On Friday, December 18th, I wrote 1000 words. It was the first writing-related thing (aside from attending the workshop) that I did in December, and it may well be all I do. Which made me think that I should write a bit about not writing.
Every published author will tell you that the secret is to sit on your butt and write every day. They’ll tell you to give up social engagements, lock yourself in your office, and write. Some even say that writers write because they can’t not do it, and that if you don’t feel like writing all the time, maybe you should be a writer. That’s all well and good, but life sometimes gets in the way, sometimes you’re tired, sometimes you just don’t feel like writing.
November, December, and January are the busiest months of work for me. November, I wrote 50,000 words and watched work ramp up. December has been crazy. I’ve been on two business trips. One week, I worked a 16 hour day and had put in 40 hours before I went to bed on Wednesday. Most nights, I’m just too tired to write.
And that’s okay.
Because sometimes, it’s okay not to write. Sometimes life or work or the holidays gets in the way, and you need to take a break. Here’s some ideas to make sure that time isn’t wasted:
- Read — Even when I’m too tired to write, I’m not too tired to read. I check out books in my genres, read recently-published first novels, scour editor, agent and author blogs. I’m looking to understand my market–what’s hot, what’s not. I’m looking to expand my toolbox by seeing what others are doing. And I’m looking to build my confidence by reading those newly-minted first novels that make me say, “Hey! I can do that good. Maybe even better. I should get back to writing!”
- Research — There’s plenty of things to research. I posted recently a link to Richard Perkins’s blog entry on agents. I’m reading up on the process of finding an agent and a publisher, so that I’m ready when I finish revising Pretenders of Kronau. I’m researching material for a couple of stories I have in mind, reading articles on the internet or in books or magazines. Eventually, some of this research will get me to the point where I’m psyched to start writing again.
- Recharge — Sometimes you need to fill those mental batteries. This time can be used to go out and have new experiences–visit a museum, go skiing, travel to a town you’ve never been to. Even spending time with friends and relatives gets me new stories or bits of dialogue I can mine for future works. And one of those moments might inspire me to go back home and start writing.
- Rest — Sometimes you’re just tired. There’s a reason we’re supposed to get two days off from our day job each week. There’s no reason we can’t take one or two days off from our self-inflicted second job.
The key to all of these is to make sure they are temporary. If it goes on for more than a week or two or happens more than a couple times a year, there may be an issue. But every once in a while, just like with your regular job, it’s good to take a break and do something else.
The holidays are a good time for that. Stop writing. Go find your loved ones. Have a drink. Play a game. Give them a hug.
And have a happy new year!
