Greetings friends,
Yes, it’s true: I am taking a break for a while. For the past several weeks, I have been battling some pretty serious depression and I feel that the time has come for me to take stock of my values and consider where I should go from here. I do not feel that my writing has improved of late and I have become increasingly less confident in my abilities and uncertain how to move forward. In order to take my writing to the next level, I feel I need to devote a level of time and money that, unfortunately, I simply cannot afford in my current situation. Writing will always be among my foremost passions but I have found my enjoyment in it waning of late because I have had to stretch myself between two jobs, studying for my upcoming exam, searching careers and business schools, and helping to take care of my family.
Something has to give in order for me to be happy and, though writing has always been my fondest hobby, I feel it needs to be put aside for the time being. I think I will be happier in the long run taking a step away from it and I think my writing will also benefit from the break. This week marks the first time in four years that I have not been working on a novel. I think I need to take this time to reevaluate my writing/publishing goals.
If you were excited about The Last Cup, I am considering making it available on this website as a free download starting October 1st. That may change. Although I am happy with the story and themes that I have crafted, I know the book would benefit from a professional editor and I have neither the time nor the money to pursue one at the moment. I am hoping that will have changed come November, but I have no way of making that prediction.
Thank you 1,000x to those of you who have supported me and helped teach me since I started this page in May. Your praise and criticisms have given me much to think about. Even while I am away, I hope to press any useful writing/editing/publishing articles I happen to find. If you should want to converse with me about ANYTHING related to this site or writing, in general, I hope you will contact me using the links at the top of the page. I hope this will not be interpreted as the end of a conversation; I’m only taking a breath to make sure that when I choose to speak again, I have something that is truly worth saying.
Thank you and, if you’re of a religious persuasion, God bless.
Safe and rewarding journey, Sean, wherever your intuition takes you. Take care.
Thank you very much. You take care as well and, as always, good luck!
Sending light your way. May you find what you need in your heart.
Thank you. I will gladly accept your light
I need it now!
Writing will always be there when you need it. Your life needs you right now, and you’re a smart man to understand that. Keep a little journal in your pocket, and jot down your thoughts and feelings in it. You’ll be grateful that you did this at some point in your life, and it will help the depression. Hang in, and good luck to you!
I appreciate the kind words. That is my plan for the time being. I’ve even picked out the journal. I probably should have taken this break months ago, before I even started the website, but I could never regret meeting the people I’ve encountered through this page. My writing endeavors have not been especially rewarding, but this blog is the one thing that HAS. It hurts that I have to put this aside for a while. Thank you for the encouragement
Sometimes sanity requires that one take a break from writing every now and then. Trying to be a published writer -or better yet one that actually sells books- is an occupation fraught with frustration and few rewards. But I’m sure that you’ll be back pounding away at the keyboard in time, so I’ll say enjoy and see you later…
Thank you so much. I completely agree and I think I’d reached the point of “frustration and no rewards”. In the meantime, good luck with your projects.
It seems I’ve come on the late end of things. I had the good fortune of stumbling upon you via twitter recently and had just subscribed. I wish you well during your much needed hiatus. It is my hope that more of yourself and less of what is at your disposal will guide you on how long you need. In other words, I hope things look up quickly.
If I can just quickly leave you with a parting thought-a writer writes-always. This is not meant to undermine your current need for a break in any way. It sounds as though that part is imperative. I suppose what you said in regards to depression hit home. There was a time when I considered myself a writer. I allowed negativity to step in and convinced myself that it my writing would never be of use to anyone, myself included. But again, a writer writes.
Why did I share that? While I’m not entirely sure, suffice it to say that my own experience in letting go of writing has caused me to lose a part of myself, thereby feeding my depression. So while you are out there, please consider keeping your talent on a back burner and stoke it every so often.
For what it’s worth, I’ve enjoyed everything I’ve read so far. Good luck and God bless.
I think you knocked it out of the park. I know that a part of me will always need writing, so I have no desire to abandon it completely. Writing helps me organize my thoughts and make sense of the world. Right now, I am just so utterly exhausted that I feel like my mind has worn holes in it like acid wash jeans. I think a break will remind me why I turned to writing in the first place and I’m hoping that, upon my return, my head will be clear and better words will find me than the ones I’ve been writing recently. Thank you for the comment
Go figure your stuff out dude. You’re living in your own skin, you’re living your life, and if you’re not enjoying it – something needs to be done. No point in writing if you’re not enjoying it. Best of luck to you.
Who knows what’s best or correct or right or proper? Do what you gotta do.
When you’ve taken your breath, come on back. We’ll be waiting.
