Tips to Surviving Lockdown

Ten weeks into lockdown and you would think I have lots of writing done. But the truth is that my creativity comes and goes. Especially with the 11.00am news. So I am down at the beach taking a winter dip and grabbing a coffee to avoid those daily gremlins. On the way home there's a neighbour or local that needs a chat and Elmo our dog sneaks away. A multitude of delays and everyone thinks you have time. Inside my head is saying get some writing done. At home, my husband wants a chat and the postie is delivering yet another parcel. Yesterday I ordered vitamins and books. Finally I sit down at the computer and check my emails. Now it's time to write. But guess what my mind has gone blankety blank. I start googling facts for an idea that I have been trying to develop and my mind goes no you're not doing that today. Then the self talk starts and I hear that voice say, 'You've lost your writing mojo and you're wasting time.' It's so easy to go down that rabbit hole. Instead, I pull a rabbit out of a hat and remember a little writing challenge that I decide to use as inspiration. It seems to be the only thing that sparks anything. Finally I sit and write and stop and ponder. I nut out a first draft but think to myself it's not that good. Yet I have managed to get into the zone and write something when it seemed like I was pushing elephant poo up a hill. I have lunch and return. It looks even worse now but I continue on with the draft until it doesn't want to play anymore. I leave it for another day. My head says, 'You didn't get your goals done.' And out loud I reply, 'It's okay I created something today and I had fun.'