What happens when you don't write?

[mbeachbum]

Several here at CW have said that they feel compelled to write. I'd like to know how other writers feel when they can't, won't, and/or don't write.

I have a theory that maybe some of my depression from time to time over the years may be linked to not writing when I definitely had the need to write. Does that make sense to anyone?

Thanks in advance for sharing and for any insights you may have.

[Tarin]

I'd like to know how other writers feel when they can't, won't, and/or don't write.

I die. :eek:

No, seriously, I can't live that way. The only time I don't write is when I'm on vacation or something - and even then my mind is constantly working on some story or another.

To live without stories - without writing - would be like living in a world without color. I don't know how all those "normal" non-writer people exist... I really don't. My sister - a non-writer - just laughs at me. But my question to her is why, if you have the choice, would you choose not to enter the fantasy worlds of the imagination?

Writing isn't a hobby for me. It isn't even a job. It's a passion. Not only would I write without pay, I would pay to write.

[righter1]

I love to write. I'll write exceedingly long e-mails to friends and family (a few here have been a victim of this!) when I'm stumped with a story.

When I can't write, either due to writer's block, or circumstances, I think I feel anxious. It's always a relief--almost a release--in order to make it back to my keyboard or notebook. Like Tarin, sometimes I would pay to write. The worst time for me is when I've gotten into a groove over a lunch hour and everything's cooking, then I have to return to work. I HATE that! I so want to stay and work until my steam runs out, but I can't. That is the most frustrating thing in the world to me.

[Merry]

When I can't write...I implode....

[whitehawke]

Hope I didn't make y'all dizzy by moving this thread to the writers lounge. lol Muahahaha :D

When I'm not writing, I tend to focus too much on my own faults and I drive those around me nuts. Writing is like a cap on my radiator.

[mbeachbum]

When I'm not writing, I tend to focus too much on my own faults and I drive those around me nuts. Writing is like a cap on my radiator.

I can relate to that! :D

So for us writer types, writing is the best therapy possible, right? Wow, that could really put the hurt on therapists! Tee! Hee! ;)

[jacks girl]

I went almost two years once not writing. It was two long years but after about 6 months I did adjust but the stories didn't stop coming. I let the devil and my own mind talk me into thinking that writing was wrong. May be I was to invested with my writing at that time and, may be I needed that to clear my head and get me on the right track.

I finally had to repent and realize that I couldn't not write. I like others would more than likely even pay to write if that is what it come down to. I have to write it's my passion and when I don't get to sit down and write like i want to I do get grumpy.

[FireFeet]

If I didn’t have writing, I’d be running down the street hurling grenades in people’s faces. (Paul Fussell)

__________

[ProfessorAlan]

I laid down my writing for about 5 years once, but have been pretty steady since then -- about ten years or so.

But when I go too long without writing (including plotting, character sketches, planning, re-writing, etc ... ), I get blue. Too long I get depressed -- as mbeachbum indicated. And that can be a tough cycle to break.

[Nessa-Ciryatan]

If I go without writing anything for too long I get very antsy. I squirm in my computer chair and regard the screen and all the writing gear I keep near (paper, pens, notebooks, maps, etc.) with perplexed annoyance as I wonder just what I can write to make me stop feeling like I have a cork jammed in the neck of my creativity.

Usually I ream out great spouts of role-play material at this stage if I have one to work on, or I start a new story for a Writing Challenge or something. It helps... sort of like a volcano letting off steam.

I also laid down writing when I became a Christian. This had a lot to do with the fact that some of the things I'd written weren't honourable toward God, but I think I took it a step too far by destroying everything I had at the time. It was good in a way, because in getting rid of everything I was proving to myself that God was more important, that I would obey Him even when it hurt. But like I said, I think I overreacted a bit and went beyond what God had meant for me to give up. Since then I've rewritten some of what I got rid of then. Now in every story I try and find a way to present God in a real way to my readers.

~Nessa

[mbeachbum]

But when I go too long without writing (including plotting, character sketches, planning, re-writing, etc ... ), I get blue. Too long I get depressed -- as mbeachbum indicated. And that can be a tough cycle to break.

