Writers write is a phrase thrown around a lot, but I honestly think that we should stop saying it. Obviously, writers write. In fact, though, everyone writes now. Between content creators across social media platforms to drafting emails to texting, writing text is just a part of the every day experience for many people. However, this phrase is referring to the idea that creative writers should simply write every single day no matter what because if said writer is not writing then they aren’t a writer because “writers write.”

I definitely don’t disagree with this statement that writers should put in the time and discipline towards developing their craft. However, there is a huge part of writing that involves actually not writing at all. Most of my best writing comes to me when I am actually doing something else entirely. Walks and doing the dishes and cleaning and driving seem to be the space where I am able to decompress and work through challenges in my work. I don’t exactly know why that is, but I do know when I have just kept writing and editing without allowing any space for the work to just exist on its own without me hovering around it, the work has suffered.

I’ve gone through seasons when I’ve written every day and seasons where I don’t do much writing. However, I do believe those times when I am not writing are just as important and valuable as the times I have with daily writing. Everyone has their own journey with writing and every piece of writing has its own journey towards finding a reader if that is the journey the writer wants to take with that piece of writing. Everyone’s process is different and I respect everyone else’s journey, but I have realized that I very much need to respect my own process and journey as well. This writer often takes many breaks from writing and I still feel good about the work I create!