There are times when we move forward as planned. And then there are times when life forces us to change pace, rethink our priorities and accept that not everything can be done the way it was before.
For me, writing has become much more than a creative activity. It is a way to give shape to ideas, to build worlds and to keep room for projects, even when everyday life becomes harder.
One page at a time
We sometimes picture the writer sitting at the computer, inspired, able to fill page after page for hours. The reality is often simpler: you have to search for an idea, start a sentence again, leave a chapter to rest and come back to it later.
Learning to respect your own pace matters. A productive day does not always look like the one before. And moving slowly does not necessarily mean not moving at all.
Why tell stories?
I love stories because they let us explore lives, places and questions we would not necessarily come across in our daily lives. A crime novel invites us to notice the details. A travel story pushes us to see things differently. A personal account can open a conversation we would not have dared to start.
My worlds are different, from Liège to Bangkok, from the investigations of Le Carnet d’Oscar to more personal stories. Yet they have one thing in common: the wish to tell a story and share something with the reader.
Creating without waiting for the perfect moment
We sometimes wait until we have more time, more energy or ideal conditions before starting a project. But the perfect moment does not always come. Sometimes it is more useful to take a small step, even an imperfect one, than to keep putting off what matters to us.
Writing a few lines, jotting down an idea or rereading a passage can be enough to keep a project alive. It does not solve every problem, but it lets you keep a space of your own.
And you, what helps you keep going?
I am sharing this reflection because we all go through periods of doubt, change or slowing down. We do not all live them in the same way, but it can help to talk about what keeps us moving forward.
For my part, books remain a way to explore the world and to keep my love of stories. You can discover my novels, my stories and my other projects on mrschaka.com.
And you, do you have a passion or an activity that helps you get through harder times?
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The book
Mr Schaka lives with pulmonary fibrosis and has been travelling in Thailand for years. In The Season of Breath he tells the story of that journey, one step at a time, with humour and no self-pity.
