Lately, my energy for writing doesn't match my enthusiam. I still have the desire and determination, but when I have the time, I'm too tired to get into that mental writing space. I know people say that if you want it badly enough, you'll make the time, but that isn't always true. Sometimes, even when you have that small block of time (e.g. the time you wasted watching "The Bachlorette"), fatigue takes over.
I think I'd rather have ten minutes of clear-headed, productive writing time than an hour of the scrambled, stilted or trite stuff that comes out when I'm too tired (which might end up being less than ten minutes worth when I edit it down).
What works best for you...pushing through so you know you'll at least have accomplished something, or waiting until you know you will have a good writing session?
Totally depends. If I know I'm really brain tired then the writing isn't going to be good anyway. I'll try and do something else - read - or something that doesn't require so much energy. Listen to your body!
ReplyDeleteI need to mentally prepare myself to write. Sounds stupid, but it's what works for me. If I don't, then I'm at the keyboard, forcing the words out. I hate that. But too many days go by without me sitting down and writing, so I'm thinking that I need to change my ways!
ReplyDeleteHa, "The Bachlorette" is a hot mess this season. :)
ReplyDeleteI usually know within the first 30 minutes what kind of writing session I'm going to have -- I give myself an hour and then if it still sucks, I stop.
I think it's a good idea to stop if you're not productive. That way, you can get something else done and maybe free up some writing time for later. Or not. Maybe just rest the mind with something mindless!
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