I’ve been struggling since NanoWriMo, that’s the simple fact of the matter. I’ve actually had some time to sit down and try and post something this week and I don’t want to and I can’t think of anything much new.
Basically I’ve run out of my creative flow. Right after Nano I was pretty tired and needed a rest, but then work came along with a big project and bang I was fully involved in that for a few weeks and after that…. nothing. I have run out of creative juice.

This isn’t just for writing, but drawing as well and just thinking of something to inspire me to make something and go – tada! So if anyone finds it can they please send it my way? Please?
I mean it must be out there somewhere right?

5 NaNoWriMo Survival Tips
So I thought while I’m here I would give you all a little insight into what I learned from NanoWriMo.
1. Write everyday, if you can do about 1.6k words a day at least you’ll win.
2. What you write will more than likely be shit and no where near what the finished product should be. Just write it.
3. Be prepared for late nights or early mornings and some degree of sleep deprivation. A similar thing applies to socialising and TV, they won’t happen or you;ll have way less time for it.
4. Put the phone down.
5. I pantsed it, but I can see why people prepare. The more prep the better, but I’m not saying I will do that next time.
What I have stored away is the start of a really rough manuscript that even when I was most of the way through it I thought that this is going to need re-writing heavily. But I think that it wasn’t necessarily about quality, it’s about establishing a writing habit. Now I know I can do it I know I will be writing more.
So if you’re reading this and thinking about stopping your Nano or WIP – don’t! Just keep going!
I’m going to try and catch up with as many of you as I can before Christmas, I might not manage it but I hope so. I hope you’re all enjoying the festive season and maybe by the end of it I will have found my creativeness again – who knows?
Let me know what you guys have been up to?
Β© Simon Farnell 2013 – 2023

It’s why I’m avoiding it. Sounds too much like work and writing is an escape for me.
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I know where you’re at and if that’s how you will it’s best not to. For me this was a kick to actually write something. π
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does sound like you may have burnt yourself out … nice to establish a habit but to go from zero to 1.6k daily does need turbo!
Hit the pause button and enjoy more family time … the muse will return when she is ready π
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Yeas I’ve been resting and the muse is slowly coming back.
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rest is good and we all need an occasional break π even superman si π
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I know and that’s what I’m doing… I’m not even superman π
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oh shucks π¦
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I know… Mad eh? π
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nope just a bloke keen to prove he can keep up no matter what .. it’s in your testosterone!
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I’m not sure I have much of that left π
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lol would be amazing if you wrote it all out π
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Wrote all of what out?
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testosterone …
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Oh I see… I’m more awake now and with you ππ
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It’s the time of year–on top of Nano, it’s dark all the time and gloomy–we need the holidays to get caught up on our sleep and creativity!
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I think so too… it’s all coming back to me π
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Take a well deserved break… it’s holiday time afterall.
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It is and I hope you’ve had a peaceful time π
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You pushed yourself too hard during Nano. It’s OK to take a short break and recharge. Just make sure that it’s only a short break and ideally also doing things that will inspire creativity. π
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I think it will be short and I’ll be back into it soon π
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Donβt be so hard on yourself my friend is what you would tell me. Itβs normal what you are feeling and we all go through it. Some days the creativity just pours out of me and I canβt take notes fast enough before a new idea comes along, and others there is just nothing to say. Take a moment to be good to yourself and relax. You are amazing and needed.
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Thank you so much… I really appreciate that π
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You are most welcome π
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Good tips.
I’m surprised to hear you say that you are out of ideas. Last year’s NaNo instilled a routine in me. I’d itch to write every single day. I have not kept it up since for fear of burning out. However, not wanting to write after a longer session/break is not unusual. I have two recommendations. 1. Give it time. Maybe your brain just needs to BE. 2. Don’t give it too much time, because then it just might get lazy. Maybe try freewriting about anything and everything just to get used to writing again.
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I think I’m going to be trying some of this and definitely getting back into the writing saddle again as I feel I want to write again now,
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What you did up there is creative. To express yourself in that way is being creative. Give yourself a treat. Travel if you can…to a sunny country…some sun vitality can do magick. You will be fine. Take care. Hugs.
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I wish I could go to a sunny country… I have rested a bit and I’ll get there Gloria. Thanks for coming by π
Hugs
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It sounds to me like you just need some recovery time after NaNo. Writing can be a bit like exercise. After a really hard workout, you need to give your body some time to recover. Same for the brain after a writing marathon like NaNoWriMo.
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I think you’re right James π
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I take it your groove is coming back?
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I think so… Something is π
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Thing is Simon writing is one of those physical/mental/spiritual activities which use up the old Natural Resources, and from time to time they do run down a bit.
One should never fret if the Writing Processes get on hold for an interlude. Sometimes they all up there in the ‘nogging’ but the bit which turns thoughts to words is replenishing.
Go with the flow. If you need to rest, you rest.
If words buzz in the head, just put any old thing down on paper or laptop as a record of the ‘buzzing’ then you can get back to it later and translate.
Currently I have problem like this:
I can rattle away towards the end of the first draft of Vol III of my Fantasy (prior to The Big Re-Write) but when it comes to replying to blog posts or writing blog posts…..’stuck fer woids’
Seeing yours opened the lock gates a smidge.
Anyways, worry not all will become relatively effortless creative again.
If I don’t cross your orbit again before the 25th…..
Best wishes for Christmas
Roger
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I think you’re right here and it’s just now starting to come back π
I hope you had a good Christmas π
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Glad to read this good news Simon. It never truly goes away, just has to rest some times π΄….then comes back and…..π
Not too bad a Christmas. A quiet one. How was yours? π
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It’s had its moments but been quiet overall. Yes this has been a learning experience all round in coping with all of this and the recovery.
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Quiet is good.
Learning and coping, these are important factors in Life.
May we never stop at both.
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Sending hugs! I went through similar after blogtober so I know how it feels! Take a break and listen to some podcasts or read something usually helps! Iβll mail you a list of my fav podcasts if you want? Xxx
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Sure that would be great… I like a good podcast :-).
I hope Christmas was good xxx
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I’ve had internet issues so only seeing this now! I will mail you a list of podcasts soon! Did you have a good new year? xxxx
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Hi ya, yeah it’s been good thanks. How’s yours been apart from no internet? You ok? xxx
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Im good! Still got internet issues but it turns out that the internal aireal on my phone is fried π¦ , hopefully getting it sorted soon though! Im missing blogging and everything! xxx
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That’s not great, but at least it can be fixed and you’ll be back blogging soon I hope π
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π xxx
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Take a well deserved break! Your amazing in all that you do!! π
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Maybe bcz itβs Christmas π lol plus worked too much achieving word count during NaNo
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Yeah it’s all of that rolled into one big lump of stress… which is now over for another year.
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π noooo, letβs leave all troubles & obstacles in 2019!!
Luck & happiness in new 2020!! βοΈππΊπππ
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Lol… I hope so too. It can stay there! ππ
Best luck and wishes for you in 2020 Victoria π
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