100% K.J Chapman, Writing and Me

Sometimes, It’s Okay to NOT Write

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I know that this title might drive fear into the hearts of many writers, and yes, the idea of NOT writing can bring me out in a cold sweat, but let me explain. I don’t mean give up writing. If you’re like me, giving up my writing would be like giving up a piece of what makes me me. No, I mean that sometimes we need to take a break, and life shouldn’t be seen as a distraction.

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December was a busy month for me. I got married, attended school plays, played chauffeur to my daughter, taking her to Christmas parties, discos, school parties. I caught up on a back log of Christmas shopping, then took my Nana shopping for the best part of six hours. As a family we went out for meals, watched films, and so on, and so on. At first, I told myself that these were just excuses, that if I really tried I would have fitted in my writing time. Perhaps this is partly true, but it was only when I told myself that writing was a big part of my life, but not my whole life that I finally saw the light.

Sometimes, it’s okay to NOT write. It’s okay to enjoy my life without having that nagging word count in the back of my mind. The world won’t end, and I won’t spontaneously combust from sheer lack of typing. I’m ambitious, and I want to achieve things, but I set the deadlines, the time schedules, the goals, and I need to set my limits.

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After all, it’s life that gives us writers rich experiences to draw upon, and life is the best form of research.

 

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Published by Kjchapman

Avid tea drinker. Writer. Book addict. Author of the EVO Nation Series, Thrown to The Blue, and Zombie Playlist.

11 thoughts on “Sometimes, It’s Okay to NOT Write”

  1. This is something I’ve had a hard time swallowing myself. Sometimes I feel like I’m letting myself (or others) down if I’m not at the grind, writing and being awesome. But, in my case, for the last three to four months, that’s all I’ve been doing. So, a self-imposed break is in my future. I’m going to read some books…and reread some books *cough* EVO Nation *cough* and I’m going to focus on my family and school for a bit. Get inspired.

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  2. This post rings true. Sometimes we need the great things in life and it is okay not to right. I have realised that with some of the posts that I had to stop writing and also have been non stop writing the Siblings and look forward to a break from writing, for at least a bit anyway 🙂
    It is nice to get that jolt from another writer 🙂

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  3. Thank you for this, I definitely need to remember not to feel bad about taking a break. I’m already okay with taking breaks, I know it’s necessary sometimes, but I still feel bad when I do. Next time I take a break, even if it’s just for a day, bash me over the head with this post, please!

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  5. This is an amazing post and it could not have come at a better time! I struggle with the guilt of not writing: when I’m reading, trying to watch TV, out with family. It’s always there in the back of my mind- you should be writing. But then I tell myself, if we don’t go out and have experiences and do other things, we want have anything to write about. However, even as I tell myself this, I still feel guilty but it’s nice to hear it from someone else! So again…thank you 😀

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  6. Words to live by. Sometimes it’s the over-consumption of words that drains us the most. We need to live, we need to experience life. That’s what fuels the imagination, what lends reality to the characters we create. Coming back to my story after being away for a while, inspiration always strike strong and fast 🙂
    Thanks for sharing this post and wisdom that we sometimes forget, truth we need to remember.

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