In a post on Killzone, Terry Odell says not writing is sometimes your best choice.
In Odell’s case, family issues became overwhelming, leaving her little time to write and less mental energy. “Constant interruptions, distractions, and the pressure to get everything done wasn’t conducive to productivity—at least productivity that wouldn’t end up being the victim of the delete key,” she says. “I gave myself permission to set the manuscript aside and not feel guilty about it.”
Whether writing is your hobby, aspiration, or your job, you can still take a vacation or leave of absence, Odell says. Your novel will be waiting when you get back.
When you come back – and you will – Odell has a few tips for getting back in the swing of things:
- Clear up your chores. If you’re worried about your house, bills, email, etc. you won’t be able to focus on your writing. Take a day or weekend to get caught up on tasks.
- Beta read for others. Reinvigorate your writing mindset by reading and providing critiques of someone else’s work.
- Work on other writing tasks. Update your blog and check in with your online writing forums. Don’t let it become a time suck, but do use online time to ease back into your practice.
- Incorporate feedback. If you’ve received feedback on part of your novel, read and incorporate it before you start writing upcoming scenes or chapters. Fix what needs fixing and use this opportunity to refresh you relationship with your characters.
Odell has a few more suggestions and asks for your tips.
