Taking a fruitful BREAK from writing

a 3 Day Novel post

photo by Levi Loot on Unsplash

Staring out the window is so under-rated. Cats know this; wise people know this. Writers should, too. Don’t go in fear of letting your mind blank.

And refill.

Useful ways to take a break from writing

Besides staring out the window. (Do you need to change your window? Move to elsewhere in your home?)

Getting up to get a coffee, or whatever. This is an act of re-grouping at times. (Question: do you need to get up and move? You might not even need the coffee.)

In my post to prep for this weekend, I have info/thoughts on food and eating. I won’t re-write it. You can check it out here. (Do be mindful of how hunger and digestion affect your brain. Take a break from writing after you eat.)

You know how you feel about food prep. If putting together sandwiches or a full-on meal is a real break for you—a different type of creativity, and the work of it supports your writing, gets some synapses fired up—then cook. If not, have food prep’d, ready to go beforehand as much as possible. (Get a loved one to bring it to you, and then not hang around!)

Cleaning. Margaret Atwood says she has a front-load washer so she can sit and watch it moving around. I doubt you have time for such this weekend! And you may be someone who needs a tidy place in which to work. (Or not. Know thyself. Use that knowledge!) If you do require this, then time it. When stuck, step away and use that time to putter. But do not let ________ (fill in the blank) distract you! Tuesday will be here all too soon.

I talk about naps in the post on sleeping. I nap frequently when I am re-writing, and when doing the 3 Day Novel weekend, also frequently. Naps rest me and—even better—they make ideas flow. Often, when I walk away from my laptop and the work, and head off to put my head down “for a few,” ideas begin to pop into my mind, and within five minutes I’m up again and working. Which of course means I need yet another nap a short while later, but that’s okay. I go with it, and it works with me. (In the sleep piece, I talk about the use of a timer—yes, I know it sounds a bit over the top, but a timer leaves me in peace; I know I’m not just going to pass out for the day and not write.)

Showers. I can recall—very clearly—the first time I heard another writer mention how he showers to promote thinking. Aha! I thought. Others do that, too!

Unlike a nap, from which I can jump up and get back to work (even though I might need some actual shut-eye), a shower means you are away from the page or screen—at least, until you can soap up, rinse, and dry off. It’s a good pause. Or you can stay in there for awhile until thoughts start flowing along with the water! And then it’s an even better pause.

Music. Also discussed in that “prep”post. Do you need it? Maybe you haven’t but now you’re stuck, and music might loosen or jog something.

Movement. Likewise, not only turning on some music, but making it a dancing break might be useful. (Imagine: what music makes your character move…? Try it. What is it to dance as your character?)

And with movement, the writers’ go-to: WALKING.

This may be a standout weekend in your mind for the rest of your life. In all my thousands of unremembered weekends, those I’ve spent immersed in writing in this way are so clearly in my mind! The solitariness, too. The need to MOVE.

Movement does promote thought. It clears that process. It is process.

Live like the Dickens. Charles Dickens walked entire nights through London, working through his plots, and more.

I had everything I needed in my home for the weekend. I did not have to leave my apartment. I did not have to speak with another human unless I wanted to (and I didn’t). But I went for many walks. Much of my writing was done while walking.

And with that, I’ll leave you to it!

Wishing you-s the very best, and some fun on the side —

Peace—

Alison

3 Day Novel discussion thread

Throughout the weekend, please post any questions/thoughts/brainstorming in the discussion thread. I will be checking in with frequently!