Thank you so much, Professor Alan. It's comforting to know that I am not alone.

Firefeet, what a neat quote! I can relate to that, too!

[tlm]

I have a theory that maybe some of my depression from time to time over the years may be linked to not writing when I definitely had the need to write. Does that make sense to anyone?

It makes total sense to me.

What happens to me? All the voices in my head get louder, and louder and LOUDER!

I must quiet the voices. Where is my paper? Where is my pen?

[righter1]

I should add that right before I got married and for about a year or so after, I didn't write at all. As this was the period of time in my short life that was the most stressful, I truly wish I hadn't put it away. Now that I'm back in the groove (solidly for the last 3 years), I am much happier, and feel a little less stressed. Having a difficult time with my husband? Go write a fight scene between my 2 MC's!!!

[ldhix]

I have heard of seasonally depressed but writers depressed? I can totally relate. My moods swing (more than ever) when I am not putting something down. Guilt a go go anyone?

[smokey the dog]

Great, now you all make me feel like such an underachiever.
When I don't write I just don't write. I'm fine with that. I don't have a burning desire to write. I only write when the inspiration hits me. Sometimes it hits me when I'm driving or just walking down the hall though.

[whitehawke]

I also laid down writing when I became a Christian. This had a lot to do with the fact that some of the things I'd written weren't honourable toward God, but I think I took it a step too far by destroying everything I had at the time. It was good in a way, because in getting rid of everything I was proving to myself that God was more important, that I would obey Him even when it hurt. But like I said, I think I overreacted a bit and went beyond what God had meant for me to give up. Since then I've rewritten some of what I got rid of then. Now in every story I try and find a way to present God in a real way to my readers.~Nessa
wow. I did that. When I became a Christian I destroyed all my writing and got rid of all my books on writing. I didn't write again for about 10 years. The reason I stopped writing then was that before I became a Christian, all my writing was to let out the anger I had trapped inside me and it had begun to take over my life.

Over those 10 years, I was afraid to write anything because I didn't think God wanted me to do it. I started again when I had a dream and felt the Lord might think it was okay.

[mbeachbum]

It's okay, Smokey. (By the way, my black lab mix is named Smokey!!thumbsup! ) Maybe the voices in your head just obey you better than do the voices in our heads, right, TLM? ;)

But tell me, how does that work? How do you write while you're driving? :rolleyes:

[Oops! Whitehawke and I were writing at the same time!]

[David Meigs]

The technical term for this phenomenon is lack-a-bookie.

It’s a sad truth about writers. We must create or we grow depressed. Some even attempt suicide by chocolate. It isn’t pretty. But my friends, do not despair. There is hope. I’ve learned the secret. It’s simple too.

To balance out the creative, we must also destroy. I blow things up with my cannon, shoot my guns, reduce beautiful trees into firewood and rip the stumps from the earth with my bulldozer. And then I write.

Seriously! ;)

[whitehawke]

The technical term for this phenomenon is lack-a-bookie.

It’s a sad truth about writers. We must create or we grow depressed. Some even attempt suicide by chocolate. It isn’t pretty. But my friends, do not despair. There is hope. I’ve learned the secret. It’s simple too.

To balance out the creative, we must also destroy. I blow things up with my cannon, shoot my guns, reduce beautiful trees into firewood and rip the stumps from the earth with my bulldozer. And then I write.

Seriously! ;)
LOL David. Ain't that the truth. Hey, where's my chocolate? Have you nicked off with it?

Bro, you got me in stitches. "lack-a-bookie" lol Too funny.

[DrRita]

I spend a lot of time NOT writing . . . it's horrible. It's not by choice so I really can't fix it. When I go too long it's as if I lose touch with who I am. I don't get depressed, I just lose my bearings and my compass spins around and around . . .

[Keith Wallis]

If I go without writing I can't claim it's the lack of oportunity it's ALWAYS a lack of (I was going to say inspiration but that can't be it) imagination. And when I go for a period without writing it's as if I've lost my best friend (or my shrink maybe !).

