Tuesday, September 3, 2013

Writing Weariness

The Nap - Gustave Caillebotte

A long time ago, in a galaxy far far away, some "genius" got the idea that pushing yourself to write as many words as you could in a day was a great idea. As if good writing was a product of sheer output and no input! This idea might be philosophically shaped from a human centered worldview, or it might be the handiwork of overconfidence. Either way, it's wrong.

As writers, we need rest. Shoving our ideas onto paper without a break, without time to take in new ideas, will not produce good art.

We live in a highly self-relient age, and we think we can overcome any issue simply by tackling it more. We assume that power comes from within. This fancy is partly due to our human natures, and partly due to the culture around us. It values individuality so highly that we often turn to ourselves, instead of God, when we look for our inspiration. But that leads to failure, not just as writers but as Christians.

I'm not disparaging looking within when it comes to seeking ideas and inspiration. However, if we really want to seek rest we have to look outside of ourselves. That means turning off our computers, closing our notepads, and taking time to relax. If you're like me, the "tireless" workaholic, then you definitely need it.

Yes this is a short post, perhaps the shortest one yet. But I need to take some of my own medicine and go to bed. 

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