I Think I Found My Writing “Cheerleader”!

I’ve — yet — another confession to make here in writing. (Been making a few of late)

I’ve not been reading much for a while now. Sure, I still read headlines and selective long-form news articles. But that’s pretty much it. I tried reading some novels but my mind’s just so unfocused. Words on the pages sounded more like a barely-uttered whisper than a clear, resounding choir in my head.

Leading me to conclude that I must be in a reading rut.

Not Reading => Not Motivated => Not Writing

This reading rut has invariably led me to a writing rut as well.

Simply put, I have no motivation to write cos there’s been no ‘download’ into my cerebral cortex of any new writings from others to inspire me. Or even fresh ideas of my own.

But the funny thing is, I also have the motivation to write!

Sounds confusing write, I mean right? (Yep, I’m that messed up!!)

You see I’ve no motivation to write because I’ve let life and laziness engulf me these past few weeks. Blame it on doom-scrolling social media. Blame it on watching one too many reruns and new episodes of shows I’d followed and are following. There are my perennial evergreen favorites like The Golden Girls and Frasier, as well as newer ones like Slow Horses, Rings of Power, and Agatha All Along. I’m also blaming my writing rut on exhaustingly supervising my sons during this busy exam month.

These time-stealers fritter the moments away for me so quickly. Until the day I’m to upload my weekly blog post, which has sadly suffered the most, thanks to this rut I’m in. Both the word count and the quality of my writing have definitely taken a nosedive, evidenced by my recent posts.

And each time I managed to upload a post, it felt less like implanting wisdom and more like extracting a wisdom tooth!

Solution? Find A Cheerleader To Motivate!

This brings me to the part I mentioned earlier about how I also have the motivation now to write.

Three days ago, I met a publisher whom I had submitted some sample chapters of my now four-year-old (and counting) manuscript to.

Over a year ago, I connected with four local publishers, with two receiving the full version of my proposed memoir book draft for their review. Although nothing much came of it, I was fine and even relieved they rejected me. Back then, my manuscript wasn’t quite done anyway so I knew better than to expect any interest from these publishers.

But perhaps the clearest tell-tale sign I shouldn’t work with any of them, even if they liked my book, was that I needed someone truly invested in me as a creative, not merely in my work alone. That’s arguably the greatest motivation any writer could hope for in searching for an editor or publisher. Someone who’s in my corner and truly keen to see me soar.

None of the four gave me the feeling that they were genuinely invested in me. One of them even came across like some corporate marketeer. Cold and business-like.

Three days ago, however, I found a publisher (thanks to a fellow writer who connected us) who did fulfill my criteria, and my heart soared after the meeting! (I hope to say more about my encounter with this publisher in a future post)

I was like a sportsman spurred on by a raucous stadium of supporters and a team of enthusiastic cheerleaders.

My Return to Writing with Intent. And to a Deadline

The follow-up now is for me to finish my final round of self-edits and hand the whole thing over to this publisher’s editor who’s waiting and ready.

And to do so within the next two weeks before my new adjunct teaching contract kicks in and I get busy again.

For the sake of my writing life, I hope this is motivation enough for me to hit the keyboards hard and bang out a winner before the deadline.

To start to write again with purpose and intent. For now, I have a wonderful goal to work towards!

A goal that could finally put me on the path toward publication, if my writing pans out.

Even if it doesn’t pan out, and this publisher decides my manuscript is still not ready (or even good enough) for publication, here’s a way of at least motivating me to get out of my writing rut.

Finally.

And in so doing, plunging me into more and (hopefully) better writing in the weeks and months ahead.