You’ve got everything ready: the novel plotted, the poetry motifs mapped, the voice notes brimming with ideas. Your writing space is set. Your system is in place. The whiteboards, note cards, dictation apps, even mood boards and inspirational quotes all at your fingertips.
You’ve done all the work you need to prepare.
And yet…
you’re not writing.
Do you recognize any of these red flags? Although I’ve put them into the context of writing, really any creative activity would fit (painting, etc.)
Writing is always the last thing you do, after all your other commitments, responsibilities, and activities.
You feel a twinge of shame when you say you want to write… instead of doing “something productive.”
You sit down to write… and immediately feel the urge to fold laundry, unload the dishwasher, or tick off another item on your to-do list.
You put a few words down and check your messages just in case someone needs you.
An entire week goes by and you’ve thought about writing… but you haven’t actually written anything.
You’re interrupted while writing by some minor thing and you feel relieved instead of frustrated.
Do you recognize yourself in any of these?
If so, then congratulations! You’re one of those “lucky” creative people who feel guilty about spending time on their creative activities.
The interesting thing about creative guilt is that you might actually be making progress on a project, but that progress is haphazard and crammed in the margins of your life. It happens after everyone in your family has gone to bed, for example. Simply put, you have the desire to write, but the space to write isn’t there.
Feeling guilty about your creative work is really common. If you’re a normal adult, or maybe you’re like the rest of us and have something seriously wrong with you, then you’re balancing a lot of responsibilities. Each of these responsibilities is often, realistically, urgent and non-negotiable. Your family needs to have dinner. Your car needs an oil change. Your boss needs you to show up on time.
If you’re one of those people who feel guilt related to their creativity, you’re not alone. I feel this, too! Over the next few postings, I’m going to be tackling this topic in an effort to get myself and my writing back on track. I’ll be looking at ways to reframe this perception of creative work and examine some strategies and tricks to get back into a consistent writing groove.
I’d love to hear from you—what’s your experience with creative guilt? Drop a comment below, and if this resonates, sign up for a free subscription so you don’t miss the next installment.
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