Breaks are healthy…

So stop writing sometimes and take them.

Especially after a year of lockdowns and routine changes, it was important to stop working and take a break. A cabin near the Smokey Mountains where I could chill and relax after daily hikes with my husband and kids recharged me. I usually like to write (or edit) for a little while every day of the week, but for vacations I leave my laptop behind. I use the notes app in my phone if I get a really good idea so I can explore it once we’re back home, but I don’t even try to write that imagined scene out. My brain needs a clean break sometimes from work, and making family memories is more important than any scene I could write. My husband and kids are the center of my life and nothing else can get in the way of quality time together.

So yes, I really do believe that aspiring writers should just sit down and write already. But life is about balance. Sometimes stop writing already, and go out into the world to make some new memories.