tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5774363178370829558.post7267989429416186066..comments2024-02-16T02:56:00.399-08:00Comments on Between Fact and Fiction: Legitimate Break ExcusesNatalie Whipplehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09978251567306345129noreply@blogger.comBlogger29125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5774363178370829558.post-91436039409769959232010-05-21T23:15:30.933-07:002010-05-21T23:15:30.933-07:00I think breaks are really important. Sometimes for...I think breaks are really important. Sometimes for various reasons you need one. I needed one. I wrote on day 2. So I've restarted my two week break. <br /><br />Muse isn't happy. But I know it's benefitting me. And yes I have plans for the weeks :)Nayuleskahttps://www.blogger.com/profile/08693548526829437580noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5774363178370829558.post-66606006314546940412010-05-18T09:26:34.302-07:002010-05-18T09:26:34.302-07:00I'm glad you're feeling remotivated and ex...I'm glad you're feeling remotivated and excited about your WIP again! :-) Good luck as you continue forward. I hope it goes really well!Sara B. Larsonhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/14213313028658810705noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5774363178370829558.post-51083793077978866992010-05-18T08:04:24.442-07:002010-05-18T08:04:24.442-07:00"Why" has always been my favorite of the..."Why" has always been my favorite of the who-what-when-where-why-how questions. I recently took a break to figure out/remember why I am writing. SO good. Great post and good luck writing this week!Samantha Bennetthttps://www.blogger.com/profile/15712749844855298929noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5774363178370829558.post-61383805517403755952010-05-17T22:53:42.566-07:002010-05-17T22:53:42.566-07:00I hope your grinding goes well!
I took a couple ...I hope your grinding goes well! <br /><br />I took a couple of days off last week to think a problem through, but my break's over.Myrna Fosterhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/13534358757278599925noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5774363178370829558.post-16203650123297280472010-05-17T19:18:34.199-07:002010-05-17T19:18:34.199-07:00I'm two hours late for my lunch break so I thi...I'm two hours late for my lunch break so I think I'll count this as a legit break and go eat something. <br /><br />Hmmm, eating isn't on your list either. You might have to add that one or writers will start expiring at the keyboard from lack of sustenance!Penhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/06605428306080473273noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5774363178370829558.post-88864186303375628982010-05-17T18:48:36.691-07:002010-05-17T18:48:36.691-07:00When I start feeling doubts about my work, I give ...When I start feeling doubts about my work, I give myself a 100-word-day (I set word count goals to get the job done). I find that sometimes having such a tiny number, like 100 words, seems so easy that I actually make it past and it feels like an actual accomplishment. Bit of a mind trick, but it works for me. Thanks for the reassuring post!Stasiahttps://www.blogger.com/profile/17415483299971270025noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5774363178370829558.post-74167027495349237492010-05-17T18:41:38.848-07:002010-05-17T18:41:38.848-07:00I've taken a bit of a mental break for the pas...I've taken a bit of a mental break for the past week...a break from everything. I had to put my cat to sleep. He was sick and not going to get better. :( I started to rejoin the world yesterday. I'm sure I'll be back to my wip tomorrow.Sharon K. Mayhewhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/07799235347319851345noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5774363178370829558.post-46121040139955738482010-05-17T15:16:05.865-07:002010-05-17T15:16:05.865-07:00Yes! I'm going through both of these excuses ...Yes! I'm going through both of these excuses right now! I've been on a break for a few weeks now, but I think I'm ready to tackle the story again. Thank you so much for sharing this - it's nice to know that I'm not alone.Melissa Hursthttps://www.blogger.com/profile/15530652829980250261noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5774363178370829558.post-21189794585967093962010-05-17T15:04:15.920-07:002010-05-17T15:04:15.920-07:00Good luck, I hope that little breather helped you ...Good luck, I hope that little breather helped you out! Taking a break isn't always the answer, but more often than not a rest is exactly what we need to get our groove back. Great job!<br /><br />Nice post!B. Millerhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/10112783922833164491noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5774363178370829558.post-73273906309080027152010-05-17T14:26:59.806-07:002010-05-17T14:26:59.806-07:00Like what you had to say..so true. And sometimes, ...Like what you had to say..so true. And sometimes, for me, the trick is to end the break even when I'm still feeling the lost faith and not rights. Like the idea of the deadline and back to work.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5774363178370829558.post-70172578217028177902010-05-17T13:15:22.896-07:002010-05-17T13:15:22.896-07:00Every once in a while you have to take a break and...Every once in a while you have to take a break and recharge. Great tips. :0)Kathi Oram Petersonhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/11959149321213743448noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5774363178370829558.post-84953282433527414192010-05-17T13:07:26.060-07:002010-05-17T13:07:26.060-07:00Agreed! Legitimate breaks are good. We all need ...Agreed! Legitimate breaks are good. We all need a little time to refill our cups.<br /><br />sfHardygirlhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/02268385174949496800noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5774363178370829558.post-12755124596726164872010-05-17T12:50:35.143-07:002010-05-17T12:50:35.143-07:00Good luck with getting back to the grind. *Smile*
