How to Quit Writing

Last week, I decided to quit writing. Tired ofwith a sky full of stars. Or if it is a lovely spring day
rejection, tired of being a slave to words andwith all the flowers peeping out of their beds or if it
phrases, I decided it was time I straightened out myis a crisp sky blue winter morning with the frost
life. So I quit. Cold turkey!I cleared off my desk, shutdecorating the windowpanes... or... On second
down the computer, shoved all my discs and hardthought.. don't go out at all. Viewing nature in all her
copies into the file cabinet, locked it and handed mysplendor can cause inspiration to overpower your will
husband the key. I threw the mouse into the trashpower.Clear off your desk. Every writer knows that
and that was that.Quitting a habit is relatively easy. Icreating is difficult in a neat and tidy environment. As
have a friend who has quit smoking 243clutter tends to inspire, a blank desk top will help you
times.Staying quit? Now that is a different thingretain your blank state of mind.You may also consider
altogether.I have heard that all writers are notjoining a self-help group for reformed writers. Last
addicts. Some claim they can lay their writing careernight I attended my first AWA meeting (addicted
aside any time they choose. Others, like myself, arewriters anonymous). Some of the stories I heard
sucked into the literary scene after only one byline.there brought a tear to my eye. One lady admitted
All it takes to get us hopelessly addicted is to seeto accepting money for her work. Can you believe
our name printed in tiny letters beneath a few linesthat? I was ashamed for her. Another member
of text in a magazine.However, there is hope for us.confessed to attending his own son's school where
We can help ourselves remain ink free if we posseshe posed as a librarian in order to gain insight into the
the willpower and the strong desire to quit.The pencilchildren's reading habits and literary preferences. Then
theory. Some writers argue that carrying a pencilanother member stood and in a voice choking with
between their teeth or holding an empty ink penemotion, he told of how he turned his four-year-old
between their fingers helps diminish their cravings.daughter into a schizophrenic. He constantly got his
This doesn't work for me. I never can resist the urgedaughter confused with the child protagonist in a
to put the pencil to paper, so I have vowed tonovel he was writing. Now his little Susie thinks her
never touch another pencil. The surgeon Generalname is Yolanda.I had a confession of my own. I fell
should have a warning put on the things. Blank paperoff the wagon. We needed groceries. The children
is too easily obtained.Never allow yourself any *thinkwere hungry. I needed to make a list to take to the
time*. Solitude is the worst enemy for a writer,market. I was alone in the house. I sneaked into my
trying to quit. The mind begins to wander and as sureson's room and ever so quietly, I booted up his PC,
as God made quotation marks, you'll find yourselfopened word pad, and began to type up my list.
filled with ideas and phrases, until your head won't beSuddenly something snapped.. I lost control of my
able to contain them and you'll find yourself reachingfingers and somewhere between hamburger and
for the keyboard.Keep busy. Clean away those dustcereal.. I wrote this article. I am weak, I am ashamed..
bunnies you've allowed to collect in the corners.I am an addict.Leeuna Foster is a Marketing
Watch TV. Engage in a mindless conversation on theStrategist, Author and Poet. She has been writing for
phone or with your spouse. Go visit yourtwo decades and her short fiction and poetry have
mother-in-law. Always wear a blindfold when you gowon several national and regional awards.
outside, especially if the sun is shining or if it is dark