Last year I made the fatal mistake of not getting any writing done because of my University studies.  This year, now that my studies are underway, I’m finding it difficult to get back into my own writing.  By not writing for so long, I am finding it difficult to get back my ‘mojo’.

The problem is twofold – that of switching from academic writing to imaginative writing, and managing the time.  Forcing the imaginative side of my brain doesn’t work, and I’ve found that only through relaxation and exercise does that side finally kick in.  Because my university studies require an awful lot of reading (for one subject alone this semester I am required to read seven novels), I tend to continue working late at night.  I find myself putting so much energy into my studies (even though I’m supposed to study part-time), simply because I want to get good marks.  I don’t want to be seen as a failure.  Unfortunately, this allows me to let myself down as a writer.  I’ve been finding it difficult to balance the two.

The old writing advice of ‘write 10-15 minutes every day’ is the only way around it.  It may not sound like much (and more would be an added bonus), yet it forces me to get into the habit of writing every day.  Breaking the writing down into smaller chunks of time, together with smaller writing projects would allow me to get back on track.

Next year I aim to take a year off studies to concentrate on writing.  Unfortunately, this may give me too much time to write, which could easily be squandered!  (Uh oh, looks like it’s either one or the other…).