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Stepping Back to Move Forward: A Week Without Writing and Its Effect on My Process
How a Pause Can Renew the Creative Spirit
Writing, for me and for many others I would wager, is just as much a calling as it is a craft. It lets us express our thoughts and feelings in ways other mediums don’t allow. It also allows us to, providing our introversions don’t get in the way, interact with others who may share our knowledge or passions. But what happens when we, as writers, decide to take a step back, to put down the pen as it were? What could we hope to gain from a temporary separation from the blank pages and blinking cursors? What could we learn from, for the sake of argument, a week away from these things and the inevitable silence that results? I did it, and today I’m going to tell you what I learned.
Rediscovering Observation
One of my favorite things about stepping away from the writing desk from time to time is being able to just sit back and observe. When we’ve got the blinders on, focused on creating content and sharing it with our readers, we run the risk of letting the world pass us by while we’re toiling away at the desk. The world waits for no one, after all. Too much focus on writing and its intricacies can lead to losing sight of what’s important in life, and even some future inspiration. In taking a break from the desk, I have allowed myself room to regroup, get my thoughts in order, and gather new material through inspiration by immersing myself in the seemingly innocuous moments that make up everyday life and foster creativity through experience.
One of the best ways to spark creativity, something I admittedly have yet to try since picking up the pen again, is simple observation in public settings. Though it may seem a bit cliche for a writer to go to a coffee shop to further their craft, such a setting is perfect for creative inspiration. There is background noise, which I know can be a distraction to some, me included. But the background hum of a local coffee shop can also inspire. Pay attention to—without eavesdropping, of course—conversation. You can pick up names, dialogue ideas, and character traits just by observing. Stephen King once described writers as the “secret agents of the arts,” a quote that may be paraphrased. I think what he was referring to was the quiet and unassuming way in which we go about our business. This can also be applied, in my mind at least, to silent observation. Such observations can often spark an idea that may otherwise slip through the proverbial strainer that is the human mind—also a paraphrased King quote; he’s full of them on subjects like this. Simple as it may seem, taking the time to just sit back and observe without worrying about jotting down the next idea before it leaves you, or getting that next story or blog post out, can remind us of the rich environment for creativity that is available to those who seek it.
Learning to Listen
I’ve always been told I have a way with words. That in mind, I often stumble over my words when I try to express them out loud, and certain emotions are still tough for me to express in certain situations. Writing is not all that different from speaking because it expresses the emotions and thoughts that we have in our minds, sharing your voice, if you will, with the world. It’s in our haste to share our thoughts that we often hear what someone is saying, but aren’t actively listening because our minds are preoccupied with how we’re going to respond. The same applies to the writing process. Conversations that happen out in the world, whether we’re a part of them or not, take on a new meaning when we’re not crafting our next sentence, or even our next paragraph, in our minds.Paying attention to subtle nuances in what may seem mundane conversation, the rhythm and cadence of someone’s speech or their expressions, for example, can reveal a story you didn’t know needed to be told.
The ability to take a step back and really listen to the world around you goes beyond interacting with people. Whether you are surrounded by the cacophonous hum of the big city or the soft and subtle sounds of the country, your environment can teach a lot. Even listening to a certain song without the burden of constant analysis that is human nature can reinvigorate a writer’s creative spark. It’s happened for me countless times. Stuck on that next story, or the next article for your blog? Take a step back, listen, and reflect on your past efforts. You may find the spark you needed was there the whole time.
Embracing Reflection
Once you get past the pressure to write, you allow yourself time for reflection. If you allow yourself to take a week, or however much time you need away from the desk, you open yourself up to answer the big questions. For example, “Why am I doing this in the first place?” or “What is my message?” “Who is this for?” The answer to these questions, at least for me, holds the key to recapturing your creative groove through personal reflection.
Allowing yourself to do a little soul searching, as many call it, can be a creative boon for writers, or any creative for that matter. It allows for a factory reset of sorts, reestablishing goals and gaining perspective on the relationship between creator and craft. Sometimes, all it takes is a little time away to trigger a realization that changes the course of your craft and even your career.
When I think of career-altering introspective events, I’m reminded of yet another Stephen King story, this one involving his first ever successful novel, “Carrie.” To consider this a result of introspection may be a stretch, but Tabitha King fishing those first pages out of the trash and convincing her husband to continue writing the story was, at the very least, something similar, and it changed the course of writing history. It shows what reflection, even if it results from someone else’s encouragement, can be a transformative part of the process and have a positive effect on your future.
