Comments on: Why "Write Every Day" Isn't Always the Best Advice

By: Calisa Rhose

Calisa Rhose — Thu, 07 Jul 2016 05:45:20 +0000

The one thing I've never lived by as a writer, but have been made to feel guilty for a few times. Life has intervened a lot these past two years, so I write when I can, or when inspiration and energy to do anything at all align. It's great to hear someone say "out loud" what many of us have apparently been thinking for a long time. Thank you, Katie!

By: Letter #5: Pushing Through | Lauren Faulkenberry

Letter #5: Pushing Through | Lauren Faulkenberry — Tue, 05 Jul 2016 13:07:44 +0000

[…] did write a piece recently on how I don’t buy into the (terrible) advice that you have to “write every day.” […]

By: Letter #5: Pushing Through :: Katie Rose Guest Pryal

Letter #5: Pushing Through :: Katie Rose Guest Pryal — Tue, 05 Jul 2016 13:03:24 +0000

[…] did write a piece recently on how I don’t buy into the (terrible) advice that you have to “write every day.” […]

By: Joseph McGarry

Joseph McGarry — Wed, 22 Jun 2016 20:54:10 +0000

In reply to Debbie Herbert. All work and no play makes Jack a dull boy. That's what Jack Nicholson was typing over and over again in The Shining. We know how that turned out.

By: Orly Konig-Lopez

Orly Konig-Lopez — Wed, 22 Jun 2016 20:42:46 +0000

In reply to Cara Sue Achterberg. Everything here! Just yes!!! :-) I don't write every day although if I go too long, I get itchy. But I'm always "head writing." The story ideas are always with me, whether it's nodding an existing project or marinating a new idea.

By: Anna Willett

Anna Willett — Sat, 18 Jun 2016 05:47:40 +0000

In reply to Terry Odell. Head writing! Yes. Now it has a name, I feel better about the hours I spend doing it on the days I don't put a word on the page. I often take a day or two off and that's when the head writing starts. When I come back to the page, I'm bursting with ideas. I don't away write every day. If I forced myself to write on the days I don't feel well or have other things needing my attention, I'd probably end up taking the pleasure out of the thing I love.

By: Joseph McGarry

Joseph McGarry — Fri, 17 Jun 2016 11:28:18 +0000

All work and no play makes Jack a dull boy. That was what Jack Nicholson was typing over and over again in The Shining. That's an extreme example of quantity over quality. It's OK to take some time off. That's where you pick up experience that you can use in your writing.

By: Pedro Vasquez

Pedro Vasquez — Fri, 17 Jun 2016 11:27:43 +0000

I agree that writing every day is not for everyone. However, I don't believe that telling someone "You should write every day" is bad advice (if what one means by it is that the writer--especially those that are new to writing--should strive to work whenever possible, so that writing becomes habitual). There's no such thing as writing too much. Don't they say that practice makes perfect? Of course, whoever can't write every day --for whatever reason-- shouldn't. They can "think about writing" instead. :-)

By: littlemissw

littlemissw — Fri, 17 Jun 2016 03:10:02 +0000

I don't write everyday. I have two children aged 4 and 6 as well as depression and anxiety. When my children (and my husband) need me, I'm there because they are the most important people in my life. And when my illness acts up then it's all about surviving - getting out bed, making sure the kids are cared for, crawling back into bed at the end of the day. Everything else, writing, housework, everything, comes second to that.

It might not make me a fast writer, but I am still a writer.

Thank you for posting this.

By: Ann W Garvin

Ann W Garvin — Thu, 16 Jun 2016 23:54:01 +0000

Let's try not to confuse productivity with discipline. I always say it, you're a genius Katie.