Debra K - August 31, 2010 writes:

I`m just wondering if I have made the right to decision to join the writer`s bureau after all. I hardly write anymore and my enthusiasm for it has died. I do still get ideas going on in my head but tend to just leave em. Besides,I`m being rather slow about my 1st assignment. I`m gonna be honest and say I suffer with depression so It`s rather difficult to get motivated and keep motivated and what used to interest me doesn`t. When I first joined I thought I`d done the right thing. Now I`m not so sure. I think I should quit. What does everybody else think?

M R - August 31, 2010 replied:

Hi Debra,

Don't think to quit. Just some days ago I was depressed too cuz I was thinking that my story will not be selected -- I was wrong, I got a confirmation email that story will be published. I wanna know where are you from ? if you find difficult to write why don't you write about your past days -- you must have some memorable days about family drama, failure or success full romance etc, try to recall them and make them story. I'm sure you can do it -- just dont give up as everybody is failure and everybody overcomes it.

Best Wishes,

Robert

Janice W - September 1, 2010 replied:

Hi Debra don't quit yet, it's early days. I suffer from depression at times and my mind blanks out, it's hard to get motivated but it's well worth the effort,it's getting into the habit.I intend to use a pen name because I think it will help me lose my inhibitions a bit, I don't need to fear failure as much and it cheers me up.

Caroline B - September 1, 2010 replied:

Hi Debra I have Bipolar disorder and have been struggling with writing too, please don't give up. If you need to talk please get in touch via the forum. Take care.

Ryan D - September 2, 2010 replied:

Hi Debra, what you are going through is what probably every writer goes through at some stage or the other in his or her life. I would advise you to take a break from your writing, visit some place where you would be refreshed, and then continue with your writing.

Zanna v - September 3, 2010 replied:

Hi Debra, tried a journal? I find penning my thoughts, fears and emotions in my journal or even a piece of paper, helps to get out of the deep hole of depression. Somehow the answers/guidance just comes and I can face life again. Maybe you want to try? Blessings.

Wendy C - September 3, 2010 replied:

Hi Debra. I know exactly where you're coming from, having suffered with depression on and off for years; there are days when I too just sit and think "Why am I kidding myself? I'll never make it as a writer - if it was meant to be I would have achieved it by now." One book I found to be something of a lifesaver is 'The Artists' Way' by Julia Cameron. Even if you don't follow the 'exercises' contained in each chapter (although I strongly recommend that you do, because you'll feel so liberated!) simply reading it makes you feel like you have a friend cheering you on and believing in you. 'Writing Down The Bones' and 'Wild Mind,' both by Natalie Goldberg, are good sources of inspiration too. None of these books tell you 'how to write' - their function is purely to give you the confidence, the motivation and - well, heck, the divine permission if you need it - to write and to keep on wanting to write, no matter what. It's surprising how often writers are also sufferers of depression... or then again, maybe it isn't. After all, writers think very deeply, and look at the world with sharper eyes and keener ears... I guess we're all both blessed and cursed in that way. This forum is a great place to come whenever you need a spiritual pick-me-up :^)

Libby J - September 6, 2010 replied:

I'm yet another sufferer of depression! Have you tried just putting aside a short amount of time each day? The thought of spending hours trying to write each day when you feel that all you really want to do is stick your head in the gas oven, is desperately de-motivating, but if you tell yourself you'll just do half an hour and then stop, you might find that that half hour extends to an hour. And if not, well, there's always another half an hour to try tomorrow. Don't imagine that you've got to sit down and finish the entire assignment in one go - even if all you feel up to is a couple of paragraphs, it's better than nothing and once you start, you may find that you feel more motivated. That's what i try to do, anyway, when things are really bleak and my motivation has gone off for a long walk without taking its mobile with it! Also, remember it's really that wretched depression telling you should give up, cos that's what the blighter says about everything you try (or is that just me??) - don't let it win!! And Good Luck!

Philip E - September 12, 2010 replied:

Hi Debra -

I signed up back in May - and I only wrote the first part of the first assignment today (why I want to write)!

My life just feels too hectic and out of control for me to write - or so I thought until I just decided to get on with it and, while I was at it, try getting involved with the community here too!

The interesting thing about depression is that :
1 - it's something that affects a HUGE number of people in the UK (and world) so you have something you can write about that people will want to read.
2 - The fact that you posted a six line message in this forum instead of just quitting shows that you still have the desire to write; you're just struggling to get the motivation - and in that regard, you're amongst friends! :)

Rita C - September 13, 2010 replied:

Hi Debra I am a new student and I just wanted to write to let you know that I too suffer from bouts of depression. I think the forum is a wonderful way for all students to encourage each other when things seem difficult. I hope all goes well for you with the course.

Lindsay P - September 18, 2010 replied:

Debra, et al,

Behind some of the world's greatest writers lurked the spectre of depression. Some were afflicted by it at birth, while others developed it in their struggle to find solutions to the manifest ailments that afflict Mankind.

Frierich Nietzsche, after a similar struggle, finally succumb to madness in Turin in 1900. Alexander Herzen,was in the vanguard of the Russian intelligentsia, he was passionate, and struggled all his life with the questions of what could be done for the russian people.I have suffered from bouts of depression, self-loathing and apathy. No more! If I am going to go mad, I'll devote my madness to my writing, and perhaps with a little help from fellow-sufferers we may be able to compile a guide for the incurables among us.I'd be interseted in suggestions for a title for this guide.Yet, I am sure that having read this you may consider it is already too late for me...

Debra K - September 22, 2010 replied:

It`s great that I have all this support but I`m still not entirely convinced I can do it. It doesn`t help that I`ve got other worries such as looking for work etc.

Lindsay P - September 23, 2010 replied:

Debra, I make no attempt to compare my troubles with your own. I only recently was forced through ill-health to give up my craft business. I find it rather ironic that the very thing I enjoyed was literally killing me. I was a joiner for more than thirty years, and a smoker for as long, the dust and the smoking were the contributory factors which caused my condition. The global collapse of the banking system prevented my partner and me from releasing equity in our properties, which meant that the work on the restoration of our cottage was brought to an abrupt end. We, that is, my partner and our three children ( all under five) are living in a static caravan in our back garden. We have to juggle our money just to stay afloat. My partner is a qualified psycotherapist, but has chosen to work in the local branch of scotmid, just to make ends meet. I look after the children.I tell you this, not to get sympathy but to convey to you that,nothing short of my own demise will ever prevent me from realising my ambition to become an accomplished writer. I look at the positives, I live in the beautiful Angus countryside, where my closest neighbour lives about half a mile away, I have three beautiful children and a wonderful partner. Things will get better, all we have to do is weather the storm. Think positive and take all the time you need, and ask yourself, not if, but why you want to be a writer. My answer to that is, it is my passion.

Coral H - September 29, 2010 replied:

Hey Debra, how great that so many people cared enough to respond? And interesting that so many of us suffer with or have suffered from depression? I constantly doubt my ability as a writer and wonder if I am deluding myself. I fear failure, but I suppose if I don't even attempt to write, that would be like failing. Plus, I would likely live the rest of my life wondering if I could have had some kind of success as a writer. I know it's not easy, I've only just finished assignment two and I started the course last June! (2009)
I think Libby's advice is sound-just spending half an hour a day writing, or even 15 minutes if half hour feels too long. Make the most of the time you have at the moment if you're not working. And whatever you achieve, congratulate yourself! No self-criticism because you haven't written a best selling novel in 20 minutes! Don't let the demon depression get the better of you! :)