One of the questions I get asked from time to time is: how often do you write? Do you write every day? Most days? Some days?
People are different, but rare is the day when I don’t put something to paper. Offhand, I think the last time I didn’t write something on some project or another was two years ago when I was on a road trip. I took the last three days or so off because we were doing things and setting some time aside to write was too difficult to bother with. And those days off were nice. But writer’s write and I find it is best to write every day.
In fact, it is difficult not to. I don’t get out much and I don’t have a whole lot of hobbies. I was put here to write and what would a writer rather do than sit down and say what she feels needs to be said? Nothing, really. Painters paint every day and Michelangelo plied his trade every day. There is no reason for a writer not to write. What else are we going to do?
If that sounds daunting to a new writer, it may well be. I know it was to me when I started out. I’d sit there staring at what was then a pretty state-of-the-art Brother word processor and write for a bit and get frustrated because I really didn’t know what I was doing and stop.
But you plug away because something inside you tells you to: the only way to be a writer is to write, just like the only way to be a painter is to paint or to be a singer is to sing. In fact, now it is to the point where to not write is actually harder than sitting down and doing it. The key is to get into the habit and to do that you must do it every day. The people and events that inspire you don’t take a day off. Inspiration can strike at any time, so it’s important that writers keep busy.
But that’s not all, because while you may not be at the keyboard your mind is still going. Even if you’re not writing for a specific project, you are probably thinking about it. A good example is a book I am working on under another name that is in rewrites. I finished the first draft last month and usually I dive in on the initial rewrite immediately. I wasn’t able to that this time, though, mainly because I was getting this site up and running, not to mention writing the Character Q&A’s and the blog you are reading now written, not to mention the short story One Plus One Equals Three.
But I thought about the project every day and now that the first rewrite is done and I’ve put it away for a few weeks, I am thinking about it even more. There are characters who need their role expanded and there are some other things I want to do. But that is for later. I like fresh eyes on a project after the first draft is done and some time off is always beneficial. Trees only bear fruit when they’re ready. They can’t be rushed and neither can a book.
How long you write is personal, too. I am, generally, good for six hours a day. After that, the brain starts to lose interest. I’ve learned, though, that this is a pretty low figure and among other writers I’ve talked to about this, most can go a bit longer.
If you are just starting out on your writing journey, take heart. It’s a journey we were meant to take, and we must take it every day.
xoxoxo
Kaitlyn K