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What To Do When Hitting the Wall

By on 04/28/2009 in Catherine Hughes - Top Blog Dream

Last week I wrote about what a difficult week I had and that I was not able to write.

Surprisingly, I did manage to write a couple of days but that is all I did.  Today I sent an e-mail to Catherine discussing my contribution, or lack there of, to this blog and to the overall 8 Women Dream group.  In her response she suggested that I include the e-mail in my post today thinking that many people may be experiencing some of the same difficulties in their blogs.

The e-mail is below along with the first paragraph of her response.  We have our next meeting this weekend where we will be discussing ways to improve our writing and maybe motivation.

AN EMAIL-
I have been wanting to talk to you but don’t really know how to get started.  Been thinking about it a few weeks so I am just going to go……  I don’t feel like I am really contributing anything to this group which in turn makes me feel like I am holding you back.  I seem to be stuck in this place in my life/head where I think I know where I want to go but I can’t get motivated to do anything to get there.  I’d like to say I am trying but every night when I go to bed I tell myself I will make the effort tomorrow and then it’s the next night and there I am again.  I have had some days where I have written but not enough to say I am really making any progress.  I know the problem may be related to my thyroid meds or any number of other things in my life but it doesn’t change the part where I am holding you back.

I am not writing this to say I want out exactly.  It’s more about me recognizing that am not doing anything to help the project and that I don’t want to have a negative effect.  I guess what I am trying to say is if you want me out just say the word, no hard feelings or anything.

THE RESPONSE-
Honey everyone is at this point because we haven’t had a meeting in FOREVER and it is Newtons Law that every single one of us will hit critical mass (the wall) at some point. It is discussed at every single lecture I attend.

Still reflective,

Dawnda

(Dawnda’s dream was to get some piece of writing published in 2009.  She left the 8 Women Dream group in 2009 to focus on finding full-time employment.  We think those inner voices telling her to quit finally got to her. We consider her an accomplished dreamer as she published her thoughts here and began her own scary stories blog at www.killeryarns.com)

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  • http://205.186.142.132 Danelle

    One of the reasons I joined this group is because I get to the exact space you’re in right now frequently. I so know exactly how you feel. Hang in there. We’ll have our meeting soon and I really think that will make it better.

    And, as Catherine said, look at all the comments you got!!!

  • Catherine

    Well my dear, you seemed to have opened the comment flood=gate… congratulations.

  • http://www.diaryofaheretic.com Kathleen Maher

    The riding boots symbol is especially apt to my long, long experience writing fiction, which is very scarcely published but posted on my blog. It’s like riding an invisible horse: you have to lead and follow at the same time. Pay attention to the huge beast beneath you and how it’s reacting as well as how you’re riding, how fast or smoothly, and whether you’re taking risks–and RESTS–or not.
    You’re the rider or writer and you control the show–but only to an extent. Pushing forward when your muse is exhausted, overheated, or even injured (!) could leave you with a sick beast that needs an indecipherable recovery phase.
    I know the feeling of obligation. I write for a group blog myself in addition to my own blog. And, I’m going through a similar thing, kinda. My commitment was (is) to write a very short story once a week, under 500 words. I gave myself the assignment and it has proven a fantastic exercise. Every word counts; the idea has to reveal a full story, with character and color, conflict and resolution. Every time I did it–for better or worse–felt as if I had jumped the highest hurdle I’d ever faced.
    But right now I don’t feel up to it. All the ideas I get either run too close to ones I’ve already used or don’t fit the format.
    Every writer hits walls. And you do whatever you have to do. Be patient. Pray. Be attentive to your horse and yourself. If the weather’s bad or the ground muddy, you may have to wait. Sometimes I’ve found that the waiting phase, while maddening, leads to my best work (to the extent I or anyone can judge it.)
    During the rebounding from the wall phase, I start dreaming about what I might need to write. The pressure builds until I do NEED to write it. And then it feels fantastic.
    Meanwhile, write letters, emails, put notes on Facebook. I don’t Twitter since I spend too much time on the computer already. But it might feel right to you now–just put a few words out there. Noodle around however suits you, but keep the words–a few at least–flowing.
    Your next piece, I’m willing to bet, when it finally comes together, will be your best yet. Waiting and praying is the quiet, invisible aspect of writing–you need to sleep and dream if you’re aiming for art rather than news. And no matter how many times I go through it, I still panic. I still think this time I’m done forever.
    But I wait and concentrate and back off and concentrate again. It comes. I’ll be looking for what you write next. So if nothing else, your predicament has given you one more reader.

