I’m beginning to fear that the all-nighter has become my writing ritual.
Not the kind of writing ritual I’ve chosen, like dressing in my softest clothes, drinking Earl Grey tea, and filling the room with the soothing tones of cello music.
No, the all-nighter is a different type of ritual altogether.
In the beginning, the all-nighter was a necessity. I was trying to meet the deadlines of my MFA program, and it was crazy challenging. No matter how hard I worked to set time aside for writing, it was never enough. I always found myself needing those extra hours.
Next time I’ll do better, I’d tell myself, desperately trying to function at work post all-nighter—regretting every hour I’d spent writing instead of sleeping.
It was a cycle I was determined to overcome.
This past month, in advance of my most recent deadline, I could feel something shifting. I was managing my time better, finding more nooks and crannies for reading and writing that were adding up to productivity.
I even had a three day weekend leading into the due date.
Maybe I was a little cocky, in those final days of February. No more all-nighters for me!
And yet. . . I still found myself up all night writing, using every possible moment I had before that deadline.
Sigh.
My dad has offered me advice, typically in response to my inability to pack for a trip like a normal human. It’s an admittedly indecisive process that takes way too long and eventually devolves into me throwing all kinds of random items in at the very end. Witnessing this chaos, my dad once said, “At some point, you just have to get on the plane.”
Dad being Dad, this was more than just packing-specific wisdom.
I always think about this advice mid-all-nighter, and I wish I could compartmentalize the choices I’m making as a writer in the way I wish I could choose the seven outfits I’ll wear on a trip, make a list of each item, stack them neatly in a suitcase, and be done with it.
But I don’t think writers work this way (or at least, I don’t). Spare minutes are opportunities to continue revising. My writing work expands to fill the time that’s available, not the other way around.
The writing is never finished, until it’s wrested from my over-caffeinated fingers and attached in an email to my advisor.
I wonder if accepting this truth about myself, seeing it as treasured ritual rather than character flaw, might change how the experience feels to my no-longer-22-year-old-self. Because that day after. . . that day after is rough.
Running to School 
Best line “The writing is never finished, until it’s wrested from my over-caffeinated fingers and attached in an email to my advisor.” … Keep writing friend. I am sure that the world is better for it.
LikeLiked by 1 person
Thanks so much!
LikeLike
All the things we give so much of ourselves exhausts us especially when we stay up late competing it- The next day is always a drag but sometimes that is when we work the best !
LikeLiked by 1 person
Oh, I feel your pain! I like what your dad said about just having to get on the plane, but both our clothing, and our writing, express very personal things about us to the world. I was afraid to do The Slice of Life because of not wanting to take a chance at not putting my best out in the world, but I think that during this month of March I will be remembering your dad’s advice too: “Just get on the plane.”
LikeLiked by 1 person
I hadn’t thought about that metaphor in connection with Slice of Life, but you’re exactly right! I definitely need to remind myself sometimes to just post already, rather than overthinking (and overwriting) during the challenge.
LikeLiked by 2 people
Stolen minutes. I loved the connection to writers. That spoke to me today. During lunch I read slices and frantically typed down some ideas I didn’t want to forget…for future slices.
LikeLiked by 1 person
Read this first thing this morning, and sent good vibes your way if today was the “day after” you spoke of. It made me smile when, at the end of your post, you opened the door for this to become a “treasured ritual” that leaves you exhausted, but exhilarated, knowing you’ve left everything on the page. Thank you for sharing! Happy SOLSC22, my Friend!
LikeLiked by 1 person
Thanks, Morgan! I know you can relate.
LikeLike
I cannot relate more. Writing is never done, just due. Seeing these tendencies as “treasured ritual” is empowering. Love how you weaved in your dad’s advice in this slice.
LikeLiked by 1 person
As the sister of two of those seven-outfit kind of gals I love this!! For the last few years, I always seem to post at night, no matter how many times I promise myself I am going to post in the morning! And then there is the thing about organizing– some years, I have made a list of 31 slices I am going to write, and I usually do about three of them, then free lance the rest of the time!
LikeLiked by 1 person
I always start out trying to stay a day ahead—writing tomorrow’s post the evening before. I haven’t yet managed to sustain that level of proactivity. I’ll be writing and posting same day at night within a week, guaranteed!
LikeLike
“The writing is never finished, until it’s wrested from my over-caffeinated fingers and attached in an email to my advisor”
I can’t agree more! and I love how you worded it. I started my day today with your read and I am so glad I did. Happy Slicing.
LikeLiked by 1 person
Thank you so much!
LikeLike