The image of the writer is very easy to romanticise. Writing is almost always a solitary act, most often accompanied by many cups of either scalding hot or ‘left for too long’ cold tea or coffee, and committed under the deep dark cover of the night—because that’s when inspiration strikes, apparently. In reality, most writers probably avoid burning the midnight oil as much as they can in order to be able to function properly and consciously during the day (which is not to say ideas never come at two or three in the morning—and those which do are very often pretty darn good ones).
Ideally, a writer should have some time during the day set aside just to sit down and write; it doesn’t have to be to work on their main project, it could be just writing for the sake of writing, if the muse just isn’t there. Dedicating even half an hour a day to writing keeps the writer in practice—as with any other skill, returning to it after a period of stagnation is more difficult than doing it regularly, even if it’s only small amounts of time inbetween other, often more pressing things.
[ image from: https://kel1ipa2sman2bdg.wordpress.com/2016/09/15/bahasaku-bahasa-indonesia/ ]
Many writers feel the pressure of making the most of the time they devote to their craft, especially if they don’t have a lot of it. They feel like any time not used to develop what they’re working on, especially if it was difficult for them to find it, is wasted—which very often leads to frustration and unproductiveness, not to mention unnecessary stress. In a situation where there are no time limits (because working on a deadline requires another style of time management), it’s important to realise that it’s okay to step away from working on one thing all the time, if not from writing in general. It’s okay to take a break, breathe for a minute, and regroup—a change in strategy is often what leads to victory.
It’s difficult to tell what exactly will do it, what will bring the errant muse back to the writer’s mind—with how deeply personal the entire writing process is, coping with lack of inspiration or simple overworkedness is an equally individual matter. Sometimes it’s best to literally step away from the computer, or from the pen and paper (for the more traditional folks out there), take a walk, or have a little snack and a glass of water. After all, being creative requires massive amounts of mental capacity, which, unfortunately, isn’t infinite for most of us, and it’s important to replenish our physical resources in order to get it back.
Another important thing is to remember that writing shouldn’t feel like a chore—once it does, and the excitement and fun of stringing words together are not there, they become replaced with frustration, stress, and often lead to the most painful writer’s block. Forcing yourself to write doesn’t bring joy; and, adapting Marie Kondo’s great decluttering method to the space of our minds, if it doesn’t bring joy, it’s not something we need, or should, keep doing.
That’s not to say that once there is a block, we should just completely stop writing, treat our foray into the craft as a lost endeavour, or—heavens forbid—a failure. However, there is something many writers, especially many young writers forget—it’s okay not to be writing all the time. It’s okay to take a moment away from the page and put yourself first.
Who knows, perhaps all you need to come up with the best idea of your life is just a breath of fresh air?
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