Iona Winter

Here I am mooching around the wasteland of the interweb looking for inspiration. Or is that just the p word—procrastination?

I decided to remove myself from social media (aka major distraction). Now, at the eleventh hour, I’m questioning the decision and wondering if it’s a feeble attempt to be less distracted. I mean really? Come on Missus, will that actually stop you from procrastinating? Erhm…probably not.

Online people are saying (writing) things like, ‘Please don’t go, we like seeing you here’ and I think one of three things:

a) It’s not really a relationship is it? Only ‘seeing’ each other online. I don’ t know when people are reading what I’m writing unless they hit ‘like’—which doesn’t say that much really. I’m a writer for goodness sake, ‘like’ can mean SO many things…

b) OMG people do read what I write and this is an easy way to stay in touch—without having a conversation…

c) BUT I want to have conversations…

All of this internal dialogue and tussling leads me to ponder what other writers and  creatives did for distraction back in the old days. By ‘old days’ I mean the really old days, NOT the 1980’s.

Perhaps they swanned around the countryside looking for new feathers to use as quills. Or had torrid love affairs with the opposite sex or the same sex, or imbibed in other kinds of mind-altering substances. Yes, for the record love does feel like a drug (some times).

BUT I’ve become far too sensible for that sort of distraction. Life, despite its wonder and glory (these days) can be quiet. Is that a bad thing? Does it mean I write any more than I used to? Where’s all the excitement? SO many damn questions, none of which have clear answers!

The P word is rearing its head on repeat like a scratchy record…because I have a deadline this week. AND I notice I’ve not written about that today.

I think I’ve lost my mojo.

The way of the novel has become unclear. It’s like I’m scrambling around the deck of a ship in dense sea-fog, looking for the anchor rope. If I don’t find said rope we may plough into some rocks and be smashed to smithereens. You get the picture I’m sure.

What am I to do. That’s not really a question I realise, more of a statement.

In the meantime while I ponder my options, I think I’ll retract my social media announcement. Being honest (I’m good at that), it does feel somewhat of a relief to know that there are people who ‘see’ me—in a somewhat disconnected way.

What do you think (dear readers) about giving me some feedback? Or maybe we could even have a conversation? Just a thought.