Sometimes life goes off the rails. Getting back on track takes work.
Over the past 2 weeks, for no discernable reason, I’ve been less diligent about certain aspects of my work.
When it comes to nonfiction and writing articles daily – I’m there. And I feel much of my work has been particularly strong lately.
I am editing at least one chapter a day. In the next week or so, I’ll have the book I’m publishing in April back from the editor for me to go over.
But fiction writing has been taking a backseat to other things. Some of those things serve my life in other ways. But some of it is just procrastination and distraction.
Life can and will go off the rails. And when it does, you must work on getting back on track. Sometimes that’s easy. And other times not so much.
Everyone I know experiences this from time to time. Sometimes it’s due to an internal matter – often, it’s a result of outside influences. Knowing the source can help you address it and reclaim your momentum if it’s slipped.
When this is repetitive it might be a good idea to analyze it to figure out the how and why.
How did I get derailed?
This is my current experience.
With the release of my newest book last week, I was focused on updating my website, getting ads online, and a few other matters related to expanding and growing my brand. This new series, Forgotten Fodder, I think has a ton of potential.
On top of that, I signed up for an online course for certain licensing with the state that will open another door to earn more money. This, though, has created a bit of an internal struggle. Is this me hedging my bet on succeeding with my writing – or is this me being wise in creating another path to make my living?
That question has caused me to delay giving the attention to this than I should. And since I have a patron invested in this – I need to give it more attention.
Then, there was the project I had begun – a new sci-fi idea – Where I hit a wall. That caused me to pause and put less time into writing fiction. Another idea struck, I began to lay it out – but that has also caused me to over-consider my what and how.
Part of this stems from attempting to recreate the approach I took to Forgotten Fodder. I want to build a plan for these new ideas and broader plot, rather than my usual practice of writing by the seat-of-my-pants, banging out a story with no cohesive plot – at least initially. I think that way lies greater success.
And on that front, I am working on writing the 4th Forgotten Fodder novel.
The challenges presented by the two new ideas I’m plotting are causing me to get distracted. Before I know it, my day goes off the rails – and I’m uncertain how to get back on track.
Avoiding analysis paralysis
So, having laid that all out for you, I need to look it over. That way, unfortunately, may lie madness. Which I am aware of – and thus empowered to avoid.
What does that even mean? I could look into how I got derailed ad nausea – and in the process derail myself further. Or I can look at it, breathe through it, and choose to take action and move on.
For example, the distractions I choose. I used to leave Facebook open on my browser. I’d go online, and fall down the rabbit hole of posts, memes, complaints, and everything else. Before long, an inordinate amount of time passed, and I had nothing to show for it.
I closed the tab, and now strive to not go onto Facebook more than 5 minutes at a time. But I stopped timing it – and maybe should do that again.
Also – when my thoughts turn to going online, I need to be mindful. How long ago did I last check? If it was less than an hour ago – refocus and put that energy elsewhere.
As mentioned before, I keep an Excel spreadsheet with daily goals to be checked off, open on my desktop. I’m finding that the morning goals are done 97% of the time before noon. Of the afternoon goals, editing is the one best kept. The rest? That’s where I need to shift my focus.
Perhaps I need to flip some of these around. Or I need to consider removing the split and just leaving it as a whole-day, to-do list.
The important thing is to act. If I analyze this too deeply – I’d paralyze myself further. I won’t get back on track – I’ll stand in the wreckage of my derailed train. That serves nobody.
Back on track might change the track
It is important sometimes to recognize that when you get derailed, getting back on track might not resemble what it was before.
For example, the aforementioned story idea I was working on. After several days metaphorically beating my head against a wall to overcome it, I set it aside. Another new idea came to me, and I gave it my attention instead.
Back on track – but the track has changed. And that’s perfectly okay. Sometimes you need to alter the track because your path has changed.
Living in this quick-fix, instant gratification society, the work that can go into getting back on track – once you’ve been derailed – can look mighty overwhelming. The truth is it will probably offer you a challenge. But that doesn’t mean you should ignore it or change direction entirely. You might need to take a deep breath, let it go, and buckle down and get to work.
I see how I have been derailed. And these are the options before me to deal with that:
- I could analyze it to death and further paralyze myself
- Jump to a different track and start anew
- Place blame, get frustrated, and take-up residence in the wreckage of the derailment
- Breathe. Pause and reflect. Get back on track
The important consideration here is that there ARE options. But I alone get to choose them. Or not. The above five options aren’t the only options – just the most obvious.
Mindfulness allows me to focus on my inner being – mindset/headspace/psyche self – and take control over that to get back on track or choose something else. But I am the only one capable of making any choices and acting on them accordingly.
Sometimes life goes off the rails. Getting back on track takes work. Live life or let life live you.
Deep breath. I have a train to conduct here.
Thank you for being part of my ongoing journey, for joining me, and for inspiring me and my craft.
This is the ninety-ninth article exploring the ongoing creative process. Please take a moment to check out the collection of my published works, which can be found here.
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