[Tarin]

When I can't write, either due to writer's block, or circumstances, I think I feel anxious. It's always a relief--almost a release--in order to make it back to my keyboard or notebook.

This is me exactly. Esp. if a piece isn't going smoothly, I get very frustrated when I'm away from the keyboard. Ask my family!;)

[StormSwept]

It makes sense to me...
writing is like breathing to me. I have to. If I dont I feel like I am cut off from the world. (I do that to myself anyhow.) If I dont blog or try and express something - a poem, a bit of a story.. anything.. then I feel lost a little.
Jaki

[miranda119]

Like the majority, I'm compelled. If I get lazy and don't write for a day or two even I become restless, anxious, bored, unmotivated, depressed, tired... it's not pretty. I think for me it's almost that writing is the way I think. I haven't thought about something until I've written about it. It's just the way my brain works.

Glad I'm not alone! :)

[BrendaJean]

Pretty much all my life I've dealt with depression. Writing helped take the edge off it. Looking back, WHOA! obviously it was better to kill myself on paper. Other times, (I can see now) it was the Lord offering me hope and talking me "back from the edge," so to speak. After I was saved, it scared me a little, and I backed way off. I wrote a one in the '90's that was presented during some revival meetings, the evangelist who was visiting our former church said it was powerful and needed to be put to music. I put it on the shelf, unfortunately. Often I feel a restlessness, a compulsion to write, especially over the last few years since I left that church. Too often I've just pushed it down. Just ... maybe.... you folks here and the writers' group at McLane church might get that gift stirred back up... I hope I'm ready... (durn! where's my pen?)
GBKY
Bj

[mbeachbum]

Reading all these responses is intriguing - and uplifting, in a weird sort of way!

Last night, I couldn't sleep so I surfed through this site for a while and then, I decided to return to a story I had started a while ago. I reread what I had written and - would you believe it - I had somehow forgotten some of what I had written previously. I was pleasantly surprised when I read my own words and then {drum roll} I actually liked what I had written! :D So, I wrote some more!:D :D

I didn't get a whole lot of sleep last night but boy! I've been in the best mood today! I've been productive and pleasant and joking and ... wow, why don't I write more often? After I'm done here at CW, I plan to return to my story and see where it takes me.

Thanks to each and every one of you who have shared here. If you have more to say about the subject, I'll be glad to read it.

Let's review some interesting images offered here: lack-a-bookie, stump removal, spinning compass, guilt a go go, husband troubles yield MC fight scenes, voices, Merry imploding, radiator cap, hurling grenades, and feeling antsy.

What a colorful group are we! :D

[pajarita_deDios]

I itch for it...wish I was doing it.

[TanyaSue]

I'm like DrRita. I don't get depressed, per se, but I do lose sight of who I am. Distractions and busyness often keeps me from writing. I choose sleep over the laptop. But a few days of that and I realize I'm getting nasty to others; my self image is deteriorates and I question my value and purpose in life. Hmmm ... that does sound like depression, doesn't it? :)

[tlm]

I reread what I had written and - would you believe it - I had somehow forgotten some of what I had written previously. I was pleasantly surprised when I read my own words and then {drum roll} I actually liked what I had written!

That's why I love to edit. I re-read something and say, "Was that me? It really is good!" Naturally, it does need a tweek here and there, but that is okay.

[mel3]

I become the human equivalent of a tornado.
War and devastation follows.
Chocolate is eaten.
People barricade their houses as I walk by with fire coming from my ears.

Then a good idea hits me and all is calm again.

Nah just kidding...........No chocolate is eaten whatsoever.

[BrendaJean]

tee hee hee! :p Mel3, can I adopt you??? you sound like a riot and would get along well with most of my crew! :D
GBKY
Bj

[Tarin]

I re-read something and say, "Was that me? It really is good!"

Isn't that just the bestest feeling?!? When you write something like that, you just know the Lord was with you, guiding your words. It's amazing...

[mel3]

tee hee hee! :p Mel3, can I adopt you??? you sound like a riot and would get along well with most of my crew! :D
GBKY
Bj

You mean there's more nutcases out there like me?????? Hurrah!