You Don’t Have to Write Every Day

This common writing rule is meant to be broken.

Butt in chair, they say. That’s what makes you a writer.

Write every day, they say. That’s what makes you a writer.

Put the words on the page, no matter what, they say. And if you don’t? You’re not a writer.

I’m here to respectfully disagree.

In his oft-quoted craft book On Writing, Stephen King said “Your job is to make sure the muse knows where you’re going to be from nine til noon or seven til three. If he does know, I assure you that sooner or later he’ll start showing up, chomping his cigar, and making his magic.” And while I agree that there is something to be said for consistency, your muse will show up whether you are sitting at your desk or not.

In fact, my muse (who is decidedly not chomping a cigar at any time) most often shows up when I am not sitting in front of my computer screen. She shows up when I’m driving, when I’m in the shower, when I’m walking or folding laundry or chasing my kids around the yard. That is to say, my muse loves to show up when I’m not thinking about writing at all.

And whenever she shows up, no matter where I am or what I’m doing, I count that as writing time. Taking a walk and the ideas start flowing? Productive writing time. On a long drive and a single line that has eluded me suddenly slaps me in the face? First, pull over. Second, count this as writing time.

Unless you are a full-time writer with zero other responsibilities (kids, job, social engagements, etc.), thinking that you have to spend time each and every day writing can be overwhelming. It’s one more thing to add to an already overflowing plate, one more thing to pile on top of every stressor already in your life.

And when writing becomes one more stressful thing to worry about? Talk about kicking the muse to the curb.

When you recognize that writing time doesn’t have to mean that you’re sitting in front of your computer writing x amount of words, you grant yourself the freedom to spend that time living, experiencing, listening, and watching. And your writing will become better for it.

I’ve had characters born from conversations overheard in the coffee shop, settings that sprout from a daily walk or weekend day trip. I’ve had entire storylines come to me from a passing glance from a stranger, a witnessed interaction on the subway. And I guarantee none of these ideas would have visited me if I was sitting at my desk in front of a blank page.

The times when I’ve forced myself to sit in front of my computer, cursor blinking at me like an angry little beacon of failure, are the times that I’ve produced my worst writing. If I’m feeling stuck or uninspired, the worst thing I can do is force myself to continue sitting here, watching that cursor taunt me.

So get up, move, ignore your computer for a day, a week. Heck, step away for a month if you need to. And in that time, let the ideas come to you, let your brain wander and your imagination grow. Let your muse do whatever it is he or she does—smoke a cigar, dance under the moonlight—just let them free.

However long you’re gone for, the computer will still be here when you get back. Only now, you’ll have ideas and experiences to draw from—word count be damned.

As a matter of fact, I’m about to go out for a walk right now, my muse is feeling antsy. She won’t be smoking a cigar, but maybe she’ll dance in the rain or splash in some puddles. And maybe, just maybe, a new story, phrase, or idea will emerge.

Think every day? Feel every day? Listen, observe, wonder every day? Yes. But if you can’t (or don’t want to) write every day, that's okay. You’re still a writer.