A lot of writers think writing every day is the best
medicine to keep your skills sharp and get yourself out of writers' block. Then
there are others who believe it's best to step away for a time until an idea
strikes or simply to take a mental break.
I'm in the step away house, generally for no more than a
week. If I'm not feeling it, I'm just not feeling it. And let me add, I don't mean
editing or reworking a scene I've already written. I can do that and it has
helped me in the past. I mean writing brand spanking new material.
Generally, when I take a break, my brain can calm down
(somewhat anyway) and I can unknot the jumble of thoughts and ideas tangled up in
my head. I can literally visualize them unraveling and the not-so-great ideas
dissolving away and the better ideas coming into clear focus. Stepping away actually
keeps me from going down a bad path and then being too invested in it to get
myself out.
I truly believe everyone is different in this way. What
works for me undoubtedly would backfire on someone else. What makes my mind fresh, might make others even more stuck in their work.
What are your thoughts? Do you believe in writing every day?
If so, how does it help you? How do know it won't take you down a bad path in
your current manuscript or do you write something off topic as a mental exercise?
Thanks, everyone!
Hilary
I try to write as often as I can, but usually, it's not every day. I have a bad habit of straying from my original story-line and making things up as I go, so giving my brain a day or two to work through the details of what needs to happen next has proven to be beneficial to my writing.
ReplyDeleteGlad to hear I'm not alone on this. I need a mental brake sometimes. :)
DeleteI've always been confused by the advice to write every day. Literally every single day, weekends and holidays and when you are sick? That doesn't seem realistic for most people, or fun. I write *something* most days, but I might go months between writing new material for a novel, because I'm editing or querying, or I'm focused on work for hire. I do think it's a good idea to schedule time for writing every week. It's kind of like exercise; if you don't do it for a long time, it's that much harder to get back into it. But as your body sometimes needs a recovery break from exercise, your brain may also need a break from writing.
ReplyDeleteLOL, Chris! I know! :)
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