Guilt-free Holidays!

Back around the 4th of July, I wrote a post about holidays, and how I still enjoy writing, even when everyone else takes the day off. Well, I'm channeling my husband for this post. He is a world class, champion fence straddler. He loves to play devil's advocate, even when he believes the opposite. Drives me absolutely crazy.

But today, I want to do exactly that. Every coin has two sides, right? And as much as I love to write, I want to encourage all of you to Labor Day off - guilt free. Go to a movie, or a barbecue, or for a triple scoop ice cream cone. Here's the thing - if I get the itch to write today, I will. Why? Because it is a holiday, which means I get to do whatever I feel like.

However, I don't have to. I don't have to worry about word count and not living up to my weekly totals. I don't have to obsess about churning out my next chapter and feeling like a failure if I don't make it. So many of my fellow writers stress and worry over deadlines and output. We put more pressure on ourselves than many people in regular office jobs do with normal, non self-imposed deadlines. And sure, it takes a higher than average amount of dedication and self-discipline to be a writer. But doesn't that mean we deserve a holiday even more?

So to celebrate Labor Day, I'm going to hop in the car with some home baked muffings, and drive to a beautiful park. My husband and I will go on a hike, have a picnic, and then go out to dinner. Will I plot along the trail? Probably not. Will I even think about my WIP while I stroll hand in hand with the love of my life? Heck, no. At the end of the day, if my characters start whispering in my ear, sure, I'll boot up the laptop. But if I don't, that'll be fine too. And the same goes for all of you.