We’ve all had those moments when writing feels impossible — not because we don’t want to do it, but instead because there’s just too much going on around us. Feelings of overwhelm are a very common reason writers don’t write, no matter how much they might love writing. Sometimes, even when you love something, even that isn’t enough to defeat the exhaustion of, well … existing.
When you’re having one of those moments where Everything Is On Fire And Not At All Fine, you have two choices: write anyway, or write later. It turns out both options are the right one depending on what you think is best for you.
Writing Doesn’t Have to Be an Escape — But It Can Be
Escapism can be a writer’s best friend when it comes to storytelling. Is the world burning down around you? Write a story featuring a world where that isn’t happening, perhaps. But as therapeutic as that practice can be, it also works in the opposite direction. What if writing about the things that are stressing you out makes those things feel a little more manageable?
I’ve written, or tried to write, a lot about grief over the past year or so. It’s helped me get through a lot of my real-world feelings even though I haven’t written much about my personal experiences. Writing has a way of helping us see our own situations and perspectives differently, almost as if inserting our own trauma into a story makes it easier to process because, for that small amount of time you spend writing about it, it’s not happening to you.
A Schedule Is a Writer’s Secret Superpower
When it comes to writing, consistency is one of the most important and beneficial aspects of your practice. Consistent dedication to your craft is more important than the numbers themselves — such as how many words you write per session, or how often — or even the quality of your drafts. When you keep showing up, no matter what, you keep getting better at it.
This becomes especially important when you want to continue writing during difficult stretches — in your life, in the world, whatever might be zapping your energy at the moment. During these stretches, it’s not about doing your best work. It’s about getting the work done. Setting a schedule and sticking to it — such as writing for 15 minutes three times per week this month — can really make a difference. Maybe you and your writing aren’t at 100 percent right now. But at least you’re trying. That counts.
Sometimes, Not Writing Is the Most Productive Success Strategy
All this being said, there will be times where your best option is to set your writing aside for a little while. Not forever; just for now. Yes, consistency is good, and it can be helpful to process feelings and situations through storytelling. But when you only have so much of yourself to give, and circumstances demand seemingly more of you than you have left, not writing might actually be the best thing you can do for you, your future career, and the people you care about.
I’ve had to say no to writing for periods of time in recent years simply because someone or something else needed my immediate attention. This isn’t a sign of failure; quite the opposite. Some of the most successful writers out there have learned their limits and how to set boundaries for themselves. If you need to rest, or focus on something else, put the pen down. Close your laptop. Your writing will still be there when you’re in a better position to pick it back up again.
It’s hard to figure out when to push through the pain and when to take a break. Trust your gut. In the long-term, your writing will benefit from the choices you make in the moments that matter most.
Meg Dowell Writes 