Friday, April 4, 2014

D is for Depression

D is for Depression. Yes, we writers have plunged into the well of depression. Many times. The blue moods hit us and knock us off our feet. Sometimes we stop writing for a few days. 

 Sometimes this sad feeling comes when our writing is not going well. I have been in the writing blues many times, especially when my trilogy plotting was not going well. I started a new story and felt much better. But, fortunately my low feelings last maximum for a few days and then I am back to my bouncy self.

Depression strikes us especially when we are face to face with harsh and cruel rejection. An Indian writer I have read was so depressed with the harsh criticism about his second book that he said in an interview that he would never write again. I am hoping that he changes his mind and writes more books. 

Unhappy ending in books I read make me sad, but that's a fleeting feeling. I thank God for blessing us writers with truckloads of resilience.

Have you been in the writing blues? How do you emerge from the blues? We all would love to know.

Note: this is my post for the A to Z Challenge. My theme is Emotions and Feelings writers experience.

20 comments:

  1. I have mild episodes of depression and my therapy is writing. I've written myself out of it on a couple of occasions and made me realize that I needed to be a writer.

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  2. Oh definitely. The writing blues I think are common. As with anything else we love, we have to find ways to add balance to our lives--that is what allows us to use constructive criticism to our advantage.

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  3. Wow, you can't let bad reviews stop you from writing.
    I know most artistic people feel emotion more deeply and are sometimes depressed, but I'm really middle of the road. Maybe I'm really not that artistic?

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  4. Can't say I've ever had the writing blues. That's probably because I'm involved in a billion others things. I suppose, though, that many writers experience this, because writing can be a very lonely experience.

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  5. When I first started writing full time after retiring from a fulfilling teaching career, rejection letters gave me twinges of the blues, until I realized it was part of the process. It put everything in perspective: keep writing, keep faith, enjoy the process, and have an outside life you enjoy so that those rejection letters are just blips on the screen.

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  6. I'm fortunate in that I tend to plow onward when something gets me down. I used to stop writing for a few days but now I just keep going. Great post.

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  7. Depression definitely hits all of us. The best is to step back... Take a walk. Go out in nature. Exercise is excellent for depression.

    Leaving the house is too. A writer needs to be out in the element with people, places and atmosphere. That always helps my creative juices to flow.

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  8. How sad he would stop writing because of depression. I hope he doesn't. I get the blues too, I learned that my best solution for it is reading. It is after all what gave me the love for writing, and it helps every time ;)

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  9. i am so happy i found the internet to connect and relate with other writers, and they definitely help in the encouragement department!

    and wouldn't it be tragic if we bored our readers to death? ha ha! but seriously, i can relate to that too. i want to keep readers wanting more!

    happy d day!

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  10. Depression sets in after a phase of "Hyperactivity" due to episodes of insomnia.
    How do I recover? Exercise, dancing, meditation, talks with friends, meditation, sleeping...

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  11. Hi friends, the best therapy for getting out of the blues is exercise, music, writing more and reading books that make us laugh or motivate us.

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  12. when it threatens to hit me I grab a book or turn on some music. It usually pulls me out. Nothing should stop us from achieving our dreams.


    Brandon Ax: Writer's Storm

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  13. A little sunshine and fresh air can make a big difference, I find.

    mood
    Moody Writing

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  14. I'm rarely down. Each day is a precious gift and life is far to short to be anything other than thankful.

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  15. What really helps me is my audience, i.e. my wife and fellow writers. Making my stories better to suit their tastes makes me feel better:) As for happy endings, my wife forbids me to put in anything else at the conclusion of my books going forward;)

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  16. Great sentiment. Too bad for that one writer who vowed to not write because of a review!

    When I get depressed over my writing, sometimes I reread something I wrote already that boosts my confidence in my ability to write. Reading my first book does that for me. :)

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  17. Hi human, Rachna,

    My human has a severe case of diagnosed clinical depression.

    This impacts not only writing but every aspect of life. So what does he do to challenge depression? First of all, he might ask me to take over his blog. A pawsitive distraction and a vital tonic to his well being.

    Depression is a thief. Robs the colours from the rainbow. Yet, with support, knowing that you are encouraged, you know you are never alone. This knowledge inspires. It brings back the colours to the rainbow of writing.

    Penny, the pawsitive host of the Alphabark Challenge, 2014!

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  18. This is such a good theme, Rachna. Writers need to express what they go through..and these posts provide such a good outlet!

    Damyanti Co-host, A to Z Challenge 2014
    Twitter: @damyantig
    #atozchallenge

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  19. My bouts of depression usually last less than an hour...maybe that's a result of getting older and realizing I don't have time to waste.

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