I’ve been struggling with post motivation the last couple weeks. It’s been a hell of a ride for the last few months and I’m glad it’s almost over.
A few weeks back I volunteered for a virtual writing conference with NH Writer’s Project. The workshops are amazing and I always learn so much – if you ever have a chance to attend I strongly recommend it.
Over the last year or so I’ve been in a real funk and I’ve found it really tough to shake it off. Having something to do with the art so ingrained in me was really nice, and being able to pitch in and meet some cool people was awesome.
While I was helping one of our speakers – Margaret Porter – prepare for her workshop. It was the first of the day and I was admittedly a little nervous, but Margaret was really nice and easy to get along with. We were making small talk before the workshop and she asked me what genres I write. I think I gushed for a few minutes, then we got the workshop rolling.
I kept my head in the game but the whole time I sat there misty eyed. Someone new asked me what I write. Nobody’s asked me this in so long. It felt so good to have the validation again. Maybe I really am an artist.
We had a break, and a little later in the day I got to sit in on a panel discussion. There was a lot of great advice shared in that workshop, and one member of the panel noted she worked in corporate marketing (I wish I took notes, I can’t remember which presenter it was and if I can find it I’ll update this post). This caught my attention because so do I.
Someone in the audience asked her how much she wrote, having a day job and all. Her answer blew my mind.
“As much as I can. But not as much as I’d like.”
My lower jaw must have hit my desk.
Here I am, sitting alone at my desk and there’s this woman on the other end of this Zoom session, she works in the same field as I do and she’s published. She gets things done and she feels the same way I do.
I know the advice that writers need to write, that’s true. But her message was so bluntly honest it really resonated with me.
I’ve been through dry spells before, times when I honestly think it’s time to hang up the keyboard and say maybe I’ve had my fun. Then I get a little nugget of wisdom like this and it puts everything in perspective.
Yes, I need to try to write more. But I don’t need to apologize when life calls me away. And neither do you.