K.E Hills

Christmas was great for me as a writer. Two weeks holiday, days spent in front of my parent’s fireplace with a cup of coffee and some Christmas cookies.

I could bare sleep for all the inspiration flowing.

Now that the new year has started, I have bare written a word. I spend hours on my laptop, opening word, not finding the words, going to social media, back to word, still nothing.

My muse has gone on vacation.

I know it’s normal for inspiration to hit in waves, and I try to tell myself this. But there’s a troll in the back of my head, screaming that this is it. I am never going to finish this book. Perhaps also amplified by the fact that my book is so close to finish, and most of what is left is filling in plot holes, plus the big chapter where all gets resolved in the big final scene.

So maybe part of this is the pressure I am putting on myself. Maybe part of it is because I didn’t really relax during the holiday, and the first weeks back at work have been exhausting.

In the end, when the muse goes on holiday, there isn’t much you can do except take a break and try to enjoy other things. Go outside and get some fresh air (horrible suggestion for most fantasy writers, i know), play a video game (better?), watch some Netflix.

And keep telling yourself to relax, even though it feels like giving up, and that your muse will come find you again when the time is right, even if it doesn’t feel like it right now.

Come join me on threads if you know the feeling, or just want to connect.

And if you have some good advice? Please feel free to leave a comment.