Tuesday 23 December 2008

I should never get off the Merry-Go-Round!

I've come to the conclusion that I should never completely get off the merry-go-round of writing, no matter how ill or tired or uninspired I feel.

If I ever stop writing for a day, it's twice as hard to start again the next day, and three times as hard if I leave it a couple of days... and so on, and so on. And so the feeling grows and perpetuates until writing becomes some horrible, hated monster I just can't face.

I've been falling off the merry-go-round quite a bit in this last month or two. Health problems, other worries, life crap and other disappointments have all put me again and again in a 'I'll take a break today' mood and those 'day' breaks have turned into longer and longer intervals between writing. And this just won't do!!!!

These gaps make me easily forget that I *can* actually write, and even if I'm not one of these golden, talented writers who everybody adores, I am quite good at some aspects of the craft, and quite a few people *do* love what I do! :)

I also forget how much I *enjoy* writing, if I don't do it. I somehow manage to block all memory of the pleasure I experience from writing, and only remember the hard aspects of it, like coming up with plots and ideas... I focus on my shortcomings instead of relishing and celebrating my strengths.

So, from today onwards, I will be engaged in attempt no. #23,742 to write a little bit of something every single day, even if I don't feel like it and haven't the foggiest idea what project to work on! Call this me getting an early start on my New Year's Resolutions!

3 comments:

Charlotte Stein aka The Mighty Viper said...

Portia, I realise I am now definitely verging on mad fangurl territory, but I just have to say- you *are* one of those golden talented writers who everyone adores. Most people don't even manage to get one book published. Or they get one published, and it sinks without a trace. Or they get another published, but then their career stalls. They get dropped by their publishers. They never get a single review on Amazon or Mrs Giggles or other places that matter.

You have written for Black Lace- the top erotica publisher, to my mind- for over *ten years*. Isn't it more like fifteen?

Your books are consistently popular. In Too Deep is just as good as what most erotica fans consider a classic- The Stranger.

I've read almost every Black Lace title put out, but there are very few that I've kept for ten years. I still have the original cover copy of The Stranger.

I'm sure a lot of people do. Most people don't know the names of people like Alina Reyes and Nancy Madore. But they know your name.

I only hope I can have a career half as successful as yours.

/end rant.

Keep being awesome,

Charlotte

Portia Da Costa said...

Thanks for your kind words, Charlotte! I tend to be very hard on myself and get cross with myself when I slack off and waste time. And I've been doing that a lot lately... not writing because I just don't 'feel' like it.

But I'm going to do better in the New Year! :)

Charlotte Stein aka The Mighty Viper said...

You'll get your mojo back. It always comes back. And I'll gush til the cows come home if it helps in any tiny way at all.

Merry Christmas, Portia!