(First: It’s sad that I must actually say this, but YES – I do know that writersphere is not a word.)
Do you ever feel like things are not as they should be?
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And you find yourself having trouble deciphering the signs?
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You see them. Or hear them. But they simply aren’t making sense to you?
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Or maybe they leave you confused and bewildered.
![](http://www.sodahead.com/fun/post-your-funny-signs/question-1555887/?link=ibaf&imgurl=http://painstaking.net/wp-content/plugins/wp-o-matic/cache/3f80f_epic-fail-forest-sign-fail.jpg&q=Humor"><img src="http://painstaking.net/wp-content/plugins/wp-o-matic/cache/3f80f_epic-fail-forest-sign-fail.jpg"></a> "3f80f_epic-fail-forest-sign-fail")
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I currently stand at a crossroads.
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Shall I continue moving forward as I have been?
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And fight through the haze of tangled thoughts that currently invade my process and slow my progress…
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Or do I pause, take a step back and return to the beginning.
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In so doing, I will hash out the edits I want to make and reacquaint myself with how it all began?
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Which sign am I to follow? Will I know if I am picking the right one?
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For me, I’m referring to working on my book. But for you it may be different. What projects or situations do you have going in your life that leave you feeling this way? Is there an easy answer, or must you find the quiet calm to hear what your inner voice is trying to tell you?
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Let that quiet calm be a part of your daily life.
Give your inner voice room to speak, and you – time to listen.
I take comfort in the knowledge that I will find my answer. Should you ever find yourself in the same position I want you to find yours as well. Never close yourself off to possibilities but keep your options and mind open to anything that might come your way. You never know which “thing” might be your gold.
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Well, I’m up at 2am trying to find that inner peace. I need to figure out which sign to follow. Loved the post and the pictures, Debra.
Hope you got them all figured out, Kelly. You need to back on track with your mojo. 🙂
Gosh yes, I don’t know which end is up anymore. I do try and make quiet time about every day, but my inner voices sound like Charlie Brown’s teacher. However, I keep telling myself “and this too shall pass.” It helps. You’ll find the right direction, too. May take a little time, but one day soon when we shake our magic 8 balls, they’ll say ‘Yes!’ instead of ‘Reply hazy, try again’.
Ha, ha! My outer voice sounds like that sometimes! 😀 But after 30 minutes of an non-stop tutorial on minecraft from one kid while the other is wailing that she never gets to talk – brain liquefaction. LOL
I’m currently in the process of trying to move my entire life to the other side of the country, so I really connected with what your post today. I have all these tiny steps to take in order to get to the big steps I will need to take to move. It’s pretty overwhelming!
Moving is never easy. I wish you the best of luck with that. Last time we went through that I promised myself we would never do it again. I’m sure at some point I’ll forget that promise and we’ll go through the process yet again. But man, major stress – moving. Good luck Emma.
When I have times like this, I have to walk away from the work for a few hours or even days. Sometimes I talk through it woth a writer friend or colleague (same thing happens at day job) and in doing so find the answer. Good luck finding yours!
Thank you Jennette. I have keeping my distance for a while now. Started pushing forward with Row80, but something doesn’t feel right. So I’ve had to stop and question what is off. I think it’s time to investigate further. I know you’re right and the answer will eventually present itself.
You’re so right about trusting the path and listening to our inner-voices. Only when I don’t listen or hesitate do I hit road blocks.
Recently, my gut told me that the reasons I wasn’t hip on one of my WIPs would become clear once I got feedback from my agent on another project. My gut turned out to be right and all signs of confusion dissipated—whew!. Well worth the discomfort I had to trudge my way through beforehand… I know clarity will find you soon, Debra! This post alone might bring some guidance. Thanks for the gorgeous inspiration!
No, thank you. I think you have helped me listen to what I already knew. It’s time to go back to the beginning. Get the red pen ready because changes are going to happen!
I am always shocked when I find out that I totally misread a situation. I don’t know why I have such high expectations of myself. Hahaha!
Great post!
We always expect more from ourselves than others do, right? But I think that’s a good thing. It challenges us, and gets us striving for more every day. We simply need to be accepting of what we do accomplish and not condemn ourselves for coming up short.
Lovely. You should come to Tai Chi with me. It’s a great way to get centered and “quiet”. Cheers hon!
Sounds lovely Christine! Just need someone to watch the kiddos. I always do my exercise at home for that reason.
