I think there are times when we all feel like this. Like we’re empty. Burned out from the demands of others. I’ve felt like this at various times in my life. Right now, I feel like I’m empty, but it’s probably due to not doing anything to take care of myself. I haven’t filled my refrigerator (literally and figuratively – I hate going to the grocery store). Anyway, take care of yourself, everyone. Don’t let anyone take more than can be replenished. Don’t let your light burn out.
Like a refrigerator
People feel free to open my door
To take what they want
and ignore the rest
Soon all that’s left are items long past expiration
Condiments seldom used
Veggies bought when we were feeling motivated to do better
But rotted, forgotten
Just like those abandoned resolutions
The less appealing my contents appear
The longer they stand there
Staring into the abyss of my despair
Searching, hoping to find something worth taking
But there is nothing
I’m cold
Empty
Dark
My light has burned out
They close the door
All I Have to Say 
I wonder if that feeling comes from frustration. We’re always hearing about writers writing just for the love of it, because they can’t not write, and the creative process is an end in itself. Either they’re kidding themselves, or they get much more pleasure out of doing something else. If nobody reads what you’ve written, if no publisher will touch it, I find it’s a real downer. It isn’t enough to have written something, may as well go and scrawl graffiti in a public toilet. It needs recognition. I’m tired too, and feel as though if I can’t get this right, I haven’t achieved anything. The prospect of soon being an empty-nester doesn’t help either.
Leave the fridge alone, grit your teeth and get back to the drawing board. It’s true that recognition or not, a writer has to write.
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I’ve given up on writing more times than I can count, but I always go back to it. I decided I would write for me. Because I have to. Because it’s what I love. But, you are SO right about recognition. I don’t need a top agent or a huge book deal (though those things would be nice). I was just like someone to read my work. My own husband and most of family congratulate me when I publish something new, but they don’t read it. It’s very disheartening. I don’t know, Jane. If someone as talented as you is still struggling, there’s no hope for me.
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If it makes you feel any better, Tricia, I’ve come to the conclusion that talent, worth, skill, whatever has very little to do with success. You have to write what a publisher wants to publish. I have a top notch agent, one of the best in the UK and she loves my books, editors love my books, but the finance department’s opinion is the bottom line, and they don’t care about anything but the probabilities of raking in money. You have to write something so like a big success that they are certain it can’t fail. Otherwise, it’s an uphill struggle.
My close family don’t read my books either. Distant cousins and uncles and aunts have done though which is gratifying, but mainly I’d like to be paid for the years of work I’ve put in. And the worry and the anxiety and not doing other things. People who say the money doesn’t matter and hobby writers. I have no income. I care about having a few creature comforts. I’m still a writer though 🙂
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I’ve felt a bit like this lately as well – my refrigerator has been full of clunky sentences and wooden dialogue. My critical inner voices keep jumping in and quoting from all those articles that tell you what you shouldn’t do. I’ve started doing free writing in the mornings in an attempt to replenish my fridge with fresh ideas. I found a really useful article about it here: https://www.birdsofafeatherpress.com/nonfiction-freewriting/ It’s aimed at nonfiction writers but it works well for fiction writers too.
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This article has some good ideas. Thank you for sharing. I’ve done some freewriting here and there, but I need to commit to writing every day, or at least most days. My problem is I’ll go weeks or months without writing a thing. My fridge is empty of ideas, motivation, and energy. All I’ve got is a stack of incomplete manuscripts.
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I’m toiling my way through a series at the moment – I love the ideas, but expressing them is like pulling teeth! With the free writing, I’ve had to totally chuck out the idea that it has to be GOOD – I’ve told myself it can be complete and utter rubbish, because no one is ever going to see it. So far this seems to be working and I’ve managed to churn out a little story every morning. Then again, I’m only 3 days in – fingers crossed I’ll keep it up!
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