Whatever you’re writing, never lose that sense of wonder.
Since January 1 of 2016, I have taken a writing hiatus. I’m sure a lot of writers/authors/bloggists probably just gasped in alarm at that statement. But I feel accomplished in what I’ve done. I’ve published two books with another on the way and have made good progress with my blog. Unfortunately, I found myself in a dull state of mind. I had lost my wonder with words.
It’s a depressing feeling for a writer. Words are what define me. I’m proud of my title–I fully own it now. So when I’m plugging out words but feel completely blah about everything, uninspired, without wonder, I started getting sick of writing entirely. To top this off, I was receiving critiques from readers, fans, and peers. Critiques are essential. They help us grow. But I was already struggling so they almost hindered more than they helped. So I decided to take a break.
I can honestly say it’s helping. I still keep a bedside journal and I jot down thoughts as they come to me. I write down story ideas and the like. I feel like my head is clearing, the storm is calming, and I’m coming back to a center of focus. It’s refreshing.
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In this day and age, there are opinions everywhere. Some good, some bad, some kind, some harsh. There’s an old saying that you have to weed out the advice that pertains to you and forget everything else. But that’s getting harder to do. People are overrun by advice.
So I’m not going to recommend anything today. I’m going to finish with this thought: my hiatus has been a positive affect on my life.
This has been,
Fanny T. Crispin
Written Things 