Love that! I am trying to sort out things with my WIP but feel like I can’t see the forest for the trees but like you, I trust I’ll sort it out with time. 🙂
I trust you will too Natalie. I had a chapter do that to me in my first book. I skipped it and was several chapters beyond when it finally filled itself in. But when it did, it was fantastic! Generally the whole J.K. Rowlings method of writing all over the storyline doesn’t work for me, but sometimes I have to do.
I identify so much with this creative post, Debra! I was looking at the pictures above and nodding.
I just updated my ROW80 goals because I was disoriented, and not only regarding the WIP.
But it’s okay. You can’t find yourself unless you’re lost, right? Same thing with the WIP, I guess.
That’s right Fabio. I saw something went out regarding your Row80 and I marked down to go check it out. Sorry you are feeling lost my friend. I guess we all find ourselves there at one time or another. I read on someone’s post that maybe we do this to ourselves on a subconscious level because we fear finishing or succeeding. I don’t think that’s the case here. I have a theory, but I’m not going to go into it. I think finding what igniting that original spark, that flame, might help you as it will me. Keep looking Fabio, you’ll find it. We’ll be here for you.
Thank you for the support and for the lovely, kind words, Debra. You are beyond amazing.
Aw, goodness. You’re making me blush. But thank you, Fabio. You are always welcome. BTW, I meant ignites and not igniting. Grr.
Great post Debra–spoke to me in many ways 🙂
Thank you Coleen. I can’t tell you how pleased I am to hear you say that. 🙂
Just popped over from Twitter to say hello. Your photo collection illustrates a writer’s dilemma very well! I tend to be a “seat of my pants” writer which can lead me to write myself into places I didn’t intend to be. Sometimes that’s a good thing. Other times… well, let’s just say getting lost in a quagmire is no fun. 🙂
Welcome Careann! I often tend to write like that as well – a panster. But I have found that it always works out for me in the end, as if the story is already written and I am merely the instrument getting it on paper. It’s simply understanding the process sometimes. Right? Thanks so much for stopping in. 🙂
Debra
When I feel like this, and I do after a creative jag, then I step away. Do something comletely different that gives me peace, usually a hike in the hills near my home. Put the work away for a few days/weeks, let it settle in your brain and the answer will come. It always does.
Great post!
Oh, I’ve done that Christine. For longer than I cared to. Maybe that’s part of the problem. Another part of the problem could be a character decided it was time to join the party. I think I need to take some time getting to know this character a little better. That may be why I need to go backwards rather than forward right now.
Who says ‘writersphere’ isn’t a word?!? Aren’t new words created everyday? You’ve just made your own and I love it.
Those signs up there made me carsick and I’m never carsick. Yikes. Sorry you’re discombobulated right now, but I think you know the answer and have to trust yourself to move forward with whatever decision you make. It will be the right one. I find that when this happens to me, I journal it out and through just writing whatever is in my mind, I see what couldn’t be seen before.
Does the story absolutely need the character? If not, ditch the party crasher.
Hehe. Thank you Tameri! What? Carsick? They made me laugh, they’re so ridiculous. LOL Thank you for your kind words. They mean a lot to me. I think I’m hitting the block because I’m supposed to go back right now. There’s always a reason.
This character was always planned. Not a party crasher. But maybe you’re partly right, maybe the timing is off. I need to think about that. Darn. Wish you lived closer. We could meet for coffee and throw it all out on the table. 😀
My inner peace is usually close by but, like everyone else, I have “those” days when it feels like no matter what I do, I end up going in a wrong direction. But I’ve learned to stop, breathe and wait for the weird time to pass. Clearing my mind does wonders to my inner peace.
Yes, I have been paused for a while now. I started moving forward, but something is telling me it’s not time yet. I think I should listen. Thank you for your excellent insights Angela.
I’ve been struggling with this too on my WIP. What to write, when, how much time to spend on it, when it’s a good time to move on…I haven’t found that inner place yet. But your post helped. Thanks!
I’m so glad it could help Kecia! Just putting it together helped me. I guess we all find ourselves there at one point or another. Good luck on your WIP and thank you for stopping by.
Great post & pics, Deb! Gotta love those signs — are they real? Sometimes I truly wonder: WHAT are these people thinking??
I really don’t know if they are all real. I’m not a great one at telling a fabulous fake from the real thing. Some of them seem a little outrageous. So who knows. And I often find myself wondering what people are thinking, don’t you? Thanks Diane for the compliment.
