As you are aware I did not blog last week. It was fiscal year end at work. My two daughters had birthdays and family and friends came into town to help celebrate. Also, my wife’s birthday is today. Needless to say it was a busy week. Through it all I barely wrote, and it was the best decision I could have ever made.
So, here are a few reasons why every writer needs a vacation.
1. It’s refreshing – Writer’s write about life. But when it passes by at a thousand miles per hour they don’t have a chance to take it in and it becomes harder and harder to write. At some point the well of creativity dries up. Taking a step back can help revitalize your inner artist. You might even see something that restores child-like wonder.
2. Family is important – I write because I love it. But I love my family more. Spending time with my daughters on their birthdays was grand. We ate cake, opened presents, rode a carousel while my daughter June grinned ear to ear. It was magical and it was as if time stopped. I will never forget that.
3. It is healthy – As a writer, and husband, and father, and worker, and friend, and Christian, I have many roles that demand attention and require tons of energy if I want to do them well. I don’t want to be a Jack of all trades because that just means I’m average at everything. I want to be great. When I focus on one thing, like being a good father, I have more confidence to take a step back from being a parent to write. If I was a terrible husband or absent father it would be difficult, psychologically, to write. I bet I would be consumed by guilt which would certainly stifle my ability to write.
4. It helps you get perspective – Perhaps you are struggling with a concept. Maybe you’ve written yourself into a dead end and cannot see how to bridge a section of your novel with where you want it to go. There are many times when I am not focused on my novel when suddenly I am struck with an idea that will help me continue my work. It’s like the plotting part of my brain works best when I am not writing at all.
These are just a few reasons writers need a break. Have you taken a break from writing for a period? If so why? Did you find your inner artist refreshed?
Find some time to write today.
Cheers,
Bob
PART-TIME NOVEL 
Good for you for taking a break. I need to be better at that. I’m a busy person to begin with (even when I’m on vacation I don’t sit still), so it’s hard to force myself to relax. At best, I’ll relax with a book or watching a movie. But even then I’m doing something, aren’t I.
I think the other reason is that writing is relaxing for me anyway. I actually feel more stressed and out of sorts when I miss a day of writing. It’s my chance to get away for a bit. 🙂
I have that issue too, trying to watch a movie and blog or clean and watch hockey are not really relaxing activities.
Now taking a writing vacation that would be excellent! But that might not be a vacation either, or would it? I guess what a vacation is varies from person to person.