November 09th, 2017

A lot of advice is thrown around during NaNoWriMo (National Novel Writing Month) about the best way to win and to get 50,000 words written  in 30 days.  Most of it is good advice, but some of it only sounds good because it’s been repeated so often.  For example, here’s a bit of bad advice you find on all the blogs: “Take Breaks.”  Many advice columns throw this little nugget in at the end, almost out of obligation.  
But let’s be honest, do you really need a break?  Really?  Are you sure?  Are you hallucinating due to sleep deprivation or dehydration?  No?  Then most likely you are not in need of a break.  You’re just stuck.  It is a problem binging on a Walking Dead marathon will not solve.  You might need a change of scenery, a rethink, or another cup of coffee, but you do not need a break.
When the only person keeping your nose to the grindstone is you, it is too easy to let this bad advice become wisdom.  You think “Oh didn’t that author say I should walk away if I need to?”  and then you go get a scone-- or three.  We often skip the obvious follow-up question: “Yes, but do I need to.”  
This is where a writing partner comes in handy, especially one that believes in you enough not to indulge when you start whining.  That’s the kind of partner you want at your back-- the one who pushes it.
Since I,too, am hustling this month to finish my next big project, I’ll leave this post short and sweet.  So here’s the take-away: Don’t use the fortune cookie advice “take frequent breaks” as an excuse to walk away from your writing, especially if you are challenging yourself to write more during NaNoWriMo.  You can take a break in December.
For now, get to work.