Loved reading this. As a chronically ill writer who writes from bed more often than not, at an erratic schedule that sometimes produces great volumes of words and sometimes only a trickle, it's deeply frustrating seeing those articles floating around about writing every day, as if that's the only way to do it, to prove that you're committed.
As you said, "what is so terrible about this particular advice is that it puts the focus on the work of writing on the production of words rather than the consideration of them."
Writers aren't production lines. Or we shouldn't be, anyway.
Writing every single day and hitting those mythical 1000+ words every time is such a debilitating myth that caused multiple writers, beginners and seasoned ones alike, so much anxiety, impostor syndrome and heartache that I can't even bear to start on that.
And when does the thinking about writing happen? When indeed.
I loved reading this. I wrote two novels (unpublished) when working freelance during the pandemic. Since then I've become a mum and gone back to teaching in a school, and have written very little. I've beaten myself up so much as a result. But you're so right - it's the time to think that's key, much more key than hammering out words. Thank you for sharing!
Loved reading this. As a chronically ill writer who writes from bed more often than not, at an erratic schedule that sometimes produces great volumes of words and sometimes only a trickle, it's deeply frustrating seeing those articles floating around about writing every day, as if that's the only way to do it, to prove that you're committed.
As you said, "what is so terrible about this particular advice is that it puts the focus on the work of writing on the production of words rather than the consideration of them."
Writers aren't production lines. Or we shouldn't be, anyway.
Also: deeply excited about Carrion Crow!! 🖤
Thank you so much for speaking up!!!
Writing every single day and hitting those mythical 1000+ words every time is such a debilitating myth that caused multiple writers, beginners and seasoned ones alike, so much anxiety, impostor syndrome and heartache that I can't even bear to start on that.
And when does the thinking about writing happen? When indeed.
I loved reading this. I wrote two novels (unpublished) when working freelance during the pandemic. Since then I've become a mum and gone back to teaching in a school, and have written very little. I've beaten myself up so much as a result. But you're so right - it's the time to think that's key, much more key than hammering out words. Thank you for sharing!