07 July 2021

Anything but a Quitter

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This month's optional question is: What would make you quit writing? 

I think the short answer is...NOTHING. And I'm being completely serious. I mean, I've experienced pretty much everything that involves not writing--breaks, breathers, pauses, hiatuses, burnout, crushing depression, feeling like my writing is never going to be any good and no one will ever read it. But the one thing that I never did was quit. I just don't think it's in me. 

I've always been a writer. Ever since I was little, I imagined stories in my head. I don't think I could make that go away if I tried. Even if I had no intention to publish, I would still write for myself. I would still come up with stories and want to put them into words. 

I guess the only plausible scenario would be if I ran out of ideas, and that definitely isn't happening any time soon. I've still got plenty of ideas that I haven't even started yet. 

I have been feeling rather insecure when it comes to writing lately. I mentioned a while back that I had a three month goal of working on something writing related every day (and that I would reward myself with Cheesecake Factory when I finished). I was doing great for a while. Some days were more productive than others, sure, but I was doing it. 

Well, when June hit, at first I was feeling a bit burnt out. I was struggling to pick things to do every day, and for several days in a row I just watched Youtube videos about writing. I felt kind of guilty even counting that, but I was able to write down a few notes and get inspired from those videos. Not too long after, though, I got sick. I don't even know what I had. First I thought I had strep throat, but I tested negative. Then a couple weeks later I had a horrible headache for days and even a fever for a bit. I pretty much refused to go to urgent care because they couldn't do anything for my throat and I didn't want to go back, and I really just felt like I needed to rest. 

I did get better after a couple days, but I didn't do any writing whatsoever. Part of me was upset, but another part felt like I needed the break. I needed a few days to not have that pressure hanging over my head. 

But I did want to get back on track, so I decided to let July be my third month! It's going well so far. I've started slowly with a search for "that," which can be really easy to eliminate a lot of the time. My first sweep got 1255 'thats' down to 1062. I honestly thought it would be more, but I'm going to go back through it again and get rid of some of the trickier ones, or the times where there are way too many in the same paragraph or page. And then I'll move on to the next task.

Do you ever feel like you need a break? What would make you quit writing?

21 comments:

  1. I think getting as sick as you did is a good reason not to write for awhile and focus on your health. Glad you're back into your groove of writing in July. And I use "that" too much in my writing too.

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  2. Glad you're back on track. I have a list of "lazy" words. When it's editing time, I'll go back and find them and make the changes. I don't take breaks from writing...life hands me issues where I have to take breaks.

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  3. Hi,
    there are situations that hit us and wow, we are knocked out for a moment. We're writers that deal with the emotional world of our characters. We're not robots. I'm sorry that you were sick, but don't forget to be gentle with yourself. Things like that happen and it is okay. Don't beat yourself up.
    Take care and have a lovely July.

    Shalom aleichem,
    Pat G @ EverythingMustChange

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  4. When you're sick, writing is the furthest thing from your mind, so just count it as a needed break and keep rocking July.

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  5. If your manuscripts are anything like mine, then finishing a 'that' search is an awesome achievement.

    Writing is a long, hard road in a hard industry. I think we all need breaks once in a while to recharge—even when we're not sick on top of all the rest. I echo Pat's call to not beat yourself up. You're doing great.

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  6. Life sure has a way of interfering with our plans, doesn't it? Glad you're feeling better and good luck for July!

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  7. Awful when doctors can't help you. I hope July is your month.

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  8. Even when I had burnout that did stop me from writing, the hope and desire to write was still there. I don’t think quoting writing is in mr, either.

    I’m glad you’re feeling! I’ve been under the weather the past few days. Whenever this happens, I always think that it’s my body telling me to rest.

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  9. Yeah, I don't think we can hold ourselves accountable for not performing at our best when we're sick. I like your idea of counting July as your month. Good job picking it back up, and I'm glad you're feeling better!

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  10. Your post only serves to emphasize how important health is to all of us. It's difficult to impossible to do anything if our bodies aren't well.

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  11. I do need a break from time to time, but my problem lately is that, though I have been very busy (bought a house and moved while working full time), I don't have the energy I used to. A decade ago, I would find time to write even when life was crazy. Now I've lost that fire, that determination. I still love writing, but I tend to wait until I have a whole day to devote to it.

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  12. I don't think anything would/could make me quite writing--not even death (I hear that angels take notes so there you go!) ;P

    If my hands broke, I'd use speech-to-text, if my vocals died--I'd whisper, if the program doesn't recognize whispering, I'd get one of my kids to write my musings down..., I'd find a way to write with my feet.

    ♥.•*¨Elizabeth Mueller¨*•.♥

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  13. Breaks are good, necessary even. And, I think it's awesome that you counting writing videos as part of doing something writing related every day! Way to go for July! :)

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  14. When your body is telling you to take a break, listen to it. You'll always come back to it later, full of new ideas and drive. Glad to hear that you know that you'll never give up.

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  15. I'm with you. Nothing could make me give up writing, but sometimes we all need a break. @samanthabwriter from
    Balancing Act

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  16. I kind of have breaks built into my life, since I spend a lot of time traveling and don't try to write when I do. But I'm with you on the quitting thing--no way. Even after my husband died, pretty soon I was in there writing (literally) one sentence a day on a story.

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  18. Thank you for stopping by my blog.
    I agree, when you are a writer, you are a writer. It's not about publishing.
    I'm glad you got better from your illness and you got some rest. Glad you are back to writing.

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  19. Yep, we often experience many setbacks, but if you've really got the bug (the writing one - not any sinister medical one) I don't think it ever goes away. Glad you're feeling better and are still plugging away.

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  20. I'm sorry you weren't feeling well, but I'm glad that you feel better now. Sometimes we do need a break from writing. I don't think I could give it up entirely though. It's something I've always loved, and I don't want to live without it.

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