Exploring Other Forms of Creativity
Time away from the writing desk doesn’t always mean time away from creating. Quite the opposite, in fact. Taking a pause from writing can allow time for other forms of creativity. Perhaps you put down the pen and trade it for a brush, or maybe a camera. Think you can’t cook? Take some time away from your writing and give it a shot. Have a green thumb or not sure if you do? Get outside and plant a garden. Being outside and drawing inspiration from nature helps my process when I’m in a creative lull. Whichever activity or combination thereof you choose, it’s not only good for your soul, but also good for your craft when you decide to go back to the desk.
I don’t pretend to be an artist. Despite having a creative mind, and being left-handed to boot, which apparently some people think is linked to artistic creativity, I could not and still can not draw or paint to save myself. Other creatives who have that skill may benefit from using that medium as a new way of creative storytelling. A story, after all, is intrinsically designed to create a picture in the reader's mind. To me, art in the form of drawing or painting is just the reverse effect. You can take a picture and create a story in your mind. Music, which is more my cup of tea when not writing, can also be a great escape. Like art, there is a story in every song, and the rhythm and beat of a song is the perfect parallel to the pacing of a story. However you decide to spend your non-writing creative time, these activities can ground you and remind you of the interconnectivity of all things creative and the endless possibilities.
Understanding the Importance of Rest in the Writing Process
As much as we see writing as a creative form of expression, we forget that it also takes energy in the same way anything else in life may expend it. A week, or any predetermined amount of time away from writing underscores the importance of rest. That includes body, mind, and spirit. As writers, and creatives we push ourselves to produce. Such pressure can have the opposite effect if taken too far; the time between my last article and this one emphasizes this point. Fatigue and burnout are real. Though there were other factors that went into my stepping back from publishing content, fatigue and overall burnout played a role. We obsess over deadlines and other internal pressures until the proverbial dam breaks, and that doesn’t help our production. If you find yourself in a situation like this, it might be time to take a step back.
Stepping away from the writing process is just as important as being productive. I’ve always tried to treat writing as a job in the sense of feeling the need to produce regularly. Have I always been successful at that? The time between posts on this blog speaks the unfortunate truth in and of itself. In the same school of thought, if you’re going to treat writing as a job in the sense of production, do so in every other aspect as well. Think of a break from writing as a vacation from any other job. Think of it as an opportunity to reset and recharge. Use it as an opportunity to shake free ideas that may have been tangled in the endless web of mental exhaustion. Though it may seem counterintuitive at first, rest and creative silence can be just as important to the process as the words themselves.
Surrendering to the Unknown
For some writers, me included, even one day, much less a week away from the desk can be uncomfortable. This is especially true if you’re lucky enough to have established a daily routine that has become second nature. I haven’t yet, and sometimes I think that may be a good thing, especially when the time comes to take a step back. That step back, the surrender into the unknown, is strangely liberating. In the same way as absence makes the heart grow fonder, time away from the desk can unlock creativity you didn’t know was there simply because you missed the process and wanted to get back to it. You return with a renewed trust of the process. Time is the ultimate healer, even when what ails you is creative.
Returning with Renewed Passion
The most profound lesson of not writing for any amount of time is the renewed passion that accompanies getting back to it. After a break, I’m excited to get back to the desk, itching to put a new idea on paper, even if it’s just a personal journal entry or something I don’t plan to publish. As I alluded to in the last section, absence makes the heart grow fonder. I believe this is also the case for writing or any other craft.Like returning from a needed vacation, writers and other creatives often find themselves reinvigorated, ready and eager to turn their thoughts and new experiences into something wonderful. They return to the desk looking at their craft from a new lens.
Like with any job or activity, a break from the desk can help the writer return with clarity, a sharpened eye for what really matters. Whether they return experimenting with something new, stepping outside their thematic comfort zone, or simply appreciating the joy of creating, they return with a fresh perspective.
Final Thoughts
Some creative purists might consider a week without writing as a wasted week. Having done it a time or two in my time as a blogger and aspiring writer, I disagree. Not only is time away beneficial to a writer’s mental health, it’s an investment in their creative health as well. Time away from the page allows time to rest, reflect, explore, and recharge. It reminds us that there is more to writing than the words on the page. It’s our own way of engaging with life itself. For writers, or any creative person really, stepping away can put you on the path to rediscovering your passion. It did for me. I came back with new found inspiration and a deeper connection to the message I wanted to convey. So if you’re stuck and thinking about taking a step away from your chosen craft but not sure if it’s the right thing to do, take my advice and do it. Listen, rest, reflect, try something new. You may be surprised what happens when you return to your chosen craft.
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