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?
And don't forget to have your tweets ready to go for:
The next #IWSGPit will be in January 20, 2021
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.
Many writers have seen their books published from a Twitter pitch - it’s a quick and easy way to put your manuscript in front of publishers and agents.
Go HERE for more info and the rules!
