Tuesday, January 02, 2007

Happy New Year

I've just been speaking to an old friend of mine on the phone and he asked how my writing was going. 'What writing?' I said. Because, frankly, friends, I haven't written anything worthwhile for about three months. 'Why not?' I hear you ask. (Well, actually, I don't hear you, because this is a computer and not a telephone, and therefore I can only imagine how you might respond to what I write here, but I think, in this instance, 'why not?' seems a fairly likely response.)

However, I digress (some things don't change). As I was saying, I haven't written anything worthwhile for three months. And from the state of this post, you can probably see why. I simply can't do it any more. The creative part of my brain seems to have shut down. It's as though my imgaination has packed its bags and gone away on holiday -without telling me or asking my permission. Or, maybe, it's packed its bags and left altogether never to return. Who knows? Certainly not me.

So, am I downcast about this? Well, honestly, yes, I have been and no doubt will be again. On the other hand, I have the good health and good fortune that enables me to enjoy life to the full. So that's what I intend to do. And who knows, maybe, just maybe, somewhere in the maelstrom of enjoyment, there may come a return to creative ramblings, or there may not.

And the point of this post? To wish you all the happiest of new years, whether your writing is going swimmingly, is merely treading water, or, like mine, has sunk to the bottom of the ocean without trace!

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10 Comments:

Blogger Unknown said...

Now just you wait a minute, Young Lady, we're not having any of this talk of giving up. You're allowed a short break, during which you can dig out all your old manuscripts and give them a thorough reading, and remember how ridiculously amusing you are. And then we'll have you back at the computer where you belong, thank you very much.

Oh. And happy new year to you too.

6:52 pm  
Blogger Annie said...

Well, I'm glad to see that at least there's nothing wrong with your imagination, India - I was once young, 'tis true, but a Lady? Never.

As for me being ridiculously amusing, that may be so, but I think it a little cruel of you to bring it to everyone else's attention - just because you're going to be interviewed tomorrow over at the Pink Heart Society's blog.

7:52 pm  
Anonymous Anonymous said...

Let's look at this on a point for point basis:

"...frankly, friends, I haven't written anything worthwhile for about three months...I simply can't do it any more. The creative part of my brain seems to have shut down. It's as though my imgaination has packed its bags and gone away on holiday -without telling me or asking my permission..."

Alright, Annie m'dear (since I can't say m'lady), what exactly is "worthwhile?" Because I'm thrilled to hear that you haven't written on account that I'm going through the self-same thing and it's nice to know I'm not the only one in this boat -- though we really should co-ordinate our rowing as we both seem to be heading in circles. Now, if by the sheer force of your words you can bring some solance to an unpublished and angst-ridden writer, who reguarly loses her chair and bed to her cat, and her food to her dogs, and not just bring it, but do so from so very far away, I think that's very worthwhile - especially since I know for a fact that I'm not the only one comforted, but that the oodles and doodles of people that read this blog will feel better for the sense of comradry.

Now, point two. Darling Annie, the creative part of your brain has not shut down. No woman who mourns her imagination packing its bags and going away on holiday should ever fear her imagination leaving her, quite the opposite. One day it will probably decide to head to some tropical location and then what are you going to do amidst all those half-naked, hard bodies of the lifeguards who are clamouring to give you CPR, though you aren't having any troubles breathing?

And lastly, ridiculously amusing people will always get their cake and eat it too. Ergo, you shall have good health, good fortune and more literary success than you know what to do with. India is right. You deserve a break. Be hedonistic. I saw those resolutions: eat, drink, and sleep. No where did it say anything about existential angst. So. Eat. Drink. Sleep. And between that and being grateful for your life, go to the kitchen, get the scissors, and then cut yourself some slack.

PS
India, good luck with the interview!

2:51 am  
Blogger Unknown said...

Well said, Brown. (And that post is a perfect example of why I'm struggling to believe that you've hit a rough spot in your writing too...)

9:26 am  
Blogger Susan Rix said...

I ditto both Brown and India's response to Brown about Brown.

Annie, you have described what I too go through and feel every other day, oops not day, I mean hour.

You cannot give up. It's 'normal' to need a creative rest from time to time, isn't it? (Please say yes) There are many times when 'resting' becomes a way of life because it's easier. It's about taking one tiny step at a time and slowly forcing the muse back again.

All three of you scribes are naturally talented writers - we can see this from your wonderful blog. And we don't want to lose ANY of you. So I'm putting my bossy head on and telling you, you CAN'T even *think* about giving up writing. If you don't rise from the bottom of the ocean, where does that leave me (trying to fight the current on my own?)??!!!!

Sue :-)

12:00 pm  
Blogger Eva said...

Annie, nobody said this writing schtick would be easy! As you know very well, I haven't written a single creative word (apart from here, of course) in well over three months. If you fade on me, I don't know what I'll do!

A rest is definitely in order, maybe even a shift to another genre or...heck, take your love of hiking and holiday-making to travel writing, anything that will suit your amazing sense of humour, which I enjoy and envy both. Please don't deprive us of it. Please, please, please.

(And if these little entreatries from your doting fans don't do the trick, schedule a trip across the Atlantic and hang out with me. We're sure to set each other straight again.)

2:29 pm  
Anonymous Anonymous said...

Lol. Sue and India, we're discussing Annie. What an inopportune time to hold up the mirror and force me to see my reflection! So, let's see: India has water wings, Eva hasn't written in three months, I haven't in a month, and Sue's fighting the tow. Annie, you may be splitting your time in the boat and the bottom of the ocean, but you're certainly not alone in the water! I think India has the right idea about all of us joining hands and floating. You know, if we all co-ordinate the kicks and treading water, we may actually be able to get a second career as synchronized swimmers.

2:39 pm  
Blogger Unknown said...

Ooohh, excellent idea Brown. Pass me that electric blue waterproof mascara please...

2:43 pm  
Blogger Annie said...

Oh, God, why are you all so nice? Just when I thought I was going to take a break from writing, you all rally round and make me want to try even harder to succeed.

You know, I doubted the wisdom of actually admitting my failings on the blog because I didn't want to sound as though I was looking for sympathy (my hubby is frequently reminding me that I can find it in the dictionary between 'sh..' and syph....' so I tend not to take that route if I can avoid it). However, having seen your comments, I've decided it's been a bit like being gay and coming out of the closet - you find you are not alone - and that is most definitely comforting.

I really want to respond to all your comments in full but am about to set off southwards to visit some sickly relatives and, therefore, regretably, don't have the time to do so. However,when I return, I will respond, in full. In the meantime, there's nothing more I can say but 'thank you'.

Now I'm off to see what kind of interview India has given over at PHS! And it had better be good!

7:21 pm  
Blogger Annie said...

I've now had time to digest your comments and consider my response, which is as follows:

First of all I will take a well-deserved rest (Sue), during which time I will re-read all my old and wonderfully witty manuscripts (India). When I am fully rested and have stopped laughing, I will board my boat (Brown) and row across the Atlantic (Eva) to see Eva and Brown, who will then swim back across the Ocean with me, meeting up with Sue and India en-route, when we will all don electric-blue waterproof mascara, hold hands and synch or swim.

A few months' later I will write a best-selling, humorous travelogue based on the above adventure and become fabulously wealthy and famous.

(By the way, did I mention that my imagination has returned from its holiday?)

5:57 pm  

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