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I loved this piece, “I’m Only Really Happy When I’m Writing, Or When I’m Having Lots Of Fun With My Friends And Family.” As usual, The Onion nails it:
…It always comes back to the writing: the discipline, the stamina required, the unrelenting determination to give voice to my innermost thoughts, thoughts that illuminate the cracks and crevices of the human condition. That is my only satisfaction. That and watching a really good movie on late-night TV…
I find writing so satisfying and really do get unhappy when I’m out of my routine… and wish my routine were more routine than it is… but I need frequent breaks and human contact, too. Last year I went on a solo writing retreat, and let me tell you: after six days in a cabin in middle-of-nowhere Ohio, with no phone or Internet service (and only Season One of Buffy on DVD), I was going nuts.
This past week, in contrast, I spent several days hanging out with old friends in a house on the Pacific Coast, and I did not a lick of writing. By the end, I was definitely raring to get back to it, but taking a break from writing actually felt great! Balance in all things…
Besides, if I’m not out in the world gathering experiences, what am I going to write about next?
Exploring a sea cave at Pescadero Beach on New Year's Day, 2011. Photo by my friend Dave.
Hey, Lisa,
I enjoyed this post and can completely relate! If I hole up and “force” myself to work, the work is not something I’ll end up keeping. Breaks away from it, though, to experience loved ones and friends is just the thing to kick start the writing–provided I don’t get carried away! ;-)
*Love* the Onion! Isn’t it great?
Lynda
Totally. I’ve been frustrated lately that I’m still only “almost finished” with the manuscript I was “almost finished” with back on that retreat in ’09… but it hasn’t been all wasted time. A lot of necessary processing has happened in the interim! (And of course there have been a lot of necessary revisions to Starting From Here interrupting the process, too…)
There’s this theory that you have to “fill the (creative) well” so you can dip from it – sounds exactly like what you discovered. There’s also the idea of the “artist date” from “The Artist’s Way” by Julia Cameron that’s pretty similar – taking yourself on a fun outing, a date for your inner artist, to be inspired.
Thanks for sharing – and the photo’s awesome!
Namaste,
Lee
Thanks, Lee — yes, I think that photo’s one for the mantle!
Even though I’ve never made it through all of The Artist’s Way, that filling-the-well thing is something that has stuck with me. I try to remember it when I’ve come home from work and am feeling totally drained from “putting out” all day, reminding myself that it’s okay to give my brain a break before diving into something creative!