Loved this! I find when I’m stuck on the WIP, and don’t know which way to go, I stop. I step back and let the story sink into my subconscious. I write on other projects, and I avoid opening the WIP document. After a few days of ignoring the WIP, I invite the characters out to play in my head while I’m doing rote tasks, like house work. While washing the dishes, I’ll ask them, ‘where is this going?’ and let the characters tell their story. It’s just that sometimes it can take a while for them to answer.
Yes! They are taking too long to start talking back. I think I am not getting long enough stretching with my writing anymore. I am interrupted too much and that is breaking the flow with my characters and the story. Know what I mean? It’s very frustrating.
We must be all on the same wavelength… sigh…. great post, time to go untangle my words and pick out the right ones!
Is it something in the air? Or the cyber lines? LOL I’ll keep my fingers crossed for you Rachel that you manage to get your words all untangled. It’s not a fun place to be.
I’m definitely feeling lost, confused, and out of my mind in regards to the blogosphere. I want to keep up with so many and tweet everybody, and Triberr’s been great for putting them all in one place, but now I’m drowning in them. I need to find a better answer than what I’ve been doing. Very soothing music, btw. 🙂
Drowning in blogs can happen so easily. Especially if you are trying to extend your reach. I don’t think you can expect yourself to reach all of them every time. Maybe put them on a rotation? But you are already producing amazing books! I need to get to that point. I’m glad you found the music soothing. Remember, we each need to start with taking care of ourselves first. Maybe you should start your morning with a short meditation or a few quiet minutes over tea before you begin the crazy.
My current routine is to drink coffee and tweet as many blogs as I can. But it’s made me almost late to work several times. I like the idea of drinking coffee to some nice music instead. The rotation is a good idea. Kristen recently told me WANA means community, not an Army of One Angela. I put that on a sticky note. 😉
Btw, very nice new header! 🙂
Oh yeah, I can see that. I sit down thinking I’ll only spend an hour – three hours later… right. Either it goes too quickly or I move too slowly. I don’t know which. The meditation bit was recommending in the busy mothers course I took. It was the only thing they discussed that I wasn’t already doing.
Kristen’s rights. It is a community. What you and I need to remember is that some people are just better at the multi-tasking and juggling. They will always be better at doing more and that’s okay. We need to accept who we are and work out what works best for us. I know my kids take more work than some so I will spend more time focused there and get less time to focus here. That’s just the way it is. Everyone is different. We shouldn’t be trying to “keep up with the Jones” here. How I hate that. 😉
Another wonderful post Debra. Please forgive me for being late to this party. Let me know if I can help you hash out what direction to go in. I’m there for you, you know that.
Everyone is re-evaluating their goals right now since we all shot out of the class with Kristen and have been blogging our brains out. Don’t fry yourself. Please, you are too good of a writer!
So I’m here. 🙂
There is nothing to forgive Karen. As you know, I am late to most of the parties here in the blogosphere. Thank you so much for your kind offer. I would really enjoy kicking back over a cup of joe with you and chatting it all up. What a blast we would have!
No worries, I have no intention of frying myself. I was thinking about something Emma said on FB earlier today and I’m thinking about making adjustments to my blogging schedule. Allow more time for my WIP. You know how it is, you’ve already cut back. I find blogging much more challenging that story writing. They are so different – to me, anyway.
*hugs*
I hit a wall on my WIP. I let it sit for a few weeks and while on vacation the next scene came to me. apparently time away works.
Sometimes it’s the quality of the time as well. You are getting some great quality time. Slightly different from doing homework with the kiddos daily. LOL So awesome that wall crumbled and your story unfolded for you. Now you can start writing your hands weary when you get back. Or are you back?
Debra,
I came across this page of yours while I was searching for a image via google for a blog post of mine. The words mentioned here just moved me in more than one way 🙂 Right now, I am going through a divorce & I have a 6yr old daughter. I am unable to express what these images & words have done to me. Past few weeks were extremely tiresome. Your messages just made me take that long deep breath … 🙂
Thank you 🙂
laks
Laks ~ I am so very touched that my post was able to help you in some way. I understand what you are going through is not easy by any stretch of the imagination. My heart goes out to you, and if I could lend you my strength I would. I understand tired, boy do I. Remember, someday this will all be behind you and you’ll be in a better place, mentally and emotionally. Take comfort in that. Bless you and your little one.
🙂 :-*