On surly characters and reluctant writing

[katiefoolery]

Writing’s not always fun.

I know that sounds like a horrible thing to say, but it’s true.  Actually, it’s not that surprising.  When the term ‘glamorous occupations’ is brought up, one’s mind doesn’t automatically think ‘writer’.  You don’t suddenly picture a writer getting up early and sitting in front of their computer in rumpled pyjamas and bed-hair and think: yes!  I’d like that to be me!

I do dream about it, though.  Well, not the bit with the pyjamas and especially not the bit about getting up early.  The idea of just being a writer, though - that appeals to me.  In my ideal world, I’d rise at a reasonable time, shower, then somehow manage to make my hair look absolutely perfect through force of will alone.  Next would come a lovely breakfast (cooked by my Timothy). After lingering over this, I’d glide to my desk, wearing a stylish outfit that just shouted ‘I write for a living!’, and sit down to tap away at my computer in an incredibly elegant, not to mention efficient, manner.

There’d probably be a cat there, too.

And a window with a lovely view over some fields.

And a cuppa.  Definitely a cuppa.

I’m sorry to say, the reality is more like this: get home from work, make a hot milo, sit down at the computer with my top half decked out in work clothes and my bottom half enclosed in tracky-dacks... procrastinate... write.

Sometimes it’s great.  The words flow, the characters come to life and the story unfolds itself like unto a cat stretching after a long, restful nap.

And then there are the other times.  The times where I write about one word every ten minutes.  The times when the characters are surly and won’t say what I want them to say.  The times when I lose faith in the story altogether.

Those are the times when writing’s hard.

What I’d like to know is, how does everyone else keep up the momentum?  How do you remind yourself why you’re writing this story in the first place?

In short, when your writing’s down in the dumps, how do you cheer it up?

Comments

[katiefoolery.livejournal.com]

That's a good point. I often find that discussing my stories with my Timothy helps me to see them more clearly. And he frequently comes up with great ideas that I can steal!