The Art of Guilt

I'm sure everyone has heard that a writer is someone who applies the seat of their pants to the seat of the chair.  We have all heard the advice, just sit down and do it, in one form or another.  This is something I believe in.  To an extent.  Most days when I think I don't want to write I'm just being lazy and as soon as I sit down I get swallowed up in my story and have a great time.  But there are times when sitting down and writing are no good. 

Some days I know I don't have the compassion, the intelligence or the stamina to write.  When I have tried to write on those days it ends up being the worst thing paper (or a computer screen) has ever been forced to endure.  I always end up destroying it and being even more depressed because I'm a horrible writer and I don't know why I try, and I'll never be any good, and where's the ice cream. 

That's why I think it's important for a writer to know themselves.  Know when you're being lazy and bust yourself for it.  Put yourself in that chair and sternly tell yourself to get to work.  Or know when it's no good and it would be better for you just to read a book or take a nap.  That's where I'm at today.  I give myself permission to laze it up for half an hour.  And not feel guilty about it.  If at the end of half an hour I feel rested I may start on the revisions I had lined up for today.  If not, I still won't feel guilty.