This week we’re supposed to be talking about how writing affects our life and vice versa. This is a Tuffy for me because I haven’t been able to actually do any creative writing in so long. When I do have the opportunity to write, it definitely gives my life a regular dose of happy. I love when random plot ideas and scenes pop into my head at totally random times. I love when my characters stalk me and insist that I play with them. Writing makes me happy.
Then, of course, there are the times like the present, when I’m utterly and totally overwhelmed by life and my sucky job and have no time or energy to write outside of work. That’s when I can feel the creativity being slowly sucked from my veins and I start to feel like I have no talent and never have. When my inner critic takes over my head and makes me think all sorts of crappy self-defeating lies. But in times like these I’ll open up one of my old favorite fanfics and re-read it. I’ll get lost in my Happy Backstreet World and fall in love all over again with my characters and will even occasionally think to myself, “Man, this actually didn’t suck!” π So I start to regain some of my faith in myself and in my writing. I’ll want to write, and want to go back to the times when I wrote daily and absolutely loved it. When I’d post chapters to email lists and my old website and I’d get flooded with feedback that made me giggle and kept me writing. It was a good thing. Thinking about those days always makes me want to write again. I’ve been re-reading my old fanic Double Exposure lately and I can already feel those writing muscles starting to fire, slowly but surely. π
As usual though, I have case notes and a report to write for work right now so those come before my fictional friends. It takes a good five hours to write my two week reports on my clients on top of daily home visits, meetings, case notes, and travel. Some day I’ll have some free time again. π You can also read this post that talks about my relationship with writing. π
Now, let’s check out what the other girls have to say about their craft. π
Bronwyn | Jessica J | Jessica D | Kayleigh | Paige | Kris | Gwendolyn
March 25th, 2015 at 11:45 am
I really, really hope that you have more writing time, soon and tell that stupid inner critic to STFU!
LikeLike
March 25th, 2015 at 9:05 pm
Thanks, love. π
LikeLiked by 1 person
March 25th, 2015 at 12:04 pm
Don’t listen to that silly inner critic. Look at the flash fiction pieces you write. They’re amazing. You got this. Now, you just need to kill off everyone associated with work…they let you do that, right?
LikeLike
March 25th, 2015 at 9:06 pm
Aww… Thank you, darling!
LikeLike
March 25th, 2015 at 9:06 pm
And yeah, I don’t think I can kill people. LOL only in fiction. π
LikeLike
March 25th, 2015 at 12:38 pm
I hate the inner critic!! It’s so mean and destructive and it strikes at the worst time. Stupid thing. I have learned, through hard fought lessons, when it starts talking I can tell it to shut up and go away.
LikeLike
March 25th, 2015 at 9:07 pm
LOL if only it were that easy. :p
LikeLike
March 25th, 2015 at 12:44 pm
It makes me sad that you don’t have the time to write – though I totally understand that! – because the flash fiction peices I’ve read of yours are fantastic. You have some talent there, Kelly St. James. And you can tell the inner critic to piss off. And repeat it as many times as it takes. π
LikeLike
March 25th, 2015 at 9:07 pm
Aww, I love you Cussy! Thank you!
LikeLike
March 25th, 2015 at 3:31 pm
Yah! What everyone else said! I would really, really like to read a new book from you. Use Kris’ idea and kill off all those people who keep you too busy to write. *evil grin* Not to mention that inner critic. If I was inclined to write, I think I would have to kill off that character often. Evil creature that inner critic. Follow your passion!
LikeLike
March 25th, 2015 at 9:11 pm
You’re a doll, thank you! I’ll gladly share my old stuff if you want to read it. Like the fic that is related to the two flash pieces I’ve posted. It’s not totally polished because it’s old but it have it as a PDF. π It’s fanfic but my fanfic tends to be more like using the Backstreet Boys as my actors in my fic. π You don’t necessarily need to be a fan to understand what’s going on. If you’re interested, get me an email address and I’ll send it over. π
LikeLiked by 1 person
March 26th, 2015 at 3:27 pm
Thank you! I am very honored and would love to read your stuff. You can email me at pansyparsons@hotmail.com I look forward to reading.
LikeLike
April 8th, 2015 at 11:57 am
My damn WordPress app didn’t tell me this message was there! I’ll send it shortly!
LikeLike
March 25th, 2015 at 7:48 pm
My way of dealing with my inner critic is reading. I read a good book I think to myself, “I see what they did, the structure they used, I get it, I can do that!” When I read a bad book my inner critic shuts up completely with a good, “Whoa….I can totally write better than that. And this was published!”
LikeLike
March 25th, 2015 at 9:12 pm
LMAO I do that too. I always get inspired by books and movies. And sometimes by shitty books. Heck, I started writing fanfic after reading really bad fanfic and thinking, “I can do so much better.” LOL
LikeLike
May 24th, 2015 at 12:41 am
hey! you need to write more! You’re very talented, girl!! I’m a fan of your writing since the whole bsb fanfic thing. Love the double exposure one (was looking through the files to re-read, to tell you the truth lol)
LikeLiked by 1 person
May 24th, 2015 at 1:22 am
Thanks! DE still is a favorite of mine. π Do you need a PDF of it? If so, I’ll need an email address. π
LikeLike