I’ve had what I have been calling writer’s block for a while. I have been going through some issues that are not entirely resolved, though I am getting there. As a result of these issues, I haven’t much felt like writing. Even Nanowrimo, which I usually attack with abandon and enjoy immensely, despite the crap I produce during it, held little interest with me last year. I stalled, and never re-started.
Issues aside though, I think I have now just got out of the habit of writing, and have become lazy. I feel I am also using my ‘issue’ as an excuse.
On Saturday I met with my writer’s group, Seoul Writers Workshop and we had some post workshop drinks. One drink turned to more than one, and I ended up in drunken conversation with my long time writer friend. I asked him whether he thought I had the talent to actually get a novel published. He replied, very diplomatically, that he thought I could, but I had a lot of distractions.
Which is an understatement.
We talked more, and ended up agreeing on a writing challenge for September – and in order to give us a more motivation, we made a bet. The terms of the bet are as follows:
We both of us must write one thousand words for every week of September, making it 4000 in total for the month. If we don’t do this, we have to pay $300.
This is no ordinary bet. Neither of us will receive the money if the other fails. No, instead you promise to give the money to a cause you find repellent and can’t stand the thought of ever giving money to.
The question is, where to promise my money to if I fail? I thought of promising to the British National Party (I refuse to link to them, if you want to check out their ‘values’ just google the name) but if I failed I might end up on a list of people who had given money, which might in future end up damaging my reputation. I guess this is the point of the bet, to provide so much in the way of negative consequences.
I know I can write these many words (I have completed Nanowrimo 3 times, 4000 words is nothing in comparison) but I am also busy doing a training course at work at the same time.
There I go making excuses again to not write, and I’m even trying to give myself a ‘get out of jail free’ card on this bet before it has even started! I’m already ready to give up $300 because I’m being lazy! Well, I guess I know who I have to promise to donate to to get this done.
I’m right there with you on this. I know I suffer the same distraction issues. I don’t think there is any such thing as writers block. I’m sure that is just a term used to mask other issues, be them distractions, lack of research, or stubbornness to stick with something that isn’t working.
However, I’m not sure if the bet is the solution. You could easily write 4000 words in one sitting. Especially if you want to make sure you don’t lose the bet… but then what? What happens in October? You’re back to Nanowrimo situation again.
I would suggest that the solution might be to write less words, say 250, but every day. And more importantly, do it for yourself.
By: Chris Wild on August 24, 2011
at 11:21 am
The reason for the bet is because I cannot motivate myself to do 250 words a day, whereas the bet will force me to do it. Once I’m back in the habit I can continue. I’m not even thinking about a novel-length piece at the moment. Instead I am hoping to get a short story done.
I take your point about it not being a long term solution, but at the end I will have a short story draft I can work on, which is what I a, focused on.
I don’t think there is any problem with having an external motivation to write. How many people only work in general when there is a deadline?
By: Kathryn on August 25, 2011
at 2:33 am