Rest by Wendy H. Jones
I have been thinking a lot about rest recently. For the past couple of weeks I have been ill with tonsillitis and this wiped me out. I spent most of the last two weeks sleeping. When I haven't been working that is. I had a couple of urgent writing tasks which I had to complete and this meant I spent time on those. Now, don't get me wrong, I love writing, editing and any other associated task which comes alongside these. I think that being a writer is a joy, and a privilege and one of the best jobs in the world.
However, here's the rub. Most writers, including me, work from home. Work is always there and it is so easy to do 'just a few words'. This can turn into a writing marathon and before you know it a couple of hours go by and tonsillitis exhaustion, or even general exhaustion, has set in. This was certainly the case in the Jones house. Because we writers love what we are doing, ideas are always flying around in our heads. It is tempting to move to a computer and start writing.
I am using the blog today to implore you to take time out to relax and look after yourself. I eventually realised that I needed to take a few days off. For the past three days I have been reading and resting. If ideas came to mind for the latest book I wrote them down in a notebook. Being a geek I use Evernote notebooks for this. I usually have some sort of electronic device on me at all times and writing in one syncs to them all. It meant that ideas weren't lost but I wasn't dashing to the computer and spending hours there. You can use any old method you want but keep one thing nearby to appease the inner writer.
I feel better today and will be returning to work with renewed vigour and lots of ideas. DI Shona McKenzie won't know what's hit her.
About the Author
Click if you would like a free book - DI Shona McKenzie's Guide to Killing Your Boss
Wendy lives, and writes, in Dundee Scotland. She has four books out in the DI Shona McKenzie Mysteries. Her YA Mystery, The Dagger's Curse, will be published on 10th September, 2016 by Books to Treasure. This is the first in the Fergus and Flora Mysteries. She is also a public Speaker and can be contacted for speaking engagements through her website
Wendy lives, and writes, in Dundee Scotland. She has four books out in the DI Shona McKenzie Mysteries. Her YA Mystery, The Dagger's Curse, will be published on 10th September, 2016 by Books to Treasure. This is the first in the Fergus and Flora Mysteries. She is also a public Speaker and can be contacted for speaking engagements through her website
I have a new mantra these days: work from rest; not rest from work. It enables me to take time out to relax and play (whatever that looks like for me) without having to feel I've earned it by working myself silly first. Rest is God-ordained. He took time to relax and feel satisfied after creating the universe (... and God saw that it was good). No good having laurels if we don't rest on them regularly for a short while. Glad you're feeling better.
ReplyDeleteAh, you're resting at last!
ReplyDeleteYes, we've had some enforced rest over the weekend for similar reasons and hope as a result also to appraise activities and see whether we are stressing ourselves in unnecessary ways! Unpleasant experiences can be used profitably!
ReplyDelete