What is it about January and even February that leaves me with this feeling that I'm carrying around limbs and a head full of lead, or have heavy clouds floating comically around my head similar to the seeing stars effect, but especially made for January?Blue Monday was named so by a publicity campaign which said the last Monday of January was the most depressing day of the year. Well I've been feeling Blue Monday for the majority of January and it's following me into February.
I announced on the first of January that was I was taking part in the 100,000 words in a 100 days challenge. That didn't happen. Yes I started and I have my first few chapters, I know where it's all going and the work has continued on in my head, but the ability to sit down at my desk and churn out the words is missing. I know we are supposed to make ourselves sit in that seat and work like any other job, but the way I'm feeling, the words wouldn't be anything like I see in my head and lead fingers would set in.
So, book two is happily running away in my head, that's still classed as working right? I'm also not just giving in to it and doing nothing. I have read more books in January than I have ever managed to read in a month. So again, I'm still working. You can't be a writer if you don't read. I'm loving the time to read and I'm loving losing myself in the books. I keep peeking up though to see if Blue January and February have gone yet, so I'm not hiding completely. I can see those heavy clouds around my head shifting now. Not much, but movement has started.
Do you feel affected by the seasons and if so, how do you combat it?
I think maybe a lot of us are affected by the weather at this time of year. Dark morning, dark evenings, cold, miserable day - and longing for light nights and sun!
ReplyDeleteAs for writing, yes, absolutely, to writing your book in your head first. I always have trouble starting a new book but I have this notion that things are still to be worked out and that is why I can't sit down to write, even though I want to. Let those ideas settle and see what comes up. You'll be rocking after that and writing THE END in no time! x
Thanks Mel. It's constantly going around in my head, so I've no fear I'm going to lose the chain of thought, I can't wait to be sat tapping incessantly at the keyboard again!
DeleteI definitely feel like you. I wrote a post about it, and loads of people agreed, so it's a normal phenomena rather than an abnormal one - which, I know, doesn't help while you're living through it, but soon it'll be March and April, spring then - yipeee!... summer!
ReplyDeleteI also signed up for 100k in 100 days, and pulled out on the 3rd or 4th day, when I hadn't actually started writing anything.
I hope you feel better soon, and enjoy the reading!
It's a difficult time of year to sign up to such big challenges isn't it. We are full of the new year resolutions and what we are going to achieve this year, but I just think we need to give ourselves that bit of time if we need it. I am loving the amount of reading I am getting done though!
DeleteI do sympathise Rebecca. I do get like that sometimes, but fortunately it doesn't last for more than a few days normally before I'm missing the words so much that I have to write again. I think reading is a really good substitute though, and sometimes we need to cut ourselves some slack and have a break so that we can come back with a vengeance. Winter, dark nights and all that, is a grim time, and difficult to motivate yourself - roll on Spring and I bet you bounce back then. In the meantime, enjoy the reading :)
ReplyDeleteI get a lot more productive in spring summer and even autumn. It's this dark time of the new year that always seems to wipe me out. I am enjoying the reading though!
DeleteI really think it's the season. Winter always seems so bleak. They skies are grey, its usually cold, and the night comes so much sooner.
ReplyDeleteI hope you feel better soon. You look like you're making good progress with your Reading Challege though.
Thanks Mieke. Yes, It's definitely giving me a chance for a head start in the amount of books I want to read this year :)
DeleteSeasons usually get to me about the end of February/mid March. Maybe not this year though, as it alternates between winter and spring, never staying still for more than a week. But I totally understand the writing funk. I haven't been able to consistently and regularly work on anything, but my book completion has skyrocketed. And it's good you're thinking about your story, you haven't completely put it on hiatus.
ReplyDeleteIt's weird how we get affected this way isn't it. Loving the reading though and yes, the story is still working it's way around my head so hopefully it will flow pretty well when I sit down to work on it again.
DeleteYes, it IS the season! Same day, I read someone else's blog post, similar stuff... I feel the same. Nature out there too... Time to hibernate?
ReplyDeleteOh I really do wish I could hibernate. I think I should come back as a bear in a future life.
DeleteI've been feeling like this for weeks as well. Fed up with myself now! Keep telling myself to snap out of it but I can't seem to. I think it's the flat after the festive season that does it for me. Hope February starts improving for you now.
ReplyDeleteCJ x
Funny you should say that about turning it in on yourself. You get in the funk then berate yourself for doing so then make it all worse! It's why I'm trying a different take on it this year and trying to ride it out by relaxing and reading. Hoping to get back on the horse soon!
DeleteI'm affected by the weather, but funnily enough it's Summer that does it for me. My brain doesn't seem to work when the sun is shining. Lucky I live in Britain ;-)
ReplyDeleteBritain is your perfect place then Sarah. Sunshine? What's that?!
DeleteA friend told me yesterday that even when the sun does shine at this time of the year it's not at the correct angle to give us enough Vitamin D for our brains to feel happy again. She said that she takes Vitamin D and B supplements at this time of the year. I'm a bit wary of supplements but I suppose it could be worth a try.
ReplyDeleteThat's something I've not thought about Rosalind, taking vitamin tablets. I will look them up and maybe try some. Thank you.
DeleteI have been feeling like this and don't know why. I just can't get motivated or back to it. Hope things start to improve for you x
ReplyDeleteIt seems to be a lot more common than I'd imagined. I hope we both pull out of it soon.
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