Can my creativity be overcome?

Question

Now, this may sound weird. I constantly have stories, themes, characters, plots, conversations and story ideas running around in my brain. When I come to a concrete idea with a full plot and characters, I feel obsessed about them, day in and day out. But when it comes to actually WRITING the story, I feel like it would be useless to write it (it won't be published or anything), and I'll fall short. So I just ignore it, and the stories fester. I always wanted to be a writer, and a few years ago I had my creative peak, and wrote about 3 books and dozens of short stories, which were pretty good. But now, I'm on a different career path, and I need to stop living in my past dream. The chances of becoming a published author are very small. How can I get over this unwanted creative impulse? I need a steady career, and can't obsess over something that is unlikely to ever come into reality (living off of writing).

Can my obsession be overcome?

Answer 1

Just because you're not on the writer's career path doesn't mean you can't just write things as a hobby. Make notes throughout the day, and write when you get home. Creativity is a blessing, don't stifle it.

Answer 2

Yes.

when there's a will, there's a way.

Unfortunately, I'm lost also. I know what you mean. I constantly have moments of creativity too. It's EXACTLY like your description. However, you're further down than I am, for I have not reached my "creative peak, and wrote 3 books and short stories" At least you got it all out. Good luck with finding the way. It'll benefit the both of us. =)

Answer 3

HAVE YOU LOST YOUR MIND!

You know - I actually find it repulsive that a person would actually turn their back on that burning flame that resides within themselves. Why would you or anyone who knows what their calling is turn their back on it? If you have a burning desire to write, WRITE! Forget about being published or the this and thats of politics. WRITE!

Get your steady Career if you want, but hold onto your creativity... without it, you'll become nothing more than a drone. I know a few people that would kill to be in your shoe, because they are talentless... all they know how to do is work a 9-5 get home sleep, wake up and do it again - for the rest of their lives.

Come back to your sense and hold onto your apparent gift. Publish your books yourself if you need to. Lulu.com offers self publishing... how do I know, I published my own book.

Your typical job is usually an eight hr shift with the weekends free. That gives you lots of time to focus on your career and do what you love.

Failure is another step towards success... without failure, you will never learn. Suck it up... button down, and do what it is you love doing, if not... I promise you, you will regret it.

Answer 4

Try channeling your creativity into something else, or when you get a 'steady career', use your creativity to help you excel at said job, and keep on writing at least as a hobby.

I've had the same problem as you did; I've started writing and stopped out of just....not caring for the plot anymore. Try finding writing 'prompts' (some sites have excellent instant prompts) and writing them all down in a journal. Visualize storylines with them, but don't spend time starting them. Wait about 2 weeks. Then discard all the ones that don't seem that good after a while, THEN start writing.

Don't stop writing....in this robotic and conformist society, sometimes writers need to release their creativity to stay sane or stay themselves.