Right now, I’m on vacation on the Outer Banks of North Carolina. You may be wondering, why are you still writing a blog post if you’re on vacation? Good question… which is why this will be short and sweet.
Forget the “rules” that tell you that you need to write every day, or write 2,000 words a day, or whatever it may be, in order to be a “real” writer. While you do need consistency in order to accomplish your writing goals, following someone else’s rules isn't necessarily going to be the best way for you to do it.
After finishing a big project, you might need to take a writing break. Productivity culture tells us we need to get started on the next book right away, but usually we need to take some time to refill our creative well. Writing a book, from first draft to final draft (and publication) is an enormous undertaking. Even if other people make it look easy - it’s not!
There are a number of ways you can take a break:
Well, obviously, you can go on vacation, as I have. (I finally finished the final final draft of my book). Getting away from your usual surroundings forces your brain to create new neural pathways. It brings in new sights, sounds, smells, and experiences. If you can’t get away for a long period, try a long weekend, or even a day trip.
Do a series of Artist Dates. Julia Cameron defines Artist Dates as “a once-weekly, solo block of time (usually about one to two hours) dedicated to nurturing your inner creative self.” You can try another art form, explore a new neighborhood, listen to music, visit museums or art galleries… use your imagination!
Play with your writing! Do other types of writing than you usually do. Try poetry, flash fiction, personal essays, micro-memoirs…
Read! Follow where your curiosity leads. Read the writers you adore. Read new writers, in new genres. Read widely and deeply.
Of course, you can also listen to podcasts, watch films, documentaries, and tv shows, etc. You never know where you might find your next inspiration.
Take long walks, without listening to music or podcasts, or other distractions. Let your mind wander along with your feet.
You might also take a mini-break after finishing a draft. It’s important to let any draft settle before you tackle the next one. Only then can you come back to it with fresh eyes and see what the next draft needs.
Any time you feel burned out, you can take a break.
Above all, don’t feel guilty! Or fear that you won’t get back to your writing. In fact, if you take a break now and then, you will be more likely to come back to your work with fresh energy.
I am taking my break by doing many of the above - going away, reading, writing in different genres, taking a resin stained-glass style art class, taking long walks on the beach, hitting up local art/craft stores and galleries… fitting in as much as I can but also taking plenty of time to relax.
As we close in on the busy end of the year, you may feel the need to focus less on creative work and more on all the usual holiday activities. That’s okay too.
The main thing is to take a deliberate break. If you are using breaks to avoid writing, it comes out not as a break, but as an occasion to bash yourself with guilt. You also don’t get the benefit of the real rest a break can give.
So - go ahead and take a break!
What are your favorite ways to take a break? Let us know in the comments!
If you like this, head on over to the Contact Page and sign up to get my monthly newsletter featuring tips on creativity, productivity, and the writer’s craft.
