A Note for the Writer Who is in Despair Because she isn’t Currently Writing

A note for the writer who is in despair because she isn’t currently writing

In summer of 2020, my husband and I took a week off and drove up to New England. This was our first time traveling during the pandemic. Let me rephrase; we did see our bubble pod outside of NYC prior to this trip and spent safe weekends with them. But this was our first COVID vacation. We knew between the scorching August heat, my compromised immunity, and COVID numbers—we would primarily stay in the Airbnb. But the idea of getting outside of our New York City apartment felt like a gift.

I brought a new journal, pen, and lots of optimism on this trip. I was determined to start work on my new novel. I had my stock of chai and rose wine. Airbnb offered us a beautiful patio with perfect writing furniture. I had created my oasis of a writing retreat. With the summer breeze in my face, I was determined to create a new story.

I had taken a few days off from work. But then an event and a writing deadline came up. I share this to tell you that there is always some deadline crawling in my direction—much like many of you who are juggling responsibilities. I work a day job where I manage communications and community for the organization. I run a holistic wellness company, NimmiLife LLC, where I teach mindfulness and Ayurveda workshops (at companies/ school/ colleges/ organizations/ entrepreneurial spaces), speak at events (mostly virtually off late), and do one-on-one holistic health counseling. I write weekly wellness columns for magazines. In my spare time, I also teach yoga to survivors of domestic violence and sexual assault as well as incarcerated men and women. And I am enrolled in school for higher Ayurveda studies. It’s almost impossible for me to take 100% time off from everything.

In 2020, I wrote a million essays around Ayurveda, yoga, mindfulness, intentional living, compassionate life, productivity tips etc. etc. As the coronavirus mutated, the more I felt called to share my expertise via essays, panels, and workshops. But I didn’t get the chance to return to my novel. Creating fiction requires a whole other bandwidth and time commitment—a privilege I didn’t have at the time. We were in survival mode not knowing what the next day would bring. Would I lose my job? Were my family and friends safe? How long could we pretend we had magic blood and escape the virus? I couldn’t find the head space to create an alternate reality when COVID itself felt like a nightmare from a sci-fi movie. So, I wrote essays and wellness pieces to help and empower others. I wrote social media posts to find my center during difficult times. But the novel didn’t move an inch.

Then 2021 rolled in. Vaccines happened but people continued to feel uncertain and unsafe. India was hit by the Delta variant, which wiped away many families. A few of my childhood friends lost a parent each. In my relationships, I am the person people turn to when dealing with a crisis. Grief and loss were at the center of managing the year. Every morning when I called up my dad, I was afraid to hear who we had lost next. Being present for my father and in-laws and holding space for their angst took center stage. A little after Delta subsided, my father in-law fell critically ill. Between his brain surgery and my dad relocating to another city, I had even fewer hours in the day to think about writing a novel. I didn’t have the energy or benefit of time to devote long hours to writing.

Come 2022, my father ended up in the ICU. Having already lost my mom, the fear of losing the one parent alive felt too desolate. It’s just June, and I have already traveled to India twice this year to help my dad and my in-laws. Even when I was in India, I worked in US hours (which is evenings/nights in India) and assisted the elderly during the day. I saw my clients virtually and attended classes. I wrote my weekly columns on the airplane or while shuttling between my dad’s and in-laws—they live in different cities. The novel and I continued to grow distant.

I am not struggling with writer’s block. I am not bogged down by lack of motivation. Like most other writers, I am very hardworking and dedicated to my craft. Writing fiction nourishes my soul. But I can’t fight time or ignore my priorities at this time. I am not in a place where I can quit my job to write full-time. I love my business and my clients—Ayurvedic healing is my dharma. I can’t ignore the fact that the seniors in the family need me now more than ever—financially, physically, as well as emotionally even though they never ask for anything. With caregiving responsibilities added to my repertoire, I don’t see myself working on a novel anytime soon. Surprisingly, that’s okay with me.

