Should you write every day?

Is good advice? Does it work for everyone?

Last week I shared my recent challenges around writing. I have had a couple of weeks where by brain just hasn’t wanted to function. I won’t repeat myself, if you want to read more about what I was experiencing you can have a look at last week’s article.

Since last week, I have been slowly - very slowly - reemerging. I managed to give a talk about writing for wellbeing in a wonderful local bookshop. I finished reading a book in a week, which I haven’t done for a while. I wrote another talk I am giving next week, did some social media posts, planned some future projects, and, I even did some planning for my historical novel.

I haven’t however, managed to do any actual writing, that is my goal for this week. I have a long, quiet day at home alone today and I intend to do some writing while the house is still, and I am able to really focus.

The fact that I am slowly feeling more able to create again, just proves that sometimes what we need is rest, if we fight it, then our body can be really insistent. So, I’m glad I have learned this lesson over the years - however frustrating it may be.

What is writing

It’s easy to think that because we haven’t done any actual writing, that we haven’t made any progress with our writing.

That isn’t true.

Things I have done which support my writing:

• I have been reading. I have had some lightbulb moments about techniques I can use in my own writing.

• I listened to some writing podcasts, and looked through some of my favourite historical novels, for inspiration.

• I jotted down ideas that I had while doing other jobs in my notes app, and my notebook.

• I discussed ideas and story structures with my husband and daughter.

Writing is tiring

Last week my husband was working on his father’s biography. They have been working on it for a few years now when they get a few days. Ian (hubby) sits with his Dad, and records the conversations they have about his life, then he writes it up at home later.

I have loved watching him going through this process. Seeing him jump up part way through a tv programme, because he has thought of something he needs to add, or alter. Watching him deliberate for hours over whether to use the Oxford comma, and what will look better single, or double speech marks.

He has also been amazed by how tired he has been while working on it. He thought I was kidding when I said that an hour writing is roughly equivalent to 10 minutes on a rowing machine, or a 20 minute walk. (Is there any wonder we’re always tired?).

It’s easy to think that because we are sitting down and only really moving our fingers that writing is easy. It isn’t, it’s mentally and physically tiring. There is no wonder that it is one of the first things that we step back from when we feel overwhelmed, when we are juggling other pulls on our energy.

Even reading, which we think of as relaxing, uses between 60-90 calories an hour (which explains why our ability to read often diminishes when we’re tired too).

When we write, reading and writing are involved, and when we are writing a book, or an article, we have to expect to be feeling more tired than we might if we are doing something less cerebral.

We then have to add into the equation the fact that often there are complex problems to solve as part of the writing process, particularly with a novel, we have to give ourselves a break if we feel too tired to write sometimes.

Challenging the popular advice that we write every day

There are very different views on this idea. People such as Ernest Hemingway, Neil Gaiman and Stephen King, are often quoted as saying that writing every day is an important part of the process.

Although I agree that writing something everyday can be beneficial, for some people, forcing yourself write towards your current project, everyday, isn’t right for everyone.

We are all different. While I appreciate that writing is a powerful tool to support our wellbeing, I can’t help feeling that when we are told we have to do something - even when circumstances or mood is making it difficult - it turns something that should be enjoyable, into another item on your to do list. Writing shouldn’t feel like homework, it should be something we enjoy.

I also don’t want to put writing ahead of everything else in my life. I love writing, but I don’t want to be Enid Blyton, writing in my office while ignoring my family for hours on end. Whether she was doing this because she felt she had to, or she wanted to, is irrelevant to me, that isn’t something I am prepared to do. My family will always come first.

We should get used to turning to our journal when we are trying to work out a problem, or we are feeling overwhelmed. Journalling is a powerful practice, and if we can get into the habit of writing most days it can be incredibly beneficial. I do believe that even journalling loses its power when we are doing it under pressure. The words have to flow, not be forced out.

As someone with some pretty complex medical conditions - and in the throws of perimenopause - I am having to accept that some days I just can’t do it. Not because I don’t want to, but because my brain and my body are just not capable. Some days I can push through, and I do. There are times though when it doesn’t matter how much I push myself, I just can’t, and I’m learning that that’s ok.

I believe writing should flow out of us, when the mood takes us, or when we feel inspired. I believe that the energy with which we write our words, impacts how people read our words. That’s not to say that there aren’t times when sitting down and having a stern word with ourselves can’t be helpful sometimes. There will always be times when we just can’t be bothered, but it is only because there is something more appealing calling to us, but we also have to be kind to ourselves when we really can’t do it.

What do you think?

I am acutely aware that these are my opinions and I would love to know what you think. Should we be writing every day, no matter what? Do you believe you can always push through and force the words onto the page?

I love hearing everyone’s views on writing, not just ones that echo my own beliefs. Let me know what you think.

Thank you for reading. This publication, and everything I write, comes from my heart, and is my own words, and created without the use of AI.

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Hello, I’m Kate - story lover, future author, writing coach, journal therapist and mum, based in the Stafford, UK. You can receive my weekly writing tips and updates, wellbeing reminders and the general life ramblings of a menopausal writer, by subscribing for free.

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