Or: there's actually no right formula to "be a writer," even specifically a successful one, or any other type of creative for that matter, and here's a lens into that from what works today for me.
Having also suffered from major depression, I totally relate to what we should expect of ourselves while going through it. Giving myself permission to not think I have to "produce" while I'm suffering terribly was so freeing. Self-care! I love the idea of giving ourselves an "out" rather than experience all the time wasting false guilt.
It has taken me too many years to learn this and depression sometimes still lies and makes me forget but it's definitely so much more easeful than before. My forties have been so much gentler than the decades before.
I write my novels in bursts, BUT I write in my journal every night. Even if it’s just two sentences. I started that habit last year and am determined to keep on with it. I lost so many good memories in my teens because I was too lazy to keep a journal. So I guess in a sense I do write SOMETHING every day.
I think the one or two sentence journal is a great habit. Recently I have just been doing lists of my day - things I did or saw or thought or loved in brief
Having also suffered from major depression, I totally relate to what we should expect of ourselves while going through it. Giving myself permission to not think I have to "produce" while I'm suffering terribly was so freeing. Self-care! I love the idea of giving ourselves an "out" rather than experience all the time wasting false guilt.
It has taken me too many years to learn this and depression sometimes still lies and makes me forget but it's definitely so much more easeful than before. My forties have been so much gentler than the decades before.
Me too, Kathryn. The twenties and thirties were brutal, but it calmed down.
I write my novels in bursts, BUT I write in my journal every night. Even if it’s just two sentences. I started that habit last year and am determined to keep on with it. I lost so many good memories in my teens because I was too lazy to keep a journal. So I guess in a sense I do write SOMETHING every day.
I think the one or two sentence journal is a great habit. Recently I have just been doing lists of my day - things I did or saw or thought or loved in brief