Writing is Work
It’s only day three and I don’t feel like writing today. I’d rather sit here and read through old journals “for inspo,” or Instagram, or Bumble profiles (which gives me even more anxiety) than write something new of my own. This has been a problem of mine as a writer - I would only write when I felt “inspired.” In which case, the words would practically write themselves and just pour out of me. However, I think this is just another example of how I’m a lazy writer. I’ve read several books from professional writers about their creative process, and something that has always been said is that writing is hard work. The words don’t always just come to you, and this is really resonating with me right now.
I guess I always thought that writing was just an outlet for my emotions, so if nothing was particularly aching to get out, then it wasn’t worth putting out there at all. The last thing I wrote, before this challenge, was my abortion story, which I posted over a year ago. I was especially compelled to write and share that story (even though the actual event had taken place years earlier), because of the presidential election taking place at the time, which really challenged me on the subject. I was angry and needed to let that anger out. I think writing that story was emotionally draining though, and I hadn’t posted since. I also wasn’t sure what else in my life was so worth sharing after revealing such a private part of me with the world. And while I think that writing can be good for emotional release and processing, it is an art form that needs to be practiced and developed itself. Writing doesn’t work for me, I have to work for it too if I want to improve. And I guess that goes for most things in life - jobs, relationships, fitness, skills, passions. . . Things don’t always come so easy.
One of my favorite quotes is from Pablo Picasso where he says, “Inspiration exists, but it has to find us working.” So, I guess today, I’m not feeling super inspired, but it doesn’t mean I’m allowed to quit working towards getting better at my craft. I apologize if this post isn’t particularly inspiring to anyone else reading either, but not to worry, I’ll keep working at it. :)