Yes to embracing the break! Even if the guilt is there, it doesn’t actually matter if you write once a day or once a year. Something I keep reminding myself too. I’m glad you’re back and I’m glad you rested. I think we’re all at a similar point, trying to find the right fit so that the writing brings us alive instead of feeling like an obligation.
This is such a good reminder of why having more parts to your identity is so important!
So we don’t hold one part of it so tightly. But I think it gets interesting as we develop a new part of our identity and we’re still in the process of growing into it, like being a new writer.
I think when it’s on the newer side it can feel like the stakes are high if we get distance from it. It’s like, will it go away? Was this a waste of time? Do I like this still? What if I don't? Then what? And then there’s the fact that if you’re sharing that part of your identity with the internet and you remove that piece, it feels so different.
But I don’t think it has to be that scary or confusing. Nothing really goes away. I like thinking about all the new identities, especially creatively, I’ll get to adopt as I explore all the things in this lifetime and it feels fun and exciting. In my brain, I’m always like, “in my next life, I’m gonna be a ______!” And I will.
What I think is special about writing is that you don’t need anything to start writing again. The words are always there, you just turn back to them. You don’t need supplies, or a specific environment, etc. Just words and a willingness to take them out of yourself.
I wonder what a break from writing would look like for me. At this point, writing is what I’m anchoring my life around forever, but that also doesn’t mean that I want my writing practice to look like it does right now forever. I don't.
But I look at my writing practice more expansively than I used to, and it’s so part of my everyday life, that I don’t know what a break means because it’ll always be there. But publishing feels like a totally different thing.
Breaks are good. What even is a break really? It just means doing other things between doing that one thing, which we’re already always doing, it’s just a lil longer lol
I love that we both wrote on a similar theme—writing but with those space references mixed in ✨& I watched the first season of The Expanse last year!
Your writing always makes me happy. I mean, your words are literally what kindled this friendship!
I ask myself ALL those questions for literally ALL my creative practices lololol and I’m wondering if it’s because I have so many creative identities. I do believe it’s good
, for the reasons you’re saying too.
I’m also happy that writing is so integrated into your life that it just can’t stop ever. I hope to get to that point too because even tho the words are there, it’s still hard to find them after taking a break.
I can’t imagine you stopping your writing. Plz don’t!
Also I like how you said you’re looking at writing more expansively. I feel like your writing is very diverse in how you approach and practice. I love how you use hand writing, hand sketches, typewritering, voice notes, photos(?), etc. They all work together in your writing. I’d love to get to that point as well, instead of having all these separate practices, integrate them all into one mega practice. Maybe it’ll be easier to keep it going without burning out…?
Maybe not a tension because you have so many creative identities, but because of how you hold and view your identity/identities, in general. Something to think about?
I should say, the guilt thing is so real. That's pretty much a big part of what I was navigating for MOST of the last two years. I think I could have used this article earlier when I was first starting to feel it. I think I'm only recently seeing what a disservice it can be.
I think finding small consistent ways to integrate writing into your life helps. Like, journaling. But I also think everything just takes time and trying things and going through the motions. There's no shortcuts. I don't have anything figured out lol
A mega Elizabeth practice!! I would like to see what that would look like. You have so many creative skills and practices. I think the burnout comes from different things, not sure that would solve that? I guess it depends on what specifically causes it for you.
Thank God you didn't write that farewell post and deactivate Substack. The writing universe needs you.
Thank you Silvio 💕
+1 :)
Yes to embracing the break! Even if the guilt is there, it doesn’t actually matter if you write once a day or once a year. Something I keep reminding myself too. I’m glad you’re back and I’m glad you rested. I think we’re all at a similar point, trying to find the right fit so that the writing brings us alive instead of feeling like an obligation.
Yesss!!! I’m glad to see you back too :) thank you for reading :):):)
Grateful for this post and normalizing breaks!
I’m grateful for you :) thank you for reading!!!
This is such a good reminder of why having more parts to your identity is so important!
So we don’t hold one part of it so tightly. But I think it gets interesting as we develop a new part of our identity and we’re still in the process of growing into it, like being a new writer.
I think when it’s on the newer side it can feel like the stakes are high if we get distance from it. It’s like, will it go away? Was this a waste of time? Do I like this still? What if I don't? Then what? And then there’s the fact that if you’re sharing that part of your identity with the internet and you remove that piece, it feels so different.
But I don’t think it has to be that scary or confusing. Nothing really goes away. I like thinking about all the new identities, especially creatively, I’ll get to adopt as I explore all the things in this lifetime and it feels fun and exciting. In my brain, I’m always like, “in my next life, I’m gonna be a ______!” And I will.
What I think is special about writing is that you don’t need anything to start writing again. The words are always there, you just turn back to them. You don’t need supplies, or a specific environment, etc. Just words and a willingness to take them out of yourself.
I wonder what a break from writing would look like for me. At this point, writing is what I’m anchoring my life around forever, but that also doesn’t mean that I want my writing practice to look like it does right now forever. I don't.
But I look at my writing practice more expansively than I used to, and it’s so part of my everyday life, that I don’t know what a break means because it’ll always be there. But publishing feels like a totally different thing.
Breaks are good. What even is a break really? It just means doing other things between doing that one thing, which we’re already always doing, it’s just a lil longer lol
I love that we both wrote on a similar theme—writing but with those space references mixed in ✨& I watched the first season of The Expanse last year!
Your writing always makes me happy. I mean, your words are literally what kindled this friendship!
:)
/end rant lol
Love the rant! Keep going! Lol
I ask myself ALL those questions for literally ALL my creative practices lololol and I’m wondering if it’s because I have so many creative identities. I do believe it’s good
, for the reasons you’re saying too.
I’m also happy that writing is so integrated into your life that it just can’t stop ever. I hope to get to that point too because even tho the words are there, it’s still hard to find them after taking a break.
I can’t imagine you stopping your writing. Plz don’t!
Also I like how you said you’re looking at writing more expansively. I feel like your writing is very diverse in how you approach and practice. I love how you use hand writing, hand sketches, typewritering, voice notes, photos(?), etc. They all work together in your writing. I’d love to get to that point as well, instead of having all these separate practices, integrate them all into one mega practice. Maybe it’ll be easier to keep it going without burning out…?
FRIENDSHIP BUILT ON WORDSSSSSS :)
Maybe not a tension because you have so many creative identities, but because of how you hold and view your identity/identities, in general. Something to think about?
I should say, the guilt thing is so real. That's pretty much a big part of what I was navigating for MOST of the last two years. I think I could have used this article earlier when I was first starting to feel it. I think I'm only recently seeing what a disservice it can be.
I think finding small consistent ways to integrate writing into your life helps. Like, journaling. But I also think everything just takes time and trying things and going through the motions. There's no shortcuts. I don't have anything figured out lol
A mega Elizabeth practice!! I would like to see what that would look like. You have so many creative skills and practices. I think the burnout comes from different things, not sure that would solve that? I guess it depends on what specifically causes it for you.
<3