I am in the process of finishing my first novel. I have rough drafts for 20 different novels, however this is the first one that I have actually sent off to an editor. We have been working together for the past 6 months, off and on when we can find the time. The novel has improved drastically, however, I just found out that it needs to have 42,000 more words before a publisher will even look at it.
Before I got pregnant, I LOVED to write. I would write every chance I got. I was a member of an online writing community, and always had at least 3 rough draft novels going at once (Submitting a new chapter to each, once a week). When I got pregnant, I still wrote. However, it wasn't as often and I didn't enjoy it as much. I mainly just wrote to keep my fans happy. Now that my son has been born, I have stopped submitting stuff to the website and am working on just the 1 novel. I have to force myself to write. I have so many ideas floating around in my head, but when I go to type them up I just don't enjoy it.
So, all you fellow writing mamas... If you were ever in my position, how did you get the inspiration back?
You ladies are probably right... It is going to take time. Unfortunately for myself, I have no patience when it comes to waiting for things.
And to answer the question of old my son is, he is 3 months. He was born on October 29, 2010.
For me, it took about a year to have the same desire to write as I did pre-baby. Before that, I'd feel like I should; now I feel like I want to:)
Probably not the answer you want! I hope it's nice to know that it does come back, at least. For awhile, I just felt like a different person.
I'm not a writer by all means, but I do love to create short stories. Your mind is exhausted and so is your body from having a baby and it takes time for everything to get back into order. Not being sure how old your baby is, but perhaps it's just a little PPD (post partum depression). This can last up to a year after your baby is born.
Or, perhaps your mind is telling you to take a break so that it can refresh and may be it needs a bit longer than you would like.
Take the days of your child growing as an inspiration to write; write about the first touches, the first taste of something other than milk, the first time he/she puts his/her toes in the grass etc.
I use to play piano and guitar and paint before my boys were born. I've lost interest. Or may be the better word for this is the 'modivation' to pick them back up. It's hard because being a parent takes so much out of you physically and mentally.
I hope you find your modivation and inspiration soon. :-) Hope this helped too. Take care.
How old is your baby? I felt like my brain didn't work properly until my son was about 1 (that's about when I stopped breastfeeding too). If you're not getting a full night sleep that makes it difficult too. Once my son was about a year old everything just fell back into place for me and I was able to start writing grants again and eventually finished my dissertation. Time is all it took for me; be patient with yourself--I wish I could go back in time and not worry so much about it all--it does come back.
your priorities change after having a child, they may come back with the same gusto in time but you can not force it. Your mind, and yes your creative mind as well, is in another place you may just have to jot down the ideas as needed but not WORK on them until you are not so focused on baby. It's ok, your passions come back to you or changed all together!
Your body and mind are not in "you" mode, they are in "baby" mode. It's normal and natural. Your body has been through so many changes in order to build that baby you now cuddle, and it now has to recover. Your mind is one track right now so that you can protect and provide for you baby first and foremost. You will get your old self back as time goes by. It is possible that your preferences might change, but if you love writing as much as it looks like, you will get your drive and motivation back after a while.
you can't force the muse. try sitting quietly and letting your characters come to you, no writing. pick one and just let the conversation happen. next time do it with a pad and paper, and do stream of consciousness communicating. really let the character do the talking, all you have to do is stay out of the way. don't edit as you go. just let it flow out of the tip of your pen.
before long you'll be back at the keyboard.
:) khairetesuz
My husband and I adopted twins who are blind, but more overwhelming, autistic five and a half years ago. I used to love writing poetry and quite frequently I find myself frustrated because of writer's block. I have the desire to write, but not topic wishes to be written on. As you say, the lack of inspiration is upon me.
I agree with the other moms, that it is stress that prohibits the pleasure. I, too, wish I could gain it back.
my son writes and only writes when he feels like it if he tries when he doesnt feel like it he brain farts. all of a sudden it pops into his head and he is on a roll. why not record it on tape or something and have someone else type it. and send me a pm telling me what web site so i can send my son to it
