ABC’s of Writing (for Beginners): Z for Zzzzz

As much as we’d all love to write the next great American novel in a single sitting, that’s not a realistic goal. You’ve probably discovered that your brain (and your sanity) can only last through so many genius sentences. When you hit that breaking point, stop! Better yet, stop before you get there.

We should treat our brains like muscles. Bodybuilders don’t do a bajillion reps with no rest; they work out in sets to get the most out of each exercise. Sometimes they even (gasp!) take a day off. They break down their muscles through hard work, then rest to allow them to build back stronger.

Bodybuilders also don’t spend all day sitting. For anyone working behind a desk, health care professionals recommend taking a short break every hour. I think this is especially important for those of us in creative fields like writing, which are often solitary and emotionally taxing endeavors. It may seem counter-intuitive to halt in the midst of a gripping scene, but breaks are important for your physical and mental wellbeing.

It doesn’t take experts to tell us that sitting for long periods of time, especially at a computer, can lead to physical problems like weight gain, muscle stiffness, eye strain, and that writer-kryptonite carpal-tunnel (though if you want expert advice, this is a good article). But research shows that office employees are actually more productive after taking quick breaks—specifically spending 10 minutes on Facebook or the internet. The key is a quick break. Don’t let yourself get sucked into the Buzzfeed rabbit hole.

Whatever you do on your breaks, try to spend at least part of them up and moving. A recent Stanford University study indicates that walking boosts creativity. Just a quick jaunt down the street or even around your living room can reset your brain into writing mode. Alternatively, do a few pushups or jumping jacks. Even walking to the kitchen to get another cup of coffee gets the blood flowing to your body and your brain.

I Break for Writer’s Block:

Then there are other types of breaks, where you’re writing but not working on The Project. (Consider this productive procrastination). If your Project is anything like mine, it’s big and scary and overwhelming. Sometimes the massiveness paralyzes me. Other times I’m going strong, oozing brilliance onto the page, and then, suddenly, I’m not. I stare at the blinking curser on my laptop screen until it mocks me; I can almost hear it tick-tock, tick-tock, counting the seconds, minutes, hours I’m wasting not writing.

Writers block—or whatever you want to call it—is natural. And naturally awful. You can’t just give up; you’re a writer! You’ve committed to a life of starving artistry, following in the footsteps of your literary forefathers who founded the profession on the tenants of struggle, misery, and underappreciation. (I’m joking. Mostly.) Sometimes, if the words really truly aren’t coming, the best course of action is to close your laptop and watch a Disney movie. The Project will be waiting tomorrow. But frequently your brain just needs a little jump start. Put The Project away and work on something else, something less embroiled in your “writing baggage” of stress and expectations. That YA novel you’ve been dabbling with. A found poem from that OkCupid guy’s dating profile.