Little Treats

[Paul Whybrow]

It can take it out of you, this writing lark. As you sit there alone, wondering what to do next, lots of words beginning with self infiltrate your brain: self-motivation, self-doubt, self-abuse , self-discipline, self-control, self-abasement and self-love.


How do you keep going? A treat would help, after all, you reached your daily word count and you edited yesterday’s output closer to perfection.

Jodi Picoult - Wikipedia

I reward myself in various ways. Music is my constant companion while working, as I live in a very noisy location, but I’ll find a favourite song and play some air guitar to boost my spirits at the end of the day.

A culinary treat was taught to me by my father, who went through rationing in WW2, unable to buy bananas. Mashing a couple of bananas with milk or cream or plain yoghurt produces a delightful dessert.

Recently, I’ve been rejuvenating my approach to writing by watching European films, old favourites and those I haven’t seen before. An afternoon of enjoying and analysing how foreign filmmakers tell a story sets me up for an evening of writing. Feeling happy and thoughtful encourages fresh thinking.

It’s vital that we view ourselves with the same respect as we do others. If you’re nice to friends and family, why not be nice to yourself?

After all, if you don’t enjoy what you’re writing it will come out in the story.

How do you treat yourself?

 

[RK Wallis]

Hmmm ... once sat in front of my computer I can't go anywhere (it's a lot of effort), so my choices are to write, read, listen to an audiobook, watch Youtube for writing things (other than normal life admin). I could watch Netflix but that's becoming less and less satisfying. So maybe read a book?

 

[Barbara]

How do you keep going?

No clue.

How do you treat yourself?

No clue.

All I know is I currently suffer from word burn out so I need to think of something.

Oh, I could go for a massage tomorrow.

 

[Katie-Ellen]

A cup of tea, have a laugh at something I probably really shouldn't laugh at.

 

[Steve C]

Mashing a couple of bananas with milk or cream or plain yoghurt produces a delightful dessert.

Living here in Thailand bananas grow on trees Even though free they are my favourite fruit as others are messy and require me to wash my hands and stop typing (sticky keyboard phobia). Seedless grapes are not bad but I have to pay for them.

Feeling happy and thoughtful encourages fresh thinking.

So true. Happy people are free to let their minds wander whilst unhappy people get obsessed with solutions.

 

[Robinne Weiss]

I usually don't get burnt out by the writing. It's the other stuff that drags me down. For me, the key is simply variety. Can't get anywhere on the writing? Head to the garden to pull some weeds. Back killing me from heavy gardening? Go for a hike or a walk on the beach. Mentally and emotionally wrung out from the day job or the troubles of two teenage kids? Read a good book, or get lost in a few episodes of Dr. Who. Need to free the brain to consider the WIP without the stress of a blank computer screen? Do some sewing or spinning. Just need chocolate? Bake.

 

[Leonora]

No clue.

No clue.

All I know is I currently suffer from word burn out so I need to think of something.

Oh, I could go for a massage tomorrow.

But you're 99% there, @Barbara! Keep it going!!

 

[KateESal]

I reward myself with a cup of frothy coffee...a square of chocolate...a peek at Twitter...a moment to breathe in the air and the view....

 

[Emily]

I echo @Barbara, no clue either. Although I never seem to get enough time to write, so I haven't had the pleasure of being burnt out by that yet. Like @Robinne Weiss , it's usually other stuff that drags me down.

have a laugh at something I probably really shouldn't laugh at.

A favourite of mine.
And like Robinne, baking... or painting... or forest-walking. An hour of no-one talking to me is actually probably the best treat in the world (what's rare is very wonderful )

 

[E G Logan]

After all, if you don’t enjoy what you’re writing it will come out in the story.

Couldn't agree more.

 

[Eva Ulian]

Like some of you, it's the other way round for me too. I need to activate myself into writing- I never really do enough to deserve a reward. Either way however, I play cards on the computer. There's a game in Italy called Briscola, and it's addictive- exciting, because for just a fraction of a second of distraction you could well lose a whole bunch of points. You have to have your wits about you with this game, keep attention and memory on tip-toe, but most of all get into your opponent's mind and anticipate how "it" will outdo you! After which exercise, I'm ready to write.

 

[Leonora]

Too many slices of bread and chocolate spread.

 

[Barbara]

Too many slices of bread and chocolate spread.

@Leonora. Have you ever tired pistachio spread. Oh Gaaaawd, it's the best!!

 

[Leonora]

@Leonora. Have you ever tired pistachio spread. Oh Gaaaawd, it's the best!!

The devil in my ear.

 

[E G Logan]

I'm taking orders... but maybe I won't bring it over in my suitcase this time.

 

[Barbara]

I'm taking orders... but maybe I won't bring it over in my suitcase this time.

Bring an industrial sized container. A very full industrial sized container.

 

[E G Logan]

The guy's on holiday right now -- hereabouts November is for holidays -- but I'll try him out on the idea of sending stuff direct when he gets back.

I'm not up for any more weird suitcase interventions. Hand luggage is the other possibility. I saw someone last time I came over with jars of pesto in hand luggage and she got through, though very thoroughly checked.

 

[Barbara]

The guy's on holiday right now -- hereabouts November is for holidays -- but I'll try him out on the idea of sending stuff direct when he gets back.

I'm not up for any more weird suitcase interventions. Hand luggage is the other possibility. I saw someone last time I came over with jars of pesto in hand luggage and she got through, though very thoroughly checked.

Oh, yes, of course. Your suitcase incident. Have you used that in a novel yet?

 

[E G Logan]

No, but I mean to. The Three Odd Things will have been set up by someone who's trying to drive him/her out of his/her mind, because of something in the past. I haven't got any further than that for now.