Sunday, August 19, 2007

Sometimes you need a break

For all my talk about you CAN find the time to be a writer, you have to use some common sense too. Sometimes you just need a rest. Your body needs a rest. Your mind needs a rest. Heck, maybe your family needs a rest from you and your crazy drive at being a writer.

It's okay every once in a while to set aside a project for a day. It's okay to go a few days without reading something. Sometimes your mind just needs to not think so much, to clear itself out a little, or you can really frig yourself up.

Even I sometimes take a day off. I try not to do it too often, maybe one or two days a month. But I know me. I'm lazy. And I get freaked out if I start thinking about the mechanics of a project too much; I'll get scared and find excuses for not sitting down at the keyboard.

Sometimes all you need is a change of pace. If you've been writing a lot for weeks on end, maybe switch it up and do some editing for a few days. Or if you've been working on a novel, take a break and write a couple of short stories. If you've been reading some really heavy, dense material, go check out something light, fluffy and quick to read. Try something new, maybe a genre you've never delved into. Or pick a random non-fiction book out at the library, maybe something you've had a slight interest in but never taken the time to study up on.

Doing some of these things can help to rejuvinate your brain, and your writing. And by broadening your reading horizons, you might find some new story ideas.

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