ✨
What a great read! I feel this so hard at times. It reminds me of a quote from the book "Writing Down the Bones: Freeing the Writer Within" where the author says "It is important to have a way worked out to begin your writing; otherwise, washing the dishes becomes the most important thing on earth- anything that will divert you from writing will... Our monkey minds would much rather discuss our resistances with a friend at a lovely restaurant..." When I get in these blocks the crumbs between my laptop letters also sends me on a side-tracked frenzy!!
i loved, loved, loved reading this essay so much faith!! 💗 i call myself a writer and always say it’s my dream to publish a novel one day but i haven’t been writing anything nearly as much as i wish i would be. it’s something i used to try and force and it never really worked out (my attempts to write for substack is evidence of that) but i’ve been learning that sometimes even writing about how you’re writing nothing isn’t the case (though it very much can be; i journal a lot more now after i just wrote about absolutely nothing and how i don’t know what to write about), sometimes it’s just about living and the writing will come back to you.
there’s something i started to say to myself a long while ago, “your words will ebb and flow but they will always come back to you” and i find it to be true; my words always come back to me eventually. i’m currently leaning into living and not writing but i trust that the writing will come back to me in its nothingness, then at its full strength when it’s ready to. i trust that when your words ebb and flow, they’ll always come back to you too 🫶🏼