How To Snap Out Of A Writing Hiatus

For someone who claims writing is her passion, I sure have not been doing what makes me happy.  Add making art and doodling to the list of things I would rather do than sit and zone out in front of a laptop.  This stops NOW.  And I hope I don't back out of yet another attempt to jumpstart the juices from flowing.

I will write.  I will make art.  And I have just the stuff to make everything feel like a fun exercise I will not be able to resist.  I have a tool box containing a slew of art supplies, which includes a couple of colored Sharpies and colored pencils.  I have a brand-new sketchbook that's been sitting in my bookshelf for months, dying for me to use it.  I also got this book.

I was in a nearby Barnes & Noble with my husband, browsing at art books, and this caught my attention.  I had a previous doodling project that started out as a daily effort, but gradually, like most of the art projects I've been coming up with these days, it became occasional to non-existent.

It's not that I don't have the discipline.  I just realized why I keep stopping in my tracks with these projects: I have no visible goal to target.  I have no reason to push myself to get off my ass and go write/create something.

Now I do.  My application for a work permit in the U.S. is currently being processed, and I am determined to land a job that's at least related to what I love (writing) or what I went to college for (Multimedia Arts).  I will make it my mission to build up my portfolio and make sure that my work speaks for itself.

The idea of being stuck in a job that I don't enjoy.  That's a thought scary enough to will me out of my writing rut!

Oh, right. I have a blog!

I'll be honest—blogging daily is a tall order, and it only seemed like a doable goal because I was energized at the beginning of the year, blah blah blah.  I really do want to blog everyday, but unfortunately, there won't be much to blog about, if you consider my day-to-day activities (you'll see what I mean in a sec).  The blog name change (from A Daily Dose of Jam) is supposed to both help manage expectations and guilt me into getting back into my passion—writing about stuff that inspire me, sharing interesting ideas, making up stories.  One of these days, when I've got no distractions, I swear I will.


So what have I been up to lately?  Well, with my husband in Australia on business for two weeks, I've been focusing on not focusing on the fact that I am alone for two weeks...did that make sense?  I actually have a bunch of stuff I can do.  I recently bought a guitar in the hopes that I can get myself to self-study again, and I just got my friend to tune it properly (ignore the fact that I couldn't do it on my own for now).  I have a bunch of materials at hand I can transform into art, for our bare apartment walls.  I have a bunch of shows to catch up on, waiting to be marathoned (Downton Abbey, Happy Endings, 30 Rock, Doctor Who, Chuck) and a couple of movies I've been dying to see on my own (yeah, like I can get my guy to watch Love and Other Drugs, The Help [he might actually like this], and Blue Valentine).  So really, I have no reason to be bored and sad.  However, because the 40-inch TV we ordered online just recently arrived, I've been focusing more on the shows and the movies I've got lined up...which all look so badass magnified!  I've been enjoying it non-stop for almost 5 days now...my eyes are actually starting to hurt.  I should really take a break from the watching and do some of the other stuff I vowed I would do.


To try and give me something a great reason to get out of the house and learn how to commute by myself without being terrified, I signed up for pole fitness lessons.  I actually have not heard back from them regarding my intention to reserve a slot for a class that starts next week, but if I ever get my slot, this would definitely be something to look forward to every week!


Speaking of things to look forward to, I have to end this post for now.  It's 2:08AM, I'm a bit groggy and I have George R.R. Martin's A Storm of Swords waiting for me on my bedside table.  Today was spent migrating 7-8 years worth of emails from one account to another...the OC-ness provoked by this exercise is exhausting!