Thank you for this post! I might also add that in addition to being classist, this advice is extremely ableist. I have numerous chronic illnesses, which means that my pain, energy level, even my vision, ebb and flow. In a flare, I may go weeks without writing a single word. And it’s crucial when I’m feeling well not to overextend myself (something I do regularly because I also have job and two kids). “Write every day” strikes me more as an extension of hustle culture than legitimate advice for a creative life; we think that our success and worth are dependent upon productivity, so our routines and practices—even our creativity!—must be a constant exercise in production. That’s simply not possible or healthy for many of us.
I was about to say the same thing. As a person with multiple disabilities, telling me to write every day is ludicrous, and when people suggest that, it makes me angry. It's also unreasonable for parents of kids with disabilities and probably a lot of parents in general. When I was parenting, I had zero time to do anything besides be a parent, advocate for my kid, and sleep. People say, "Oh just do 15 minutes between activities. If you really cared, you'd make it work." But that's not true. Sometimes there are no between times.
Totally agree! And even just having a kid and a job... until I'm actually getting paid for it, I'm not going to force things that hard. The point about writing not being a sprint is such a good one - I can do a few late nights but I'm not forcing my body to keep that up over a period of years!
I agree with all of this! It’s so important for us—as writers—to work in a way that makes sense with our lives as individuals. One person’s solution for their writing life could be another’s disaster
-waiting-to-happen. I also find it helpful when advice (like Kyla’s!) understands this nuance and encourages other writers to take anything that’s useful and leave everything that’s not behind. Thanks for sharing your thoughts!
This is so great! And I love the thoughts about finding your own voice instead of trying to sound like someone else. I've been wanting to read Kylas middle grade for a while now!
Thank you for this post! I might also add that in addition to being classist, this advice is extremely ableist. I have numerous chronic illnesses, which means that my pain, energy level, even my vision, ebb and flow. In a flare, I may go weeks without writing a single word. And it’s crucial when I’m feeling well not to overextend myself (something I do regularly because I also have job and two kids). “Write every day” strikes me more as an extension of hustle culture than legitimate advice for a creative life; we think that our success and worth are dependent upon productivity, so our routines and practices—even our creativity!—must be a constant exercise in production. That’s simply not possible or healthy for many of us.
I was about to say the same thing. As a person with multiple disabilities, telling me to write every day is ludicrous, and when people suggest that, it makes me angry. It's also unreasonable for parents of kids with disabilities and probably a lot of parents in general. When I was parenting, I had zero time to do anything besides be a parent, advocate for my kid, and sleep. People say, "Oh just do 15 minutes between activities. If you really cared, you'd make it work." But that's not true. Sometimes there are no between times.
All really important points. Thanks for reading!
Totally agree! And even just having a kid and a job... until I'm actually getting paid for it, I'm not going to force things that hard. The point about writing not being a sprint is such a good one - I can do a few late nights but I'm not forcing my body to keep that up over a period of years!
Agreed. Losing sleep over writing is very rarely worth it. Moderation is so important for so many things, writing included!
I agree with all of this! It’s so important for us—as writers—to work in a way that makes sense with our lives as individuals. One person’s solution for their writing life could be another’s disaster
-waiting-to-happen. I also find it helpful when advice (like Kyla’s!) understands this nuance and encourages other writers to take anything that’s useful and leave everything that’s not behind. Thanks for sharing your thoughts!
This is so great advice to find one’s own voice and not feel obligated to write daily. Thank you for sharing these great tips!
Thanks for reading!
This is so great! And I love the thoughts about finding your own voice instead of trying to sound like someone else. I've been wanting to read Kylas middle grade for a while now!
The voice advice is great! Definitely something I wish I’d heard earlier in my writing life.