Whoa. Thank you so much for sharing that. It helped me stop beating myself up for needing a break from writing my fiction. Mine was also getting too real, too hard just too much. Thank you for reminding me that it's ok to take a break but you have to go back. Because we write to heal, even when it's hard. And we also stop when it's too hard. But then we go back. Again and again. You showed me that I'm not doing anything wrong by feeling too much, not doing enough, or any of those reflexive self-blaming lies. I'm doing the work. I see you doing the work and it's hard for you too. But you even said the same line I say to myself when I pull up my big-girl pants and get back to writing. "The only way out is through." I don't have to love writing all the time or even the having written bits. I just have to do the work. Then rest. Then write. Over and over. Just like Jade is doing.
Lesley, thank you SO much for this comment. I put out these super vulnerable essays and I sometimes wonder, is it worth it? Does it actually help anyone? And seeing this... well, it helps to clear the fog to know that, yes, it does help. I love that you are giving yourself self-compassion because it IS hard. It definitely CAN be too much. And you SHOULD take breaks when that's the case. But yes, we should also return because the only way out is through! <3
Whoa. Thank you so much for sharing that. It helped me stop beating myself up for needing a break from writing my fiction. Mine was also getting too real, too hard just too much. Thank you for reminding me that it's ok to take a break but you have to go back. Because we write to heal, even when it's hard. And we also stop when it's too hard. But then we go back. Again and again. You showed me that I'm not doing anything wrong by feeling too much, not doing enough, or any of those reflexive self-blaming lies. I'm doing the work. I see you doing the work and it's hard for you too. But you even said the same line I say to myself when I pull up my big-girl pants and get back to writing. "The only way out is through." I don't have to love writing all the time or even the having written bits. I just have to do the work. Then rest. Then write. Over and over. Just like Jade is doing.
Lesley, thank you SO much for this comment. I put out these super vulnerable essays and I sometimes wonder, is it worth it? Does it actually help anyone? And seeing this... well, it helps to clear the fog to know that, yes, it does help. I love that you are giving yourself self-compassion because it IS hard. It definitely CAN be too much. And you SHOULD take breaks when that's the case. But yes, we should also return because the only way out is through! <3