Taking a Break and Coming Back to Writing

I think everyone I know in the writing world has taken some time off of writing. I know I did, although I wouldn’t recommend the amount of time I took off by any means. I have to say through those 10 years that I was living a different life and exploring things I would have never considered previously.  

We can all use a little time off if our deadlines allow us to feed different facets of our creativity. What do we have to write about if we are not experiencing things, or maybe it is the lack of being able to experience that you would want to write about? 

Today I see the story in almost everything now. There were times when I struggled to find anything to write about. However, a leaf running across the road or in the man who sits in the parking lot every day for lunch is my story starts. I wonder why this leave is moving in this very moment what would it mean to someone who feels along and what is this man going through every day he sits in his car.  

What I am saying it is okay to take some time off now and then from writing. I just recently had to for my own peace of mind.

I know I said it.

 Take a break.

Not because I said you should, or it is what I do but because you might find ourselves burnt out. It doesn’t mean you have to take a break for years or even months. For that matter, just take a day off. 

For some of you, this might be scary because you don’t know what it would be like to not write for a day, but you can try it. Take the day off from writing and write about what it was like to take the day off. 

Did you like it? 

Was it like nails on a chalkboard? 

Then do it again, or don’t do it again, but don’t feel like crap because you give yourself a break.

I’m constantly bombarded with posts and emails about being productive, going at it like a boss, and this is the only way to get anywhere in life. Sometimes the pressure seems like so much I don’t feel like I can breathe. That is when I stop.

I stop looking that posts, stop racking my brain for more writing time, and stop reading the great articles.

Writing doesn’t disappear, and you don’t forget everything you learned. Now you might be a bit rusty when you come back to writing, and you might want to read up a little on what is going on in the world of writing if it has been years. 

You can always come back to writing. 

It is never too late to write the book. 

You can allow yourself to rest. 

It is never too late to write again.

If this was you, stop here if you need a kick in the rear keep reading.

So maybe you are not the person that needs to take a break but need a kick in the rear?

You are screaming 

Where did October go?

 November is ticking away! 

I have sat here for the first few days of November and realized October came and went in the blink of an eye.

What do you do now that month is over, and you have nothing written you wanted to? 

1. You start over. Not from scratch mind you, but you do have to forgive yourself and realize every day is a new day to write. 

2. You guard your writing time with your life. Whatever time of day that is for you.

3. Start with smaller projects or goals. Write a flash fiction story in a week or a poem if you are living a crazy busy life. At the end of the month, four is better than none. 

4. If you have not other time at least, give yourself 10 minutes. Come back 10 minutes early from lunch or give yourself 10 minutes before you go to bed. Even 5 minutes is better than nothing.

I have read a lot of articles that say write every day even when you don’t feel like it. I see the benefits in this because the more you create on behalf of your passion, the better you will be, but much like life has seasons I think writing does too. It is still okay to have a break and give yourself the grace to get back to work. So if you are in that resting period, set yourself a timer and stick to when you will write again.

Minutes toward your dream are better than nothing, so just write.