That shiny new project from last month? It had an upcoming submission deadline that I was so sure I could make. Pffft. No way.
A short story rejection? Puh-leeze. That's nothing new around here. It's part of the writing life. But a recent rejection sent me spiraling deeper than usual, and I don't know why.
Add in the usual life stuff, and it's been quite the March.
But much like a flipped over tortoise who knows there will be banana on the horizon one of these days, and you have to be on your feet to eat it, I will regroup and right myself!
One way I'm doing this is to take April off from most social media. I'll still be around, but there's a short story I want to write, and a novella draft that needs finishing. After that, I don't really know. But I do believe there's banana out there for me, and when I find it, I will turn it into the best banana split ever. (Seriously, did you think I was going to go through all this introspective hoopla for a plain old banana? Sheesh!)
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Have you taken a social media break recently? Planning on taking one? What do you focus on when you do - a particular project, re-filling the creative well, traveling? What else? Any suggestions for me?
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Yes there's a banana out there for you and a sundae. I don't totally go off social media but slow down on my blog over the summer to work on the next year's blog schedule. Hope you have a productive month.
ReplyDeleteThanks, Natalie! I like your idea of slowing down in the summer to prep for next year's blog schedule. I used to plan my posts way more than I do now. Something to think about!
DeleteSorry to hear of your recent struggles. I had a rejection like that last year--just when you think you're immune, one sends you reeling. It's hard to predict.
ReplyDeleteI don't normally take social media breaks because I feel the marketing is too important, but I've noticed I spend far less time scrolling through my newsfeeds these day. Too depressing.
Wishing you a happy and productive April filled with bananas.
I was really surprised to be so thrown by that rejection. Strange stuff.
DeleteI don't think I can or want to cut myself off from social media altogether. It's more I need to cut back and find a different way to approach it.
Thanks, JH!
Just keep flipping yourself back over.
ReplyDeleteI'll be taking a lot of April off as well.
Some days it's harder to do than others, but I'll keep at it. :)
DeleteMmm... banana split! Enjoy your break from social media and hopefully the month is super productive for you. I could use more breaks from social media myself.
ReplyDeleteFingers crossed I don't waste the time!
DeleteWhen we travel and camp I am mostly off-the-grid. Immersing myself in the moment, the fun and the nature recharges my batteries.
ReplyDeleteI love turtles and tortoise! They are so cute :)
My kind of off-the-grid is a long walk on the beach - aaaah!
DeleteI'll let the tortoises know they have a fan. :)
Instead of a total social media break, I'm trying to limit the time I spend on social media.
ReplyDeleteAlternatives to banana split? Maybe banana loaf or banana muffin?
Good luck with the short story and novella that are waiting for your attention... have fun!
Hmm, I do like banana nut muffins.....
DeleteThanks, Michelle! I will do my best to have fun with everything. Sometimes, I forget to do that. :)
I've never been much for social media, but I've pulled back on blogging to twice a month. I'd prefer to write than post.
ReplyDeleteFYI: checking the horizon for bananas as I type. ;-)
Anna from elements of emaginette
Do you see any? I hope so! :)
DeleteI've been missing from online a lot lately, mostly because my offline life has been overwhelming. Enjoy your break, and I hope you get your banana split!!
ReplyDeleteThanks, Loni! Me, too. :)
DeleteHi Madeline, that's the spirit, go for that banana split and while you are doing that make one for me too. I've also been planning to go off social media, one of these days I'll do just that. Good luck with your April goals.
ReplyDeleteI think we're going to need a lot of spoons for that banana split. And I am happy to share with all of you! :)
DeleteSometimes a break is the best thing to do. I've scaled back my social media and haven't really missed it much.
ReplyDeleteI'll have to see if I actually manage to take that break or if I get sucked back in as a means of writing procrastination. I enjoy social media when I'm partaking on purpose.
DeleteI don't make a complete break from social media. But I limit the times I check in especially when I should be writing!!
ReplyDeleteI've gotten much better at that myself!
DeleteI get flipped over by the oddest things. I can take some rejections with a grain of salt and then other times, someone asking me how things are going can send me straight into a shell to hide form the world. Good luck with the stories!
