Wednesday 9 January 2013

Writer's Sloth

No, not Writer's block, the subject of much debate between those who believe writers can be crippled by it and those who dismiss any such idea as foolish. Nor even Writer's procrastination which involves doing anything other than writing - even the ironing!
I'm talking about good old Sloth - identified as one of the Seven Deadly Sins no less, though it's hard to understand why.That delicious feeling of doing absolutely nothing,of just being: no writing, no blogging, no tweeting, not even reading. Sitting in the garden (weather permitting),or lounging beside the fire(much more likely), knowing a pile of tasks awaits and deciding to ignore each and every one of them gives a freedom all too rare in this busy age.
Then again, perhaps it's impossible to be entirely free unless you've trained yourself to empty your mind of all thoughts. If not, little fragments of dialogue and threads of stories creep in unbidden, nibble at the empty space until you can no longer resist.
Excuses for not writing come thick and fast, but in the end there is no option - you have to go back to writing before all those characters in your head drive you mad!
I've had enough of sloth (even with the real excuse of Christmas).
In a quiet corner of the garden,Spring is peeping through. Back to work!

13 comments:

  1. Ah yes that blissful sloth! I too enjoyed it over Christmas but have been brought back to earth by absence of Other Half and realise quite how many chores I have to do when he's not around.

    Here's to more sloth, I say. You describe it so well!

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  2. Ah, now I have a name for it! Shame it has to wear off in time - then, I fear, it will be back to procrastination.

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  3. I'm going to try hard..but not sure if I'll succeed!

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  4. I thought that was what I indulged in over Christmas, except that I enjoyed some really good reads and didn't feel guilty about not writing, or not reading the right stuff. Since I've been a writer I seem to have had leass and less time for "the pure pleasure" of reading. It's very difficult to empty ones mind completely even if the thoughts are not worth thinking, worse if futile worries creep in, so I'll settle for writers procrastination.

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  5. It's endemic among writers, I fear! Unless you're really in the groove, then it's impossible to stop writing, whatever the hour ...

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  6. Now you've put a label on it, Myra, I realise I've been avoiding giving it a name. I wish I could just enjoy it, but you've now shamed me into thinking I should at least update my own blog. Maybe tomorrow...

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  7. As you can see from my sudden leap into 'blog life' it's never too late!

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  8. Great post, Myra. I think a little bit of that delicious sloth you describe so well is esssential to our well being. That's my excuse and I'm sticking to it on occasion!

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    1. I suppose you could also call it thinking time!

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  9. We have to switch off sometimes or we'd be exausted - and it's productive to let ideas 'brew' for a while too - I'm sure slothing is far too strong a word for 'resting'! :)

    Janice xx (who only took her Christmas decorations down yesterday!)

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  10. I think it's good to take a break from everything for a while - I like to think that's when the subconscious is allowed time to formulate fantastic creative ideas that will pop up in the midst of busy times!

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  11. Trouble is,over the past couple of months I've found it hard to get back on track! Hopefully 2013 will inspire me.

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  12. Lovely blog, Myra. Late to the party, enjoyed the post. I believe that an occasional break from writing is essential to recharge the batteries and let new ideas develop. They'll get down on paper soon enough. Happy New Year!

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