I hope this break gives you all you truly need. I admit I’ve envied your ability to post, post, post, generate followers & commenters, and publish, publish, publish, etc. Now to my surprise I learn you’ve been running on empty, and it makes me sad. I find myself wondering sometimes how I got to a place where the desperation for recognition eclipses the joy and the healing qualities inherent in the creation of new stories and the urgency to write. It’s so easy to lose the purity of what drew us in the first place. I hope you will be able to keep writing simply because it helps you & that you can recover that simple joy. Best of luck, and take care of yourself.
I’ve been a lurker here for just a little while, but wanted to wish you well. There are people close to me with depression and those who deal with it best know how to pay attention to what their minds and bodies are asking of them. So when you go through moments of doubt, remember that this hiatus is not a failing or shortcoming, it’s you successfully managing your busy life in the best way you can.
What more can any of us ask of ourselves?
May this time away give you the peace and break that you need. God Bless.
I just found you!!!
That’s OK. I understand because I constantly teeter on the edge of the same precipice that you speak of. Taking a break, recalibrating…it’s all good. Fortunately, the ability to write isn’t something that just disappears. It’s tattooed on you, somewhere.
Best of luck!
Thanks for all the cool articles and advice. Mine to you is step back and take a deep breath. Get down on the ground cross you legs and repeat after me. OOooommm. repeat as long as you can. One of three things will happen. You will laugh at yourself, two you will think this is ridiculous and stop. Three. Your minds eye will show you inspiration and peace. Take care.
I was just reading what you wrote, because you started following me on twitter. I was astonished at the quality of your writing – usually “I follow you, you follow me” writers on twitter are no good and I don’t bother following them. I am an amateur writer, of the “should keep the day job” kind, mostly because I left my first language behind just ten years ago and was probably too old to recover from that. That does not prevent me from knowing what good writing is, and yours is the real thing.
I got a little concerned reading your post. Not because a promising writer sounds like he is throwing the towel. Life goes on in surprising ways, like a badly executed plot it twists and turns without foreshadowing, and you find yourself in sudden cliffhangers or in spots of achingly beautiful serenity when you least expect. The longing of creation calls to us, your talent is strong enough that it will soon refuse to be put aside and will fight for air. Maybe you don’t like your book. I haven’t read it; maybe it is your worse. How many do you have in you? 20? 30? So one may have been below par. But you don’t get to decide, you readers do. Remember, “50 shades” is really bad where the writing is concerned. The plot is contrived and has Diplodocus-sized holes in it. That has to be the despair and the hope of struggling writers everywhere.
What concerns me is that it sounds like you are seeing your life throught depression-tinted sunglasses. My father went through life with it; I battled it briefly because of a thyroid issue and I know how it hurts. If a total stranger can offer a tidbit of advice, do not lift yourself by your bootstraps. Get some professional help, because behind those sunglasses the sun is shining, even thought it may sound unbelievable at the moment. And make no life changing decisions at this moment, everything may look totally different six months from now.
Pray a bit.
God bless you
Everything will be ok. I’ve been in your position on several occasions and it totally sucks, but know that the break will be good for you. I took a break from writing for about two years due to depression. Sometimes you just need a break and there is nothing wrong with taking one. The great thing about being a writer is that the writing bug never truly leaves your system. Remember to write for yourself first and do it because it makes you happy. As others have said, we aren’t going anywhere. We’ll be here when you come back.
We your followers will be here when you feel you are able to return. Until then take care of yourself and do what you have to so that you can do what you love when the time is right.
I found you via twitter and my twitter account is no more. I echo all the sentiments of the above. If your heart tells you to take a break, you have listened to it. And not many people know how to listen to that inner voice – it’s your guiding light. Like you I have been frustrated with my book and self-publishing and wondering if writing really is for me. Stiil thinking about it. It’s those negative moments that really rip me up. I’m working on my next book too but don’t expect much – just want to complete it then wait and see. I’ve come to realise that if I just write for the sake of it, even in my personal journal, then I’m still writing. Sean, you’re humourous and insightful posts kept me out of the blues. Life has so many priorities and you’re doing what’s most important to you, right now. God Bless!
Hello new twitter friend! I have found that when I have been down, I have to get out! Outdoors that is… Good luck to you and I hope you check out my blog. It is always an upper.
I just checked your page because I thought “hey, it’s been a while since I saw a tweet or blog post from Sean on Twitter”. I hope you know that you are one of the few people whose links I generally ALWAYS click on because I’m sure to find something useful or humorous or both behind them.
I wish you happiness, luck and balance in your life – I hope you get back to the place you need to be and I hope some of those big things you mentioned up there resolve themselves for you soon.
By the way, I admire you for being honest on here, and for being honest about needing a break from writing. It’ll still be there – as will this page, and your Twitter page and loyal fans and followers – when you’re ready to return.
Good luck with everything Sean!
~ Rosanna