Resistance is futile!

Resistance.

It’s one of those painful things that artists in all areas know too well.

You want to write, you have an idea, you block out the time, you sit down at your keyboard and . . .

You can end that sentence with whatever your avoidance-of-choice may be at the moment. Mine rotates between getting busy managing my businesses and my family or going the complete opposite direction and vegging out in front of British dramas all day. Either way, the result is the same. No words on the page. No writing. No progress. Steven Pressfield talks about this extensively in the War of Art.

My accountability partner and I have talked about this a lot lately. She is the queen bee of getting those words in. While lately I, well, I just haven’t been. Granted, I’ve been dealing with mono for over a year and that will seriously put a crimp in any girl’s style. But the sheer truth is that I have been afraid. It’s not like once you’re published the fear goes away. For me, it’s only gotten worse. It’s kind of like when I was pregnant with my fourth child. I was more stressed out about childbirth than I’d been with any of my other kids. I knew what I was in for. I knew how hard it was.

That’s where I’ve been lately. Stalled isn’t a strong enough word to describe it. I’ve been positively rebellious at times.

BUT

(yes, there is a but)

After attending Writing for Charity and LDS Storymakers conferences, I’ve been inspired enough that I’m ready to tackle this resistance monster. And win. It’s not going to happen all at once, but I will get past this. That’s just part of the equation if you want to live a creative life. It’s not all muses and rainbows and unicorns (depending on the genre you write). There is an inner battle that must be fought and won on a daily basis.

And the one thing I do know is that every day I win the battle against resistance it will be just that much easier to win it again the next day.

I’m up for it.