AUTHOR’S GAB, READER TALK.
A LETTER TO YOU, THE READER, SO THAT YOU CAN FINALLY FIGURE OUT WHAT I’M THINKING.
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THIS MONTH: Too much of a good thing
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“All art is knowing when to stop.”
— Toni Morrison
Dear Reader,
There’s this common saying that goes: “It may have been too much of a good thing.” It’s as if we don’t know if too much of a good thing exists, or perhaps we missed it. But, I think, at the heart of the saying, we know the truth: there is such a thing as too much of a good thing and we just overdid it.
Writing is a good thing. But, there is such a thing as doing too much writing, so much so that it cuts into your time, health or personal life. And, in that case, it becomes too much of a good thing. Because, even if it’s helping you, it’s actually also currently hurting you.
On this blog, I try to encourage a passion for all kind of writing, particularly creative writing, and try to provide tips and ways to encourage your passion for writing and insights into mine. But, I think the biggest insight is always knowing when to stop, when to not overdo it. There’s no limit to editing and there’s no limit to how much you can write. And, both of those things provide limitless creative possibilities, but they can also be harmful to you if abused.
Ask yourself: have my friends and family seen me lately or have I been buried so deeply under the pen that I haven’t taken time for the ones I care for? Have I been involved in activities in my community? Been to church? Gotten adequate sleep?
If the answer to any of those questions is no because you’ve been busy writing, it’s time to take a break. Put the pen down. Close your laptop. Walk outside. Experience life.
One thing that’s just so important to remember about our craft is, for one, not to develop a workaholic mindset. We do not need to become so consumed with our writing that we embody it in an unhealthy way. The next deadline is there, and it will always be there. But, there’s only one writer and that’s you. And, to continue writing, we need to take care of ourselves and those who care for us most or our writing will falter.
And, secondly, experiencing life is the fuel for our writing. It should never not be the fuel. If we are constantly stuck in one location writing or stuck behind a computer screen, this becomes our life. Thus, it influences our writing. We run dry. So, it’s important to take time to fill up on our experiences so we can then fulfill our inspiration on the page.
This is tough to hear. But, good things can be overdone. And, writing is a good thing. I suppose this is a word of caution this month, to not get so engrossed in your writing that you forget about other aspects of life. Because you and those aspects are important. Take time for you and those things and return, refreshed, later to write down what you’ve found.
Also, this provides a fresh take on your writing. Walking away and coming back refreshed and jogs your mind. Don’t think you have to constantly muse over one aspect of your writing to get something accomplished, especially if you have writer’s block. It’s like this with physical art as well. A break provides that fresh look at your work you may not have realized before; and thus, new ideas can be born.
I guess I’m going back to basics this month, but it can’t be said enough. Writing is a beautiful thing in healthy moderation. I’m saying this because I want your writing, your work to be beautiful, as well as mine.
Breathing only works if you exhale as well as inhale. This month, don’t forget to exhale as much as you inhale. If you don’t, your writing will suffocate, you will overdo it and then be saying, “Man, I think it may have just been too much of a good thing.”
Think about that.
Sincerely, Your Writer,
Jessica A. McLean
The Rose 