Lizbeth Finn-Arnold

Does Domesticity Kill Creativity?

Kim Brooks asks: Is Domestic Life the Enemy of Creative Work?

I wrote about my own struggles with trying to stay a creative person while mothering small children many years ago in an essay called OUT OF THE WOODS: HOW I FOUND MY MUSE AT WALDEN POND.

I wrote: "Once upon a time, I imagined myself staying at home with my babies and writing in my spare time. However, I quickly discovered that motherhood is not conducive to the solitary life of a writer. Babies and small children pretty much eradicate any possibility of solitude. They have the tendency to interrupt the creative process that, like children, needs constant nourishment."

Like many creative moms, I had to stop trying to get things back to the way they were and learn to embrace my new life. I had to find inspiration despite being exhausted and cut off from my inner muse. I learned my children were my inspiration -- a mirror into my very soul. They gave me an authentic voice, and an emotional depth and clarity I didn't possess before motherhood.

Lyme, the Brain Terrorist

33...that's how many pages I completed on the new script I'm writing. And it only took me 9 days. Not bad considering I had a migraine for 5 of those days, 2 of which were so debilitating I could barely get out of bed. And I also had an endoscopic procedure thrown in for good measure. It's been a "typical" week for a Lymie.

33...maybe not a lot to writers who are prolific and grinding out pages daily, but I have barely written anything (other than an essay here and there)since November 2013 when I took part in NaNoWriMo. My brain, thanks to Lyme Disease, has been MIA. So progress, no matter how big or small, is CELEBRATED.

As a writer, the loss of creative and cognitive ability has at times been more devastating than all the bone-crushing pain and soul-crushing fatigue I've experienced for three long years now.

Finding my muse...

Yesterday, I watched THE MUSE, a 1999 comedy by Albert Brooks. I've been pretty down of late (about chronic pain and lack of writing or the energy to do much of anything) and figured I needed a good laugh about Hollywood, and writers, and our overall neurosis when it comes to writer's block, inspiration, and our muses.

There's a line in the movie where Jeff Bridges warns Albert not to piss off his muse (played by a flaky, demanding, wispy Sharon Stone), or else she'll take away his creativity and he'll never have another idea again. I laughed aloud and said into the air to my own muse: Is that what happened? Did I piss you off? Is that why you haven't spoken to me in almost eight months? If so, I'm sorry. I could really use some help. I really miss you.

I Don't Write

I haven't written in months.

I'd like to say I'm one of those people who can grit her teeth and write through her pain. But at the moment, I am not. I don't feel inspired. I can't find the words. I've lost touch with my muse.

My lovely, lovely muse, who once whispered and giggled in my ears each night before bed, is now silent. I know she hasn't abandoned me. This wall of pain has merely blocked her from me.

Day 26 -- National Novel Writing Month

Day 26th of NaNoWriMo -- I have now entered the Death Zone as I prepare for the final summit attempt...exhaustion has set in, the air is hard to breathe, and I'm wondering if it's even possible to go the distance at this point.

It's fear and doubt now that taunts me, creating resistance...and thus writer's block. The first 42000 words were nothing compared to the last 8000...It's because I'm running on fumes now, my thoughts cloudy, my judgment compromised, my commitment waning...there are too many distractions -- mainly Thanksgiving, chronic pain, and now that onset of a cold.

But I will continue to climb this mountain and see how far I can get. I may not make it to the top, but I am not prepared to turn back yet. Onward and upward, one step at a time, one word at a time.

When Characters Come Alive

I'm at the part of writing my novel where my main characters have reconnected and it's obvious they are still in love.  I'm rooting for these two crazy kids to work it out but there's so much baggage from the past, and so many reasons why they really shouldn't be together.

Yeah, I know their fates are in my hands, but the more these two people come to life on paper the less I actually feel I control the outcome. Each day I wake up sorta knowing where the plot needs to go, but I never really know how my characters are going to respond until they tell me.

YES, I hear them talking in my head. YES, I just sit back and write what they tell me. YES, I'd be considered crazy if I wasn't a writer. Or maybe being a writer of fiction is the same as being crazy.

Whatever, I need to get back to the story. I can't wait to see what these two crazy kids are going to do and say next.

A Time to Write

A writer who isn't writing is kind of like a kite without wind.  Sorta lifeless and pathetic. A kite is meant to fly. And a writer is meant to write. And a writer who IS writing kinda feels like a kite that's flying. I know, because I've flown a lot this past year.

But not lately. Frankly, I've barely written anything these past three months.  I've been distracted and occupied with other things, mainly moving, recurring health issues, and other pressing obligations.

That's all about to change. It's November, which means it's NaNoWriMo -- or National Novel Writing Month and I have hearby committed to commence writing my 2nd Novel as of today.

And so it begins...

Realizing Life While We Live It...

"Do any human beings ever realize life while they live it-- every, every minute?" (From Our Town by Thornton Wilder)

I turned 46 yesterday.

Where has all the time gone? Seems like yesterday I was graduating college (1990), getting married (1994), running around Philadelphia all night as part of an independent film shoot (1995), having babies (1996 & 1999), watching the Twin Towers fall (2001), adopting my dog (2001), moving into a new house (2005), burying my dog (2013), moving into another new house (2013)...and doing a heck of a lot of writing about the life I was leading in between it all.

Thank god for the writing (mostly blogging since 2003) because, to paraphrase Thornton Wilder, "writing helped me realize life while I was living it."

Revisions as Re-Envisioning

I have a horror screenplay sitting on my laptop waiting to be revised...AGAIN...and I am trying to find the energy and inspiration to dive back in and make the necessary changes.  Problem is, the script doesn't just need a fresh coat of paint, it needs some major RE-ENVISIONING!

But in order to do this re-envisioning (and really look at it with fresh eyes)I've needed to take some space from it, mostly beause I needed to forget all the major revising I did last time (which I admit I became a wee bit attached to). Killing your babies, it seems, becomes easier the more time goes by (once writing amnesia has set in) and you forget all the work you already put into the thing. Still, sometimes it's hard not to get discouraged, when despite your commitment and hard work, the script still isn't quite right.

The only thing to do (or so I've been told) is to stay strong and go back in for another round of revisions & re-envisioning.

Writing Advice from...Author Alex Lukeman

I was writing random book titles today and then googling (to see if they are already taken) because I'm still trying to find the perfect name for my debut novel. Interestingly enough, while doing this, I discovered author Alex Lukeman. I haven't yet read any of his books (although I went ahead and downloaded several) because they are conspiracy thrillers, which I admit I love, LOVE, love. My novel is in the New Adult paranormal genre but also has elements of a thriller and deals heavily in government conspiracies (primarily Project MK-Ultra and other mind control programs) so I think Lukeman's stories will captivate me.

I also discovered Lukeman's blog which included what I think is some rather great advice for writers who want to make money through writing, called "Go Forth and Prosper."  I think it's pretty cool Lukeman only wrote the first book of his PROJECT series five years ago and now is on Book 7. That's the type of prolific writing career I'd love to have.

His advice is below, with my personal commentary on each item in red. Enjoy!