Rediscovering Your Writing Mojo: The Art of Taking a Breather

Ever felt like your writing is just hitting a wall? Kind of like your head hitting a wall as you smash into that sweet concrete over and over again just trying to milk ideas out of your cerebral mess. You're pouring your heart and soul--blood too--into your work, but all you see are flaws and shortcomings? If you've been there, trust me, you're not alone. We writers are notorious for being our own toughest critics. We scrutinize every word, every sentence, until we're convinced that nothing, we produce is good enough. I am so bd with that shit that I took years off from my first novel experiment. I am now making a triumphant return and realizing that my writing is pretty decent. In fact, I would say it is better than several Amazon books I have read recently.

But what if I told you there's a simple trick to shake off that self-doubt and breathe new life into your writing? It's called taking a break. Like Ross and Rachel. Ross was right.

Letting Go of Perfect...Like Rose let go of Jack.

We writers are a perfectionistic bunch, like OCD count the strands in the carpet level. We aim for the stars with every piece we create, but sometimes that pursuit of perfection can be paralyzing. The more we obsess over every detail, the more frustrated and stuck we become. This leads to many of us quitting and keeping our miserable day jobs.

Example: Imagine you're writing a blog post, and you spend hours agonizing over the perfect

opening sentence. You rewrite it a dozen times, but nothing feels right. Eventually, you realize that you've been overthinking it or you are just so fricking frustrated you march off in disgust. You step away from your computer, go for a walk or to the bar, and when you come back, the words flow effortlessly out of your booze addled brain.

The Magic of Distance

Stepping back from your writing gives you a chance to hit the reset button. When you are neck-deep in a project, it's easy to lose sight of the forest for the trees. Taking a breather allows you to clear your mind, recharge your creative batteries, and come back to your writing with a fresh pair of eyes. Suddenly the ass garbage you were smearing onto the page is a field of g-damn roses and sunshine. Trust me, the Wannabewriter, I would not lie to you.

Example: Picture yourself working on a novel or short story. You've been staring at the same chapter for days, feeling like you're going nowhere. Your sentences are equivalent to "the dog is brown. The dog ran." You decide to take a weekend trip to the countryside or the beach or wherever the fuck you want. Surrounded by nature and shit, you are free from distractions of our modern world. Like being struck by lightning, you find yourself inspired by the beauty and simplicity around you. You want to write again! When you return home (definitely before you go back to that shit day job), you make that chapter your bitch and smash it with renewed energy and enthusiasm.

Seeing with Fresh Eyes

Ever notice how typos and awkward sentences suddenly become glaringly obvious when you revisit your writing after a break? It's like magic. It's like taking a viagra, things just pop up. Stepping away from your work gives you a new perspective. You spot mistakes you missed before and see strengths you didn't know you had. Like I said, your crap is now flowers. There is lead in your pencil.

Example: You've been working on a short story for weeks, and you're convinced it's a masterpiece. You are a modern Hemmingway, the Mark Twain of your office. But when you let a friend read it, they point out several plot holes and inconsistencies. Or overuse of certain words and phrases. Maybe you can't punctuate for shit (this guy!) At first, you're defensive, ready to fight that son-of-a-bitch for criticizing your magnum opus. After taking some time to reflect, and washing the blood off your hands, you realize they were right. You also realize that you may be going to jail for a while...Before that happens, you make the necessary revisions, and the story is stronger for it.

Embracing Imperfection

Here's the real kicker in the dicker: perfection is a myth. No shit, huh? Most of us actually know that. No matter how hard you try, your writing will never be flawless. Even the final draft will still have perceived issues that you wish you would have fixed, but it is to late. The work is published and all you will see is that missing comma or extra letter. And that's okay. Accepting your imperfections frees you from the grip of self-doubt and allows your creativity to flow more freely. I have read so many published works and found typos and inconsistencies that I no longer worry about them. I will do my utmost to eliminate them, but if I don't then I won't jump off a bridge.

Example: You're sack deep on that first draft, and you're struggling to find the perfect words to encapsulate the setting sun or some such thing. After several failed attempts in finding just the right description, you take a few deep breaths (and shots of tequila) then decide to write from the heart. Perfection is dead, just get the words out. The result is a raw and authentic piece that resonates with readers in ways you never imagined. In ways they never imagined...oh the tingly feelings.

Taking Breaks: The How-To

Might be a dumb question, but how do you actually incorporate breaks into your writing routine? Here are a few tips:

1. Short and Sweet: Take mini breaks during your writing sessions to give your brain a breather. Get up and stretch or meditate like some sort of new age yogi.

2. Change Scenery: Shake things up by working in a different spot or getting some fresh air outside. Do that coffee shop shit as I mentioned HERE.

3. Creative Detours: Try out other creative activities like drawing or playing music to get those creative juices flowing. Go to the range and pop off some shots. Get drunk and throw the bottles at the neighbor's kids.

4. Scheduled Breathers: Make it a habit to schedule regular breaks to prevent burnout and keep your sanity intact. Play with your dogs or say hi to your spouse. If you are planner and not a panster, this is a good option. Say you write from 0900 to 1100 then go for a walk and have lunch between 1100 and 1200. Some people thrive on structure.

In a world that glorifies hustle and grind...and perfection, it's easy to forget that sometimes the best thing you can do for your writing is to step the fuck back from it. So, the next time you're smashing your face into a literal brick wall, remember the power of taking a break. Your writing—and your sanity—will thank you for it. Your face probably will too, but you are still ugly. Oh, don't make the break too long...like multiple years. You will forget what the hell you were doing.