Back To It

I'm coming down from the mountain top--literally--and am getting back to my writing life.

First things first: blogging. (Thanks to Scoti for covering my back while I took a breather.)

I have an editorial meeting today to brainstorm the next four issues of Connections, the magazine I edit. While I was vacationing, I received a request from an editor to rewrite an article. And, yes, even on my get-away-from-writing time, I wrote just a little bit, and I want to get that piece submitted.

Does it feel good to get back at it?

To be honest, yes and no.

I am writer. Most of the time, I like to write. I even like to rewrite. But I find myself still peering down this stretch of the writing road trying to figure out which way it is curving. I didn't have any "Aha!" moments during my brief time away.

I've decided to be okay with the uncertainty of the road ahead. I'll take the next steps one at a time and see where I end up.

I'm wondering: What do you do when you're not sure which way the writing road lies for you? Do you look for a sign? Do you stand in the middle of the road until you know exactly what you're going to do next? Or do you continue some amount of forward motion, despite not knowing exactly where you're going?

Looking for the Next Rest Stop

"Rest when you're weary. Refresh and renew yourself, your body, your mind, your spirit. Then get back to work." ~ Ralph Marston

I find myself looking for a rest stop along the writing road. I have things I need to do--articles to write, things to edit. And yet, I keep looking to the side of the road, wondering when I can pull off and rest.

I need a break.

Rather than doing that--deliberately taking a break--I've written and edited half-heartedly. My writing has been haphazard at best and my editing has been anemic.

Sometimes the best thing a writer can do is not write. Sometimes it is best to admit your heart is empty and it is time to replenish, renew, refresh.

Rest.

Slogging through physical, mental, emotional and spiritual exhaustion is a waste of time.

So I'm taking my advice and pulling over for a rest stop. Giving myself permission to not write for a few days.

Instead, I'll focus on resting and renewing and replenishing.

And after that, I'll be ready to write again.