No one in the world can have everything. I am grateful to have a job, clients, and a family that I care about. Writing is here to stay, but I can’t say the same for my dad in his 70s or in-laws. I know who and what needs to be my focus for now. In the world of yoga, we are reminded to practice detachment. Writing a novel isn’t the only way to feel like a writer. I am working on changing my own preconceived notions.

I try to write a few words daily—even if it’s a small social media post or parts of an essay. It has nothing to do with “write every day for your creative juices to flow.” It has everything to do with words helping me navigate the world and lowers my stress. Writing is more of a mental health nourishment tool for me these days. It helps me stay centered when the world around me is thrown into chaos. I write this to remind you and myself that we will write that novel or memoir or collection of poems when the time is right. But just because you aren’t writing a 200-page piece, it doesn’t mean you are any less of a writer. If you can write five words a day, so be it. If you have no time to sit at a laptop or take notes in your journal, that is fine too. Life and experiences never go to waste. The ideas are simmering and will turn into beautiful stories in due time. Even when you are doing nothing, a writer is always creating.

“I write entirely to find out what I’m thinking, what I’m looking at, what I see and what it means. What I want and what I fear.” ~Joan Didion

BIO: Sweta Srivastava Vikram is an international speaker, best-selling author of 13 books, and Ayurveda and mindset coach who is committed to helping people thrive on their own terms. Her latest book, “A Piece of Peace,” (Modern History press) was released in September 2021. As a trusted source on health and wellness, most recently appearing on NBC and Radio Lifeforce and in a documentary with Dr. Deepak Chopra, Sweta has dedicated her career to writing about and teaching a more holistic approach to creativity, productivity, health, and nutrition.

Her work has appeared in The New York Times and other publications across nine countries on three continents. Sweta is a trained yogi and certified Ayurveda health coach and holds a Master’s in Strategic Communications from Columbia University. Voted as “One of the Most Influential Asians of Our Times” and winner of the “Voices of the Year” award (past recipients have been Chelsea Clinton), she lives in New York City with her husband and works with clients across the globe. She also teaches yoga, meditation, and mindfulness to survivors of sexual assault and domestic violence as well incarcerated men and women. Find her on: Twitter, Instagram, LinkedIn, and Facebook.

Sweta Vikram 

Ayurveda + Mindset Coach | Global Speaker | Best-selling Author

Winner of Voices of the Year Award

www.swetavikram.com | sweta@swetavikram.com

Facebook | Instagram | LinkedIn | Twitter

A PIECE OF PEACE

Join Sweta on a Journey of Mindfulness and Recovery from Illness

A Piece of Peace is an autobiographical account of one woman’s unique struggle with a near-fatal disease. In 2018, Sweta had already earned acclaim from having written a dozen successful books and for her work toward amplifying women’s voices.

Suddenly overtaken with a massive health crisis, she entered a fight for her life that lasted more than six months. Her journey back to wellness through mindfulness and Ayurvedic healing show us both the true resilience of the human spirit as well as laying out a practical day-by-day plan that anyone can build on to restore health and recover from chronic health losses. Sweta shares her vulnerabilities, makes recommendations, interviews experts, and reminds us all that how we respond to a situation determines our path in life. Additionally, you’ll learn about:

• The power of mindful living.
• The impact of finding and owning your voice on your well-being.
• A reminder about the role of wellness in the lives of writers & creative professionals.
• Essays and stories on coping with the pandemic, mindfulness, Ayurveda, meditation, resilience, productivity, and more.
• Tips, tricks, wisdom, all packed neatly with compassion to help you navigate life no matter what’s thrown at you.

“I’m confident that A Piece of Peace will prove to be of immense benefit to anyone interested in achieving a state of healthy physical, intellectual, and spiritual well-being.” Nitin P. Ron, MD, Speaker, Expedition Leader, and Assistant Professor of Clinical Pediatrics

“The recipe for being your most creative and productive self is in this book. Through Sweta’s journey of survival she shares the power of mindful living, the value of Ayurvedic healing and how to be the best version of yourself. A Piece of Peace is a must-have for your bookshelf.” Paula Rizzo, author, Listful Living: A List-Making Journey to a Less Stressed You

BUY HERE

Tags: featured, women writers

Category: How To and Tips