Writers write. They put pen to the paper and fingers to the keyboard. We have a burning desire to get the stories in our heads out for all to see. But what happens when life gets in the way and you have to put your writing on hold?
Augsust has become the month when I do not write. At all. I don't even edit. I work in a school office and registration for students is a huge job and requires alot of overtime hours. I have put in almost 40 hours overtime in the last two weeks and I am tired. The last thing I want to do when I get home is get on a computer and write. Don't get me wrong...the stories float around in my head, simmering away for the time when life slows down and I have the energy to spin a tale.
There may be times in your life when you must put the pen down and let your writing rest. Maybe you have just had a baby. Maybe you have a sick loved one that needs caring for. Maybe you are moving...oh yeah...I moved today as well. All those things force us to back away from our love of writing and focus on important life issues.
The good news is, life has a way of slowing down and getting back in order. Like the waves of the sea, so life ebbs and flows. Writing is never far away. It is always there to embrace you when you are ready.
What times in your life have you had to step away from your writing?
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10 comments:
Summer has been that way for me too. I want to make my kids' time the best it can be. :O)
I just came back from a week's vacation in Mexico. I informed my kids I wasn't bringing my computer. They said, "You're not writing at all?!" I paused just long enough for them to look skeptical. I had to explain that, as you said, the stories would continue to "simmer"--so they might find me scratching out a few thoughts on a legal pad. But really, the week was mostly about rest.
Can it happen on a day by day basis? There are days when I just CAN'T write -and sometimes those days stretch into weeks. But I'm like you, Sherrinda,ideas are alway 'simmering' in my head, no matter where I go. Sometimes 'new' ideas, which I HAVE to put a stop to if I'm ever going to finish the ones I've already started :-)
May the Lord give you strength, wisdom, and creativity- so that when your writing time comes again, you'll be more than prepared.
Oh Sherrinda, bless your heart...You moved during your busiest work season? You definitely need a writing break!
I feel like my life is finally settling down 2 months after my daughter's birth. She's sleeping better, and the 6-hour stretches of sleep are making me feel more human again. :-)
Oh Sarah,
new baby AND trying to get ready for ACFW. Oh my goodness, girl. I feel your pain.
Prayers with you too.
My mom was a high school registrar for a few years (she went back to the classroom) and I can DEFINITELY understand why you'd need a break!! An moving, too? I can't even imagine.
I think a break helps foster continued creativity as well as help us be able to focus on the fine details.
Um, the last nine months???
I had grandeur plans of getting a BUNCH of writing done while I was pregnant so I could feel free to take a good break after she was born.
Uh, yeah. That did not happen. Not only was I exhausted all the time, I was overly emotional after we found out about her heart, and anything I wrote was full of rediculous typos and was just not worthy of the time and effort I put into it.
So I relaxed and let myself not be so consumed with it.
I thought, "Ya know, I'll spend a LOT of time just watching baby in the hospital, I'll write THEN."
Then Annabelle came, and my heart breaks each day watching her. Yeah, the writing muse is not with me well either, and writing just seems SO unimportant right now! I DID edit some the other day, and I've READ about 4 books so far (would have been more but the last one wasn't very good and took me almost 2 weeks to make myself finish it... hence the reason I procrastinated and edited!)
So my long story to say: Yes, sometimes we need to set it on the back burner (look, cliche!) and take care of our family/bill-paying job first!
I also don't write, usually, in December or January due to my day job schedule as well.
A great cup of comfort from all.
The comments and post have been the loving response to many reader's needs today.
Kudos Sherrinda
Great post Sherrinda, very soothing in and of itself! I took the summer off before diving back into my edits this fall. I must say I am nearly ready to get back to work on it. And see just where this next "chapter" takes me. ;)
So true. I took a 5 year sabbatical from writing when my kids were little (well, I guess at 2 and 5 they're still little). Now I write after 9 pm.
@Krista, I'm keeping your family in prayer still.
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