What would make me quit writing (#IWSG)
This post is part of the Insecure Writers Support Group monthly blog hop. On the first Wednesday of each month, I and my fellow insecure writers post something related to writing, and then we visit the blogs of our fellow members and read and comment on their IWSG posts. This month’s optional question is, What would make you quit writing?
Sometimes these IWSG monthly questions are timely. Back in April, I wrote about a problem I was having with my right arm. In looking over that piece, I realize I failed to explain exactly what went wrong and why I included a pretty diagram of arm veins in the post. Ah, well, I wasn’t feeling great when I wrote the post, so I have an excuse. Anyway, it turned out I did, in fact, have a blood clot that restricted blood flow in my basilic vein (that’s the vein phlebotomists like to draw from when you get a blood test). It knocked me out of action for 3 days, the only 3 days this year that I didn’t write, because using a mouse and keyboard (or even pen and paper) hurt too much (and really, just being conscious hurt too much, making it hard to think around the constant internal monologue of, Ow ow ow ow ow).
So what does all that whining have to do with this month’s IWSG prompt? Unfortunately, I’m still having pain in that arm. I’m not one for catastrophizing, but dealing with whatever the hell is wrong with my arm has forced me to consider what I’d do if I lost the physical ability to write the way I normally do, i.e. on a computer. Even if my job didn’t require it (hello, reams of emails), I can’t imagine giving up writing, so I’d have to learn to use dictation software. I should probably do that anyway, because I’m also having some other issues related to typing and mousing, not to mention sitting in front of a computer for the majority of my waking hours.
It’s hard to wrap my head around writing that way. For me, the intellectual process of writing is bound up with the physical act of typing on a keyboard. But then when I was in college, I used to insist I had to handwrite my drafts, because I couldn’t think without a pen in my hand. I overcame that limitation, to the point that handwriting large amounts of text feels awkward to me now. So I suppose I could embrace dictating my words.
This entire post is a wordy way of saying that I’ll write as long as I have the ability to write:
- Whether or not I get published
- Whether or not anyone reads my work
- Whether or not I can still use a keyboard and mouse
No matter how frustrated I get, I can’t seem to not write.
So, dear readers, do any of you have experience with dictating your writing? If so, do you have any pointers for someone who wants to learn?
12 Comments
Larry D Mihm
I wish I could say only physical limitations would keep me from writing. I go for days, weeks, months without writing. So far this year sometimes I’ve gone from one first Wednesday to the next first Wednesday without writing.
I know, all the advisors say “WRITE EVERY DAY” but I am easily discouraged!
I have some very irrational thoughts about how I should prioritize writing. For me, I prioritize prayer above writing, but prayer is something I can procrastinate indefinitely. The result can be, if I don’t pray, I don’t write. More often than not, I don’t ever get around to praying, so I don’t ever get around to writing. Work before play and all that. Prayer is more like work and writing is more like play.
Today I still haven’t prayed. The only reason I’ve got to writing for the IWSG is it “has to be done today”. Prayer shouldn’t be optional, but I allow it to be.
Life! You can’t live with it. You can’t live without it.
Janet Alcorn
Prioritization is hard. I find if I don’t write first thing in the morning, I don’t write. Same for prayer/meditation and exercise. Trouble is, I can’t do everything first thing in the morning, so I end up slacking on something.
Melissa Maygrove
Voice to text software is okay, but you have to go back in and clean it up with the keyboard. Even so, it would mean less time sitting and typing.
Anna
You sound a bit like me. Transcribe here I come. hehehe
Anna from elements of emaginette
Diane Burton
I hope your arm gets better. I broke my left wrist earlier this year and had to type hunt-and-peck for over 6 weeks. Not fun. I sympathize with your pain, even though I had little, I know how difficult it is not to write. Good luck.
Janet Alcorn
Thanks! I hope your wrist is all healed up!
Quenntis Ashby
Writing while in pain is a big no for me, too.
As for dictation. I tried it. I speak way faster than I write. I would suggest practicing dictating by reading out short passages just to get a feeling of the speed at which you can do it comfortably. At the beginning I tended to talk too fast, not giving myself time to think and verbalize sensible sentences. It becomes automatic to say the punctuation out loud the more you do it.
Good luck!
Q.
Janet Alcorn
Thanks for sharing your experience and for the encouragement!
Jennifer Lane
How frightening to have a blood clot. I hope the pain goes away soon. I’ve had several chronic pain conditions that seem like they’ll never get better, then they finally do, so I hope that happens with you. How wonderful that you have such a driving desire to write, though!
Janet Alcorn
Thanks! And I’m sorry you have to deal with chronic pain but glad they get better. I’m doing better too, at least for now.
Debs Carey
Oh that’s scary. I’ve had problems with repetitive strain injury in my wrist in the past, but have fortunately been able to resolve them so far. I avoided mentioning the potential impact of any physical or mental disability in my post, as I simply didn’t feel able to face the prospect of my not being able to write again. I do recall my writing partner make mention of a dictation software they use at his place of work, if it would be useful, I’ll ask him if he still has the details?
Janet Alcorn
Glad your wrist issues resolved! My arm issues are better now, and I’m hoping they stay that way. If you don’t mind sharing info about the dictation software, that would be great. I’ve heard good things about Dragon Naturally Speaking, but it’s a bit expensive.