Plausible diagnosis

I got the concept for this site from a casual comment made by a forum member on Ravely. It so perfectly fit the problem I was and am having. The problem of not-doing.

Fiber-crafters are notorious for having more than one iron in the fire. It’s commonly referred to as startitis. I’m willing to bet that the same tendency afflicts anyone with a creative bent. Certainly writers have to come up with ways to corral plot bunnies or to cull endless extra characters who suddenly have something important to add. But with fiber-crafters, a simple “what are you making now?” can lead to a litany of projects: a shawl, a hat, the second of a pair of mittens (first was finished a year ago), finishing a sock but not sure I want to start the second, gosh I just discovered thrums, I’m binging Grey’s Anatomy so I can finish an afghan.

But when all steam runs out, what to do? What’s the opposite to startitis, not finishitis–my god, does that even happen?–but the point where there’s no crafting at all, no creating.

Pausitis? Stallitis?

That point where you look at your stash (or your SO asks about it) and you’re just not sure where to start, or what with. Nothing speaks to you, lures you. I have no socks on my needles, no plot bunnies to jot down and tame, for once no voices spinning some tale or making some outrageous claim. I’m just not-doing.

At first, it’s ok. Taking a break. Resting my hands. Oh, nothing else is going on, just, not feeling it.

But what if it wears on, on, on. Now it’s been months of not. Maybe I forgot how? Maybe it was a passing interest or, ugh, a phase. Yeah.

If you can, maybe you can muster the sheer will power to force yourself to do something. Write a page. Knit a scrunchy. Sometimes you can.

And sometimes you just click Next Episode on streaming-service-of-choice or reread an old favorite.