Monday, May 17, 2010

Taking a break


I'm tired. I don't feel like working on my WIP. I don't feel like editing, fixing or being creative. I don't feel like pushing through an hour on a hard chair or even checking my facebook page. Do you ever find yourself feeling that way? Is it okay to take a break, sit back and just read a good book instead?

So many times I've been told at conferences to push through it. Make yourself sit down and write every day. Most times, I do that and when I don't, I feel guilty. That can't be good either. I don't want to write because I feel guilty if I don't. Maybe at those times, it's best to take a rest, to sit back and let the juices begin to flow on their own again, to make it fun again.

So. That is what I'm going to do today. I'm not going to make myself sit here and write or fix my wip when I'm too tired to think. Sometimes, a nap is the best way to go.

I'm going now. I'm going to lie down on my incredibly comfy bed. I'm going to pick up the new book I'm reading which I am really enjoying and I'm going to enjoy the slow, hypnotic turn of my ceiling fan. Maybe I'll even snack on strawberries. The thing I'm NOT going to do is feel guilty that I'm not sitting at my computer slaving away at something I'm just not in the mood to do.

I think I have some dark chocolate hidden in my drawer. Hello lover, here I come.

12 comments:

Mary Gray said...

Good! Take a break! We need them. I usually watch a show or read a book. We can't be brilliant all the time, now can we?

Angie said...

Oh, that picture looks so good, and a nap sounds heavenly! Don't feel guilty. Enjoy your break!

Karen Jones Gowen said...

No need to feel guilty. I don't write every day. I can't follow that kind of routine, but I do things daily to feed my creativity. Like daydream while staring out the window. Reading for hours. Watching a great movie. Blogging. Journaling. Taking a walk. Who says being a writer is just about the writing?

Old Kitty said...

Enjoy your chocolate, your bed,your book and your nap. Oh and strawberries!

Sometimes you just need to rest and have a break from all that writing! No guilt - just wallow in guilty pleasures! :-)

all the best now!

take care
x

Melissa Cunningham said...

Thanks, you guys! I love your support! We all need that when we're feeling a lack of brilliance.

Anonymous said...

I've recently done this--just stepped out for a break and told myself I'm not feeling guilty for it. I needed it. Truly. I'm glad you're doing the same for yourself.

Stina said...

A break (and dark chocolate) sounds like a great idea. The ideas don't flow when you force them. ;)

Aubrie said...

A lot of times when I feel like this I read a great book and then I'm refreshed the next day. Good luck!

Krista said...

When I try to force it, it comes out wrong. Enjoy your chocolate and comfy bed. As a matter of fact... I might do the same thing right now.
Thanks!

Anonymous said...

Tonight I finished the book I was reading, instead of writing. Tomorrow I hope to write something good. One day at a time!

I can't believe you had chocolates stashed away, and hadn't eaten it before now. That doesn't work at my house. My evil twin always finds it, and polishes it off. She never saves any for me. (Rude!)

Mel Chesley said...

There are days when I do feel that way. I do just go sit and watch a movie, read and just plain relax. My characters will start to whine and I tell them to stop or I won't finish their story... at all! :D

Sometimes it is good to have that "mom" voice in your head, too. ;)

Heather Justesen said...

Sometimes it's totally hard to give yourself permission to take a break, but you're right, we all need one sometimes. It's important to prioritize our writing and make time for it, but when it starts to become a chore then it's time to rethink things.