Writing is a long road. Sometimes the road goes smoothly, but other times the road goes through so many pot holes, stupid gates with stupid locks, down trees, and muck that you may not think you will ever see civilization again. What? You never experienced a gate that protects another gate that protects a house no one lives in before? Okay. Maybe that is less writing and more day job. Literal roads like that stink. Trust me.
Lots of times we drive on through. We push and sometimes it works out great. Other times not so much. You get stuck in the deep, dark woods and have to wait for someone to pull you out. Only to find you have no cell service. That would be when the voices in your head decide to run away. But by pushing, did they really run? They could have been telling you, much like your body when you over exercise, that they need a break and you didn't listen. Now they aren't listening to you.
It's been said many a time this time of year to break and take time with family. That is true. Do it. Real life has to take priority in many a case, but don't rely on the "magic" day. Much like new years where many throw words around like "fresh" or "new start" or some other delusion, going until certain stops like the holidays isn't necessarily going to help you write more.
Your mind needs a break when it needs a break. It may be a few weeks in December or it may be April Fools day. Or Barbie in a Blender day. Yeah. That's a thing. There may never be a rhyme or reason to it. It may never have a certain schedule. But if you force it, you may end up stuck in the deep, dark woods and having to wade through mud to get a cell signal before the voices finally come back.
So my convoluted and run-on point would be to not wait for anything. If you need a break, no matter when it is, take it. If you want to start an exercise routine then do it. You can enjoy family time, writing, and many other aspects of life any time of the year. You just have to make a conscious effort to do so and not buy into the "magic" or "fresh" or whatever other words that make little practical sense are thrown at you.
And hopefully by taking that break when you really need it and not when a schedule or holiday dictates, you will find yourself a more productive writer. Unless you are productive another way. Then do that! Don't ever change something that works. Even if a rhyming cat tells you to.
Do you believe in a fresh start with a new year? Do you think there is a magic day? Have you ever gotten stuck down a long crappy road? Have you ever pushed yourself too far and found you couldn't write anything? Do you wait for a certain time or take the break when you need it?
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8:00 am - 8:00 pm Eastern Standard Time
Create a Twitter-length pitch for your completed and polished manuscript and leave room for genre, age, and the hashtag. On January 20, 2021, Tweet your pitch. If your pitch receives a favorite/heart from a publisher/agent check their submission guidelines and send your requested query.
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7 comments:
Hi Pat - life is a journey, and each part of our life will always have its ups and downs ... but you've described the writing journey so well and what we can do about it ... wonderful phrase of yours ... 'Barbie in a Blender day': I'll need to adjust it to something English. We all need to recharge at times and right now is very challenging ... stay safe and take care - Hilary
Barbie in a blender? Now that would be funny!
Recharging this month for sure.
My writing "schedule" for the year is based on past year's ups and downs, but I can always change. I know I generally do.more daydreaming, idea lists, and faith writing in December, so that's on the "schedule" but the schedule is always malleable and changeable depending on life. I literally overdid walking this summer and now have achilles tendonitis. So yeah, I get pointedly that I can overdo in pursuit of a goal, and I need to regularly check in with reality before reality checks me to the sidelines. All a lot of comment to say, I agree. I like New Years and the idea of "newness" but I know it's a construct that doesn't always help.
Hello Pat, writing is like life I think, one either feels motivated ot the opposite according to how their life is progressing.,,,,, well it is for me. This year have not been a good year for the world so hopefully 2021 will be more positive for many people.
Enjoyed reading your post, have a good Christmas and keep safe and well.
Yvonne.
Yes, it's so important to take a break when you really need it, no matter what the reason. Hope you have a happy, safe holiday.
December is a perfect re-charge time, just as August works the same purpose for those of us who write around kids' school schedule. Re-charge is not down-time, but an essential part of the creative process.
Hilary - that we all do and sure challenging indeed.
Alex - I read it was an actual thing a while back lol
Tyrean - reality sure can be a pain, literally, so have to check in indeed. The idea of newness is nice, but yeah, not a construct that helps.
Yvonne - hopefully 2021 will be better indeed, but I doubt it.
Natalie - That it is indeed.
Mirka - An essential part of the process for sure.
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