Years ago, when I first became a full-time writer, I pledged to keep normal working hours. I did this not because I might write too little, but to keep myself from writing too much. I know me, and I can easily get caught up in what I’m writing and forget everything else.
That would NOT be healthy. Or smart. The purpose of life is to live it, not sit at a computer staring at a screen, tapping out word after word, hoping they play nice together and form a cohesive story.
Besides, to be a great writer, it is important to actually DO things that are worth writing about. And while it is not necessary that I DO everything I write about (that’s what my imagination is for), having a plethora of experiences to draw from makes me a stronger writer.
So, I take breaks from writing to DO things that will create new memories.
My job as a writer is to take those memories, mix them with a selection from the overabundance of thoughts and images that float about in my brain, and weave them into a story worth sharing.
Do. Feel. Remember. Imagine. Write.
It’s how good stories are born.