...Good luck with getting back to the grind. *Smile*<br /><br />As in all aspects of this thing we call life, balance is fundamental. I'm finally starting to recognize the difference between the lazy side of me, wanting to do whatever, and the over-worked side of me that needs replenishing. <br /><br />I'm not great at recognizing it yet, but I'm getting there. I think that is so important.S.A. Larsenッhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/06241633272588383935noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5774363178370829558.post-31793343051925235772010-05-17T11:56:19.083-07:002010-05-17T11:56:19.083-07:00I usually take breaks when I'm so mentally exh...I usually take breaks when I'm so mentally exhausted nothing I write makes sense.Angela Ahttps://www.blogger.com/profile/13533436687757638127noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5774363178370829558.post-90219069823007911922010-05-17T10:33:37.398-07:002010-05-17T10:33:37.398-07:00"For me, this is a sign that I'm overwhel..."For me, this is a sign that I'm overwhelmed by my work. I'm getting burned out or bored. I've lost sight of the bigger picture and need to step back."<br /><br />Yes! A lot of times the feeling we get isn't representative of the problem. The story feels stupid not because it IS, but because we're sick of it.<br /><br />(Which is not to say there's NEVER a stupid story idea... but I think that feeling is usually pretty clear.)Kristanhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/04771013578685419826noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5774363178370829558.post-11064863165165143412010-05-17T10:29:41.290-07:002010-05-17T10:29:41.290-07:00I'm glad to know I'm not the only one who ...I'm glad to know I'm not the only one who feels this way! I'm currently having both #1 and #2 at the same time in my WIP and have been completely unable to work on it. But, not wanting to stop writing, I've turned to another project. I'll get back to this one when my subconscious has hammered out the difficulties!Jamie Greyhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/07504892632149036762noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5774363178370829558.post-88469602638362501432010-05-17T09:55:03.796-07:002010-05-17T09:55:03.796-07:00Yeah, #1 is the one that normally hits me. I think...Yeah, #1 is the one that normally hits me. I think it was that way when I took many months off of my current WiP. I'd been working on it for two years and I was sick to death of it. So I started working on another WiP for about half a year.<br /><br />Not the best way to go about it though....but I'm currently still working on it and have made it a goal to keep working on it until it's done, taking only a small break here and there.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5774363178370829558.post-39405970902509805642010-05-17T09:39:36.904-07:002010-05-17T09:39:36.904-07:00What about "Someone might have blogged about ...What about "Someone might have blogged about the exact problem I am having with this chapter, so I need to read until I find it!"? When things get tough, I find myself compulsively checking FB and email. If it gets bad I have to disconnect the internet cable behind the tv so I can't reconnect too easily.Kelly Brysonhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/08324622421797199560noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5774363178370829558.post-72548775845578897802010-05-17T09:38:00.055-07:002010-05-17T09:38:00.055-07:00Very good points! I usually take three day breaks ...Very good points! I usually take three day breaks and that gets me back on track if I'm in the middle of a WIP. Glad your break worked!Michelle D. Argylehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/09696465137285587646noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5774363178370829558.post-5733042543428827452010-05-17T09:32:47.944-07:002010-05-17T09:32:47.944-07:00I know that I am not the only one who has had thos...I know that I am not the only one who has had those thoughts but it is a relief to see that other people do have the same problems. I have lost faith before and feel born again when I find it and write with more passion. Thanks for your insight.Reginahttps://www.blogger.com/profile/03493618594406138554noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5774363178370829558.post-6248075257917621892010-05-17T09:21:25.922-07:002010-05-17T09:21:25.922-07:00#2 is something that took me a long time to learn-...#2 is something that took me a long time to learn--but it's so true. When I feel in my gut that's not quite right, I know it's time to step back, or the story will run into a ditch.Annette Lyonhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/12493583432919249814noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5774363178370829558.post-69828299851127657022010-05-17T09:16:51.219-07:002010-05-17T09:16:51.219-07:00I've had days where I read through a story and...I've had days where I read through a story and think the entire thing is crap and I'm disgusted. That is a good day to walk away or work on something else. It's amazing what a few days away from your story will do for your confidence.Stephaniehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/17401931638397651614noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5774363178370829558.post-36897943774043285952010-05-17T09:14:12.611-07:002010-05-17T09:14:12.611-07:00Oh, you've restored my faith. I thought I was ...Oh, you've restored my faith. I thought I was the only one who started to doubt story ideas. My particular problem right now is stalling with my current WIP because I'm still thinking about the manuscripts I finished (and yes, in that "why would anyone care about them" way). I need to figure out how to get past that.Dorothy Dreyerhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/07359417869474783409noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5774363178370829558.post-55483606632591005832010-05-17T09:14:07.741-07:002010-05-17T09:14:07.741-07:00Yeah, Shannon I considered that one as well. But t...Yeah, Shannon I considered that one as well. But then I realized I feel like that A LOT, and somehow I write through it most of the time. <br /><br />But I get what you're saying. When I get crits, I definitely let them sit for a at least a week before I start working.Natalie Whipplehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/09978251567306345129noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5774363178370829558.post-43433300538809110402010-05-17T09:14:05.434-07:002010-05-17T09:14:05.434-07:00I love your idea of "legitimate breaks";...I love your idea of "legitimate breaks"; I totally agree! I always try to take a break every couple of hours, and then I just listen to music or watch TV for a little bit. But now that the weather's finally starting to warm up, I take walks outside and I come back feeling better and more willing to work again.Neurotic Workaholichttps://www.blogger.com/profile/06775298184138766683noreply@blogger.com