Writing a Book is HARD | A Chaotic Writing Vlog & Real Talk Chat

The title says it all. Join me for a writing vlog where I talk about the struggles of writing a novel when mental and/or physical health gets in the way. If you’re struggling to find your creativity, I encourage you to watch this and see if my methods can help you too!
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Hey! I'm Natalie, welcome to my little corner of the internet. My goal for this channel is to create a community of writers supporting writers! If that sounds like something you'd like to be a part of, subscribe and let's get connected!
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[@BonnieNicoleWrites]

I appreciate the real talk. Sometimes I feel like the difficulty must mean I'm not cut out to be a writer and I have to consciously remind myself that writing IS hard and I CAN do it and it will all come together at some point.

[@nataliejaneshields]

There’s this Teddy Roosevelt quote (I had to look up the exact wording) that says, “Nothing in this world is worth having or worth doing unless it means effort, pain, difficulty.” In my words, if it wasn’t hard it wouldn’t mean anything! Writing is so SO hard, some days more than others, but the fact that we (that YOU) keep turning back to it means that you are a writer, no questions asked.

[@BonnieNicoleWrites]

@@nataliejaneshields Such a valuable reminder!! ❤

[@HeatherFlyte]

Totally hydrated! Ha. 💧

[@briellewrites]

Aww I felt for you so hard in this video. You WILL finish this project!!!! I hope your adjustment to the new job goes well, I have felt that sense of dread starting a new job in the past :/ hope you can find a balance that still allows you to be creative ❤ thanks for the vulnerability it is appreciated

[@nataliejaneshields]

Thank you 💛 New job is definitely so much more time consuming than I’m used to, but I’m making it work as well as I can! Glad people are enjoying the vulnerability 🥹

[@AuthorJCCarpenter]

Hi Natalie! Great video and you are so brave to be so vulnerable about your anxiety and your struggles with your writing. There are a lot of us writers that struggle with those moments when we have tons of ideas and we want to write but when we sit down nothing happens. I totally get that. I've had a lot of life altering events happen over the course of the last year, from becoming homeless to having to have emergency surgery while being homeless, and dealing with chronic pain issues from both Rheumatoid Arthritis and a bad accident I was in about 7 or 8 years ago and getting back to a point where I felt like I could actually write given all of that took a lot longer than I would have liked it to. The world does need your stories so keep pushing through those hard days. Also you sound like you might be experiencing chronic fatigue but I'm not a doctor so I'm not sure but it sounds like a possibility. I don't know how they can check for that but maybe something to consider. Really liking getting to know you through your videos. Take care of yourself!

[@nataliejaneshields]

Thank YOU for sharing so much in this comment! Sometimes it’s just nice to know that other people get it 😅 I’m sorry you’ve been through so much but I’m grateful that you are here to share your story with me. ME/CFS is a possibility. There’s actually no tests for it, and diagnosis is unlikely because doctors don’t want to say it’s that and have it be something else that they didn’t look for 🤷🏼‍♀️ It’s an ongoing health journey!

[@authoreloisebahr]

Chaotic vlogs are my kind of vlogs! You’re awesome and I’m proud of YOU for doing the hard things. Congratulations on your new job! 🎉❤

[@nataliejaneshields]

Thank you 🥹💛

[@Laurapoet33]

I'm so happy I discovered your channel! Really needed that little pep talk at the end. Also your dog is SO CUTE!

[@nataliejaneshields]

Thank you and WELCOME! Sometimes you just need somebody to hype you up 💛

[@CodyTheWriter]

As a member of the chaotic writer club, I feel this vlog deeply. It's so hard when you show up and do everything right, but the words continue to evade you. Best of luck starting your new job! You got this! WE got this!

[@nataliejaneshields]

Thank you Cody! I think we need club t-shirts 😂😂 “Semi-Proud Member of the Chaotic Writing Club” lol

[@CodyTheWriter]

@@nataliejaneshields Yes, please! or "I'm Neurodivergent and I'm Proud! ... wait. what were we talking about?" lol

[@JadeJuniiper]

This was all so relatable!! From the “do I eat-yes-no-yes” to the “I wanna write-where the words at?” I really enjoyed how candid you were. We all go through this but not everyone shows it

[@nataliejaneshields]

Aww thank you! I feel like this was the first blog where I was like, yeah I’ll just not edit out my crazy 😅😂 It’s nice to know I’m not the only one who does these things lol

[@megreads9]

Definitely agree 💯 with you, since three years I have the idea of my debut novel and I put the title and make the cover but I can't start why ? Maybe my brain 🧠 storming isn't yet prepared and the ideas are not coming easy so I am waiting but I did eight children stories until now which a great success to me and a great mission to accomplish, I have many struggles in my life too as I am an author employee worker outside writing and my job is taking all the energy as I have and when weekends comes I turned burn out, tired, exhausted and above all I started my KZbin channel but due to many reasons that faces me I could not upload or film, rarely doing this unfortunately, I am really burn out I don't know when I will take my vacation to reset and start my love for writing again. Good luck with your book, hope to see it soon.

[@nataliejaneshields]

Being a writer AND being everything else in life too (employee, family, friend, etc etc) can be so hard. Sometimes there’s just no time for writing, or we have no more creative energy at the end of the day to pour into our stories. I totally get it. I hope you find some rest & relief soon so you can start your story! Remember that any progress is progress, you just have to start!

[@heathermattern]

Yes it’s so hard!!! I just completed my novel outline and am stalling on the start. Eeeeek

[@nataliejaneshields]

JUMP! You gotta dive in-the hardest part of anything is starting 💛

[@kokoro_flow]

I’ve drafted, made reverse outlines and am on my 3rd rewrite. But it helps to talk to myself and record myself (5 mins videos on Loom with the ability to pause multiple times) helps. And letting my mind percolate allows my Subconscious figure it out while I’m doing something on autopilot. Like my drive home from the market today! I realized a couple plot holes, but I will get through those scenes tonight! 🥳 Good luck with work & writing! 🍀👍🏻 I’ve been working on my teleplay since spring of 2020. You’re not alone. 🩵

[@nataliejaneshields]

Making these videos, and occasionally journaling through more personal things, has definitely helped my story and my creative process. Thank you so much for the encouragement, best of luck to you as well! We can do this! 💛