Two things prompted me to write this post. First, my realisation that by focusing on querying and editing, I’d not written anything for a very long time. Second, I’m sitting here with my feet in a bowl and it’s just lovely.

I was starting to feel guilty, anxious even, having not written anything almost all year. It took me a long time to realise that I needed to give myself time and permission not to write. Sometimes it’s okay to stop. Here’s three things to consider when you’re feeling the pressure. 

Permission

Once I’d given myself permission not to write, I felt much better. It wasn’t like I’d traded writing for mindless scrolling or binge watching Netflix (both of which would have been absolutely fine, I hasten to add); in fact, I’ve spent most of this year on professional development for the editing side of my business. Telling myself it was okay not to write lifted an enormous weight off my shoulders. It meant I was more able to crack on with the other things in my life without feeling anxious about the lack of writing that was going on.

Thinking

Like an iceberg, sitting at a desk and typing away is what everyone sees on the surface, but underneath, writing is so much more – the process is bigger, vaster. Writing is taking the dogs for a walk and thinking through a plot hole. Writing is taking a bath and working out a character arc. Writing is feeling excited about your story as you fall asleep. Once I realised that I was I fact writing ­– just not on paper or in Word, I felt much more relaxed. And perhaps counterintuitively, it gave me the motivation to put pen to paper and flesh out a plan for a story that had been simmering in my mind for a while.

Baby Steps

The thought of an 80,000 word novel is never particularly comforting, unless you’ve just typed ‘The End’ that is! So I decided to take baby steps. In June, all I had to do was to think about my story and maybe come up with a title. For July, I wanted to write out a plan, which I completed last week. August’s plan was to start writing a few key scenes, but by writing a plan, I found my mojo and starting writing. I’m still stuck for time (my toddler’s dropped her nap, which means I have an hour and a half less each day for writerly pursuits), so I’m writing it on my phone in ten-minute pockets of time. I might only be a 1000 words in, but it’s a start – and I’m feeling good about it!

If you are considering working with a Developmental Editor or Copyeditor soon or are in the market for a Manuscript Assessment, contact me to talk about your project.