If you go on Twitter, you already know what a writer is: a fierce, stalking animal that eats words and breathes beautifully wrought sentences.
There are no bathroom breaks, snack breaks, blow your nose into your hanky breaks. There is only you and your computer in a dimly lit room, burning cigarette jammed in your mouth and tumbler full of vodka on your desk, no coaster.
You don’t have time for fucking coasters.
And for a long, long, long time, I too, believed this is what a writer is. In fact, I lamented the fact that I didn’t smoke, and even toyed with the idea of taking it up. Me. Yogi Ericka, enjoying herself a cancer stick.
The absurdity!
It’s part of the reason why I’ve been dialing back my relationship with social media. There is always the picture of what you should be doing and how you should be doing it.
And I don’t know about you, but I don’t like being told what the fuck to do.
So I decided to rethink my life, and in rethinking my life, I’ve started to rethink my writing career. And here are the nuts and bolts of it:
- I don’t always write, but I’m still a writer. Your brain needs breaks sometimes. Your body needs sleep. Your soul needs friends and good food and time to recalculate. Don’t sacrifice your body for your work because your work will suffer, too.
- Sometimes a novel needs a little breathing room. I like to think of writing as an art. And I’ve never known an artist to rush their masterpiece. I don’t necessarily link being prolific to being good. And I make it a habit to always choose good over anything else.
- Guilt can shove a pointed spoon up its arse. You didn’t write today? No worries, my friend. Sucking on that guilt lozenge won’t force the words to come any faster. Trust me.
Listen: do you. Be you. If sucking on cancer sticks, drinking your vodka and banging out words is your thing, then high five my friend and put a bird on it.
But if you exist somewhere outside of the “writer’s box” like little ‘ol me, no sweat. There’s room for you and your beautiful face.
At least I still don’t use coasters, right?
Wow you are good.
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Thank you. That’s very kind of you to say.
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*holds light in the air*
Sing it, sistah.
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Great post.
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Coasters and cigarettes are overrated anyway! Great read.
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Reblogged this on The Writer's Monthly Review Magazine.
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Reblogged this on TIPSY LIT and commented:
To coaster, or not to coaster? That is the question.
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Awesome post, had me chuckling! But you’re very, very right. You are a writer if you write, you don’t have to fit into the mould of what every other writer is doing, or what they think you should be doing!
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Like it. Hate the guilt. I prefer gin.
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toyed with the cancer sticks myself. still on the lookout for the nonexistent bubblegum cigs 🙂
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Coasters?? We don’t need no stinking coasters!! Well said, chicklet.
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What’ve y’all got against roller coasters? 😜
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Great! One time I tried to fit the writer mold by writing only in cafes……needless to say this was my most unproductive period! Just do you!
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I also *don’t* get caught up in “a writer writes every day.” BS. I’m a mom, but I don’t give birth every day. etc. 😛 We all need sleep, amen.
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Really great post – thank you for sharing. Took a little guilt from me today 😉
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*slowly slides coaster out from under her mug and drops it behind sofa*
Good for you! Guilt stalks me and definitely needs to go.
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Awesome post! I agree that a writer doesn’t have to fit into the mold. I mean I finish one chapter a yea so… hahahahahaha
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Yep, always good to take a break and see the world during the writing process.
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Sometimes a break is the best thing that can happen to your book/story/whatever body of writing you’re working on! Great post!
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Reblogged this on Author Zeecé Lugo's Blog and commented:
What a refreshing point of view! I like.
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Thank you, and thank you so much for the reblog!
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