Coming Up For Air
Look, writers write. If you’re never actually sitting down and writing, you’re not a writer. We all know that. But does that mean that writers are writing 24/7, 365? Does that mean writers never take a break? Never recharge? Never do anything else, other than writing?
Not at all. And don’t let anyone fool you into thinking otherwise.
I’ll be honest: I’ve been struggling creatively this past week or so. I’ve been thinking about stories, written bits and pieces down, but nowhere near what my usual output is. I’ve felt drained creatively, and weary. There’s a lot going on in the world right now that sucks, and I know that’s a part of it; there’s a lot going on for me, personally, too: On top of being a husband and a father, I’m working a 9-5 job that I don’t enjoy, completing grad school, and generally trying to be a responsible adult. Usually, writing is an absolute joy for me: it’s something I want to do. But sometimes, it can get hard. The well runs dry; the mind, the body, the soul, they get tired. I don’t know anyone that can just write, write, write all day, every day. But it can certainly appear like they do—especially if you’re following writers on Twitter and reading articles about being a productive writer. Which can make those of us having a dry spell feel like crap, or worse—feel like we’re not writers.
I read a tweet yesterday morning from writer I follow that I really admire (Sequoia Nagamatsu, go check him out!) that was addressing this very phenomenon. His advice: “Come up for air.” Take a break. Spend time with your family. Watch a movie. Listen to music. Read. Go for a walk. Sleep. Play a game. Allow yourself to breathe, to step back and recharge. If you never come up for air, never take breaks, you will burn out. Worse: you’ll lose the joy.
When I feel creatively drained, or weary, or just not in a writing mood, I often go read something by Ray Bradbury, my favorite author. Sometimes I’ll go read a short story of his, but mostly I pick up my copy of his book of writing essays, Zen in the Art of Writing, and read one of them. I immediately feel better, creatively. Why? Because I’m reminded that I should be writing because I enjoy writing; because I enjoy telling stories. If I’m not enjoying what I’m doing, what’s the point? Why put myself through that? And sometimes, to get back to the joy of writing, I need to take a break from it. And I’m learning, slowly, how to be okay with that.
(Sidebar: Bradbury wrote every day, and has famously said he wrote a short story every week, which he suggested something writers do if they want to get serious about becoming better writers. I would love to get to this point, but I’m nowhere close, which brings to mind something else that I try to remember, and may be helpful for other writers out there: We are all unique. No two of us have the same writing habits, the same approach to writing. We are all not built the same way. What works for others may not work for you. AND THAT’S OK. Make peace with that, and you’ll feel better. Acceptance, friends: it’s a beautiful, wonderful thing.)
So here it is, writers, here’s what I needed to hear, and what I’m sure some of you need to hear, too:
You have permission to take a break.
Come up for air. Recharge. Fill that creative well back up by putting your pens down and resting your creative faculties. Read. We all got into writing because we love stories, right? Take some time to read some good stories, to inspire yourself again.
Trust me: you’ll feel much better, and you’ll be ready to get back to the Work. And most importantly? You’ll get back to enjoying the Work.