  • http://www.mikeslife.org Mike CJ

    First of all thanks so much for the link to my post.

    What isn’t clear is that you’re talking about writer’s block here – are you? Other commentators have assumed that. But I’m not reading that in your email. If it is writer’s block then there are a number of options to free that up.

    But I’m wondering if it’s more that you are finding it hard to sit down and start work. Are you finding other things to do instead of starting to write? If that’s the case then it’s pure motivation you need. What were the reasons you became involved in this project? Are they still valid for you now? If they are revisit them, and set yourself some realistic objectives based on them. Start small – maybe even promise yourself half an hour a day, but make it at the start of the day and reward yourself with morning coffee and a donut. If you achieve your objective at the start of the day, you’ll spend the rest of it feeling good about yourself, and that will help you to perhaps do a little more the following week.

  • http://www.open-secrets.com john harper

    Once I pondered the possibility of blogger’s block. So, I went to Google and just danced my fingers on the keyboard and hit search. Then I clicked on ‘images” Then I picked an image that appealed to me and started writing, I’ve never had to use that strategy as I find life to be full of good content.

    Here’s a site that you may want to contribute to: http://www.singlewomanhomeowner.com/blog/

  • http://chickensoupforyoursoul.blogspot.com/ stormwhistle

    Hi dear, I fully agree idea generation can be one tough nut. Every blogger has their day, when they hit the wall and as a matter of fact it is good to know that we had hit the wall, or else we will be sinking without any clue what has happened. I suggest you trying “Google Alert” as it may give you more ideas for your blog post. Happy Blogging

  • http://fromthesaltycity.blogspot.com/ BobG

    It’s not unusual to get writer’s block when blogging; I have run into the problem myself quite a bit. There are times where I have gone a couple of weeks without a post, yet I seem to have no problem commenting at other blogs. For me, the hardest part seems to be starting a post; once I can do that, and get some inertia, then I seem to be able to write. From reading this blog, I know that you ladies have quite a bit to write about and contribute, so I hope you don’t stop just because your muse has gone on an extended vacation. Mine has been gone so long I think she changed her name and moved to another state. I’m certain you will get over the dry spell sooner or later, so don’t give up.

  • http://www.themomcrowd.com Amanda @ The Mom Crowd

    I would check out Problogger.net. He is currently doing a series on 31 days to build a better blog. One of the tasks was on getting post ideas: http://www.problogger.net/archives/2009/04/16/come-up-with-10-post-ideas/

    There is some great information there!
    ~Amanda

  • Catherine, the writer and motivator

    And by the way how many emails have you sent me, to others, posted on our comments to keep us going? How often at the meetings do you offer ideas instead of complaints? Hell I will never forget that you brought sand to our dream board meeting. You never say anything negative, you wrote a friggin story on a paper place holder in a restuarant.

    There’s more. I’ll tell you Sunday, and no I do not want you to leave.

    Ever.

    OK, you can leave someday, just not now.

    Please.

  • Catherine

    Well there is Mike who has a post labeled “Hitting The Blogging Wall” at http://www.mikeslife.org/content/hitting-blogging-wall and there’s stuff on blog burn out at http://www.blog-maniac.com/blog-burnout.htm and http://asdmommy.wordpress.com/2009/02/17/blog-burnout/

    but did you know this post of yours hit the top of page two of Google – http://www.google.com/search?q=hitting+critical+mass+with+a+dream&hl=en&rls=com.microsoft:en-us:IE-SearchBox&rlz=1I7SNYI&start=10&sa=N for “hitting critical mass with a dream” within two hours?

    There is always more to us than the sum total of our thoughts. There are the people that love and support you. There is that lovely Grand daughter of yours and a rich life spent with a husband you love.

    I LOVE this post and the honesty it exudes. I bet there are so many out there who feel this way about job hunting, raising kids, working a crummy job, caring for an aging parent, caring for a sick spouse, going back to college after 40 … so many who will relate to this post.

    Maybe even others on our team…

    Hugs,
    Cath