When You Don’t Have Anything To Write About

I haven’t written anything in a while, and I’d like to get back into a routine of writing and reading and doing something other than playing catch-up with life.

And it’s hard. There’s no one looking over my shoulder, no deadlines, no have to or need to or I’ve got to get this done before…

I have no excuses – making the time to write and read while catching up is hard for me. I’m terrible at multi-tasking. It’s totally my fault that I fell off the wagon in the first place, but I’d like to practice the discipline of writing and reading again.

I like having a schedule, meeting a deadline, working towards a goal. When you’re playing catch-up, it’s less orderly, a constant scramble. Schedules, deadlines, and personal goals have to find their place amid all other responsibilities, as usual. It’s not a new story.

They fall down the list under household chores and management, meals and shopping, driving. Oh, the driving. And it’s summer. There are days and weeks away from home for vacation and camp, away from writing and reading, the work that I’m missing, the work that used to occupy more of my time.

Life is busy for most people – I’m not special. And I’m also not always great at doing what I think I should do. There are other things that distract me from what I profess as important. Name one, any one.

Just write, they say. Just sit down with a notebook and a pencil and write. Form a new habit. Carve out some time to read. Fill your brain with words. Don’t let the ordinariness of life eat your inspiration.

I learn about prolific writers, their solitude, a way of life that hovers the line between insanity and genius. I envy their focus, but don’t wish for that level of eccentricity. My life is different than that. I’m more common, more conservative, not enough of a free spirit. I wonder if this is why I’m so distracted, that despite my love of solitude I’m not much of a writer. More elements are needed for the perfect storm of writerly genius and productivity than liking to be left alone.

Like time. And discipline. And focus. And ideas. And a notebook and pen or computer or typewriter or something on which to write.

Just write, they say.

Easier said than done.

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