You May Write Whenever You Damn Well Please

You May Write Whenever You Damn Well Please

You May Write Whenever You Damn Well Please

I saw something on the internet this morning that pissed me off a great deal. It was a long winded “inspo-shame” type statement that said if you don’t write every day, you can’t call yourself a writer. Here is what I wrote back to the person who posted it.

 

 

“Strongly disagree. I write in big batches (suspected ADHD). I write when my now-chronic pain and health issues let me sit enough to write. Every day is merely one way {to write}.

 

Don’t

Read my response and say “oh well they meant it for Other people”. I’ve had that response before. That they didn’t mean it for people who can’t. This can’t vs won’t fake motivational bullshit needs to stop – you can decide for yourself, because:  

 

The Actual Reality

You are an adult. You may write how much and how often you damn well please. “You have to write every day to be a writer” is a lie and a fake rule, just like all the other fake rules I wrote about recently.

 

An Aside

While I’ve been in bed for a few days with a virus, I’ve been mapping out the writing course I mentioned. I’ve been setting questions as part of it and the purpose of those questions has a largely practical manner so far in order to help you set up how YOU need to write. So now I’m particularly dedicated to it (yes, partly out of spite) as there is so much utter nonsense on the “correct way” to do things that needs clearing out of peoples minds. 

 

A Double Aside

I don’t write every day. According to the inspo-shame then I’m not a writer. Which I guess means I also didn’t publish all those books. So they like don’t exist now, or something? Damn. Who knew not writing every day made my published books disappear. /sarcasm

 

March 2021 update: I never had a reply from the person who shared the “must write every day”. So I unfollowed them. I really don’t like fake rules and inflexible thinking and an unwillingness to have a polite dissenting conversation. 

 

You May Write Whenever You Damn Well Please

12 Replies to “You May Write Whenever You Damn Well Please”

  1. I think it suits some people to write daily and it suits others to write in batches. Yep, write when you want. Write what you want. Just write. Then you’re a writer.

    1. Vanessa Smith says: Reply

      Exactly! The rules are really quite unimportant for writing compared to some other things. You do you is pretty much the only writing rule I agree with.

  2. Yes, sometimes I have phases where I’m writing every day but other times the inspiration doesn’t hit as strong or life gets in the way.

    1. Vanessa Smith says: Reply

      And most of us don’t have the privilege of being able to drop life things for writing, that’s for sure.

  3. I’d say it should be ‘whatever floats your boat’ I tend to be a bit haphazard. I might write every day for a couple of weeks and then I might not write at all for a while. That person sounded very judgemental. I can’t stand those type of people. Don’t blame you for unfollowing. I enjoyed your post #lifethisweek

    1. Vanessa Smith says: Reply

      Whatever floats your boat certainly works for this.

  4. I think a writer is a person who writes, however in/frequently that may be!

    1. Vanessa Smith says: Reply

      Fully agree!

  5. I used to hate it when I had to write…I am talking at school, doing Uni etc so the blog feels like a great freedom for me.

    I also try to mix up what I do write about because I hate boring anyone let alone me!!

    Thanks so much for linking up for Life This Week #231. Glad to have you add your post as part of the community here. Next week. the optional prompt is Good. Hope to see you there. Denyse.

    1. Vanessa Smith says: Reply

      It’s so much easier to do it on your own schedule than someone else’s. Having said that, I am a master of a 3000 word research essay in less than a week 🙂

  6. Bravo!
    I tend to listen to those kinds of comments, assuming they must know more about writing than I do, and berated myself for not following the rules. I wanted to be a “real” writer but seemed to fail the test. Now I am learning that “real” writers come in all shapes, sizes, and processes. While I do enjoy the discipline of near-daily writing, I have learned to give myself grace when I don’t have time (or don’t feel like) writing.
    #lifethisweek

    1. Vanessa Smith says: Reply

      “Real” writers absolutely come in all forms … and with all kinds of habits. Or complete lack of habits 🙂

Leave a Reply