I have really frustrating days where I just don't want to write, but I'm a professional writer with clients and deadlines.
I've been told a billion times "just sit down and write." I've been told that writing every single day as a habit will help me break down the walls of writer's block and help me keep going.
Well let me tell you some days that's impossible. When my mental health tanks or my body is physically ill writing becomes almost crippling to even think about.
Unlike folks who work in manufacturing or office administration (or any other non-creative industry for that matter) my job isn't just a mind-numbing task. It takes careful thought, creativity, and positive emotion to be creative and artistic. In other words, I can't write a freakin' love story when I'm feeling depressed.
I don't think "make daily writing a habit" is a one-size-fits-all approach that works with creative jobs. It's bad advice that has the potential to leave the hearer feeling inadequate and unheard.
My advice? (And this is coming from someone who has written 5million+ words over the past three years with more than 100 novels to her name and averages 12k words at least five days a week.)
Write when you are feeling creative, and rest when you're not.
Self-care is quite literally essential and required for creatives. If you don't take time to nurture that creative part of your soul, you'll pour all of your heart out and have nothing left to give. Go for a walk. Have a glass of wine. Sit under the stars or with your feet in the sand (I'm a mermaid so that's my choice.), but whatever you do, pour into yourself as much as you pour onto the page. You won't regret it.
Because when you return to the computer to type or the notepad to write, you'll flow even faster. My record is 26k words in one day when I was on a high. On my worst days all I can do is scroll X and hope I don't feel that way the next day.
You've got this. Be graceful with yourself and you'll thank me later. <3 XOXO ~Ovni
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