It’s okay to quit early sometimes

There are going to be days where we just don’t feel well.  Days where, maybe you can write, but you just aren’t up to editing.  Days where maybe even writing isn’t happening.  Maybe you can write, but only free writing and not working on an active story.  

Accept those days as part of the process.  If you work on an active story, don’t force yourself to write more than you can.  Maybe you’ll only write a few scenes that link other scenes, or finish up a part here and there.  If it’s only now and then, that’s perfectly fine.  Honour where you’re at and be kind to yourself.  We writers are already our own worst critics.

If you just can’t work on an active story, write something from a prompt, or write a few scenes or short story, just to stay in practice.  Maybe write about a character, or do some dialogue, or something different that you feel interested in.  It can be stuff that fills out your story, even if it never makes it in the book, or something random just because you can.  We write because we have a story to tell.

If you find these days happening with more frequency, then maybe you need a change of scenery or pace, or should reconsider if writing is for you.  Some people write better in a set location, but when they get stuck then moving to a new location helps a lot.  Sometimes I take my lap desk and go outside to write, just to feel the sun on my skin and the breeze in my face.  It can be enough to give me new inspiration.

If you’re having an off day, maybe you’re ill or tired after being up all night with a loved one or something else, then get up.  Go through your morning routine.  Write what you can and then you can stop there.  Maybe you’ll have a nap later and want to write more, and maybe you won’t.  Both are fine.  Look after yourself and go at it again tomorrow.  Take a little more time for meditation, maybe, or relax with a good book.