ReplyDeleteI hear you!
DeleteThanks for the good luck wishes! Gonna need them.
I haven't taken a complete break from social media for years though I take a day now and then. I wish you the best. Go get that banana.
ReplyDeleteSometimes a day of unplugging is enough.
DeleteThank you, Susan!
it's funny how sometimes things that really don't bother you usually, suddenly do. Must be about your frame of mind and how much other crap you're up against at the time. But you have to just flip yourself back onto your feet and keep moving toward the banana,
ReplyDeleteIt was so strange because I have a pretty thick skin when comes to writing rejections. My skin is almost like a shell, really. :)
DeleteI think I spend more time on my back than marching along. Good luck with writing this month!
ReplyDeleteFlip yourself back over, T! March along with the rest of us. Onward to the banana . . . split!
DeleteOh, yeah. The banana with your name on it is coming along. Definitely.
ReplyDeleteAw, thanks, Olga! I hope so! :)
DeleteWriting is far more important than social media!! Best wishes for a productive April!!
ReplyDeleteDefinitely! And thanks! :)
DeleteI'd like to think I'm braced for rejections but I'm sure they'll still get to me.
ReplyDeleteEnjoy your social media break! I probably should do something like, or at the very least, stay off of Twitter when I'm supposed to be writing.
Rejection is never fun, but after these many - many! - years they don't sting as much as they did in the beginning. Usually.
DeleteOh, I've been flipped on my back for a bit now. But like you, I'm still looking for that banana. Well, a glass of wine for me. We'll just hang in there.
ReplyDeleteGood idea to step away from social media for a bit. I find it really helps clear the mind.
I would offer you some banana-flavored wine but that just seems . . . wrong. I vote for a glass of good wine then a yummy banana split. :)
DeleteGood for you! It is all about prioritizing. Bet that banana split will be yummy!
ReplyDeleteIt will be yummy and well-deserved!
DeleteI've been on a break for months in order to work on the first draft of a new novel. For many of those months, I've accomplished little, but things are going a little better now. I think the key for me was not to expect to be in the mood to write, but write no matter how crappy I felt or busy I felt. At least a few pages, or research notes, or whatever.
ReplyDeleteWe really have to do what works best for us, for that particular project, etc. Sometimes, if I force myself too much, it messes up my creative mojo. Other times, I need the push to accomplish what I need to. Shrug. It's all a big mystery! :)
DeleteI do periodically take big breaks from social media, but also try to make it a daily habit to get off the computer for the day starting about 3:00 PM (unless I need to check for an important email of promote a blog post -- on those days, I sneak back on before bedtime).
ReplyDeleteI have a cut-off point, too, where I stop checking social media, email, etc. It does vary, though, depending on what's going. I do find once I'm clicked "off" everything, I feel calmer, more relaxed. For me, anyway. :)
DeleteI think it's healthy to take a break and I've been feeling the need for one, too. I like to refill my creative well, just write, travel - either just getting out and seeing a few parks locally or if possible, farther afield.
ReplyDeleteHave a wonderful break!
I just hope it doesn't take me too long to get comfortable inside of this break. If I wait too long, it will be over!
DeleteI hope your break helps a lot. I have not, but its my link from isolation but I have thought about it. Happy IWSG!
ReplyDeleteI feel something similar regarding that link from isolation. That's part of why I hesitated initially, but I'll still be around somewhat, so I think that will be okay for me. I hope!
DeleteI love your upside tortoise analogy. You don't like tortoises, do you? :P
ReplyDeleteSome days I think I'm more tortoise than person - hiding in my shell, dozing in the sun, eating greens..... :)
DeleteSometimes social media can be really distracting, so it's good to take a break and refocus on what you want to do. Here's hoping there's banana around the corner!
ReplyDeleteThanks, Nick! I hope so, too. :)
DeleteI may take a social media break next month or one week this month. I need it.
ReplyDeleteWhatever you decide to do, Chrys, I hope it works for you. :)
DeleteI follow a tortoise hashtag on Instagram, and they are hilarious little creatures. Also, a great analogy for a writer!
ReplyDeleteProbably a good thing I'm not Instagram. I don't think my guys would appreciate me following other tortoises! :o
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