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‘Writing every day is just too relentless.’
I’ve had that thought many times.
But, there are too many good reasons to write to fall prey to such an idea.
Here’s what I think when things feel relentless:
‘Relentless’ is a word you applied to your current situation. It’s subjective.
Could this sense of ‘relentlessness’ fade when you drop the judgement?
Could you continue at your current pace if you didn’t buy into those thoughts?
Could you even do more?
The Universe is constantly testing you. Unhelpful thoughts often appear when you’re getting close to levelling up.
So — we’ve taken judgement out of the equation. This will already do most of the drudge work.
The second element here is understanding how everything we set ourselves to do can be viewed in the context of mastery.
When I stop judging my work for a moment, this is often the insight that appears.
I’ve lost the love for the craft of writing.
I’ve made it about me again.
My stresses. My struggles. My dissatisfaction.
But that becomes meaningless when you’re on a path of joyful improvement.
Mastery.
Of course it feels ‘relentless’ if you’re not improving.
Of course, you want to quit if you see writing as simply a means to an end.
You will quit that way.
What’s always kept me returning to the page is finding a way to be curious again. It’s to fall in love with the little nuances of the craft.
The human psychology stuff.
The tiny tweaks that change the entire meaning of a piece.
The infusion of colour and detail to add depth to a story.
If it feels relentless, it’s because you’ve detached from the love of the craft.
You’re now judging writing with critical thoughts, like an unwelcome visitor.
You don’t need to write for hours each day.
You can commit 10 minutes a day and still develop your craft.
Writing must be welcomed, cared for and cherished.
That’s when you become unstoppable.
Consistent writing is far more enjoyable when you know exactly how to improve your craft every day.
My Online Writing Alchemy course gives you the secrets I learned through 15 years of experimenting.
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This hit home. The shift from “this is relentless” to “this is practice” is everything. I’ve definitely noticed that burnout creeps in when I lose sight of the craft and start chasing outcomes. That line—“you’ve made it about you again”—might be the most honest reminder I’ve read in a while. Thank you, Alex.