Writers - How long can you stay away from your writing?

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I sometimes take a break for a few months and then go back to writing. I tend to write in intense phases where I do nothing else but write, then I leave it for a while and my head seems to gain a new perspective. I always think I get better when I resume each time too.

It honestly depends. I'm planning on making it into a career, and thus it's important to learn to write even if you're not quite 'feeling like it' - Keep writing and you'll eventually get in the swing of doing it every day.

If you want, write multiple stories and switch back and forth depending on whatever interests you at the time - just remember to keep it at 3 max and to actually write it.

That's very good advice. I'm currently having trouble keeping on task with my writing. Like you have suggested, I have 3 projects I am working on. Now, I just need to keep motivated to work on them regularly, but I think I might be a little depressed at this time. Normally I'm not depressed, but right now I'm feeling rather blah.

One of my projects is about a time vortex that transports people into a dangerous world. Another project also involves time travel, but focuses more on the main character trying to find himself by chasing issues through time. And the third project is a nonfiction work about a haunted house. I also have two musicals I am wanting to work on eventually.

I started a blog a few months ago so I'm compelled to write, at least non-fiction, every few days. I also might churn out the odd poem or two.

I haven't sat myself down and disciplined myself enough to write any new short stories, though. Looking for gainful employment has taken up lots of my time and energy.

I'm the same, although I'm doing a PhD atm so should really be writing every day! I write poems in very intense 'bursts' but prose seems to be more regular. i like leaving a while to get a new perspective though.

I try and write every day, but I get distracted really easily.

Last night, I started working on character development for a story, and that didn't last very long, but I did get some things done, just not much.

I can stay away indefinitely, but I don't think long breaks are good for me. I'll improve while I'm away, sure, but improving while continuing to write is ideal so that I'll actually have more to show for my efforts as the years go by. It's probably faster, too. I tend to lose interest in finishing stories if my interest wanes in the middle and I let myself walk away, and I can't always rely on coming back to it in a few years with newfound passion.

One of my friends told me that my favorite author sits down to do 5,000 words a day, so I'm setting a smaller goal for myself.

I write most days, if I have something in the works I cannot stay away for more than a day or two.
When there isn't something in progress, I can stay away for maybe a week or so, but after that I begin
to miss it, and soon enough I am unable to avoid it, and have to start again. The life of a writer... If I don't
have RSI in my wrists I start to worry that I may be dead.

I do pretty much what Zodai does. I currently have two writing projects going on right now, and if I'm feeling stuck on one thing I can just go over to the other one and start writing.

Thank God I'm not the only one!
I was working on a short story, but have fallen into a literary malaise for about a month's time, now. But just today, I've found a reawakened interest in a novel I had been working on but abandoned about a year ago. Wish me luck.

-Bill, otherwise known as Kraichgauer

I struggle with this, too. Once I took six months to get back to my multiple writing projects. What a disgrace! It's nice to hear that I am not alone with this.

I had a story written out that because of so much rewriting I was sick of the sight of it. But the other day I started going over it again and have just reworked 5 chapters of it and I am feeling pleased. The story is not as bad as I thought, although it is a bit weird.

I have many on the go, and will work on whichever suits me. But recently I stopped writing fiction and started writing software. The two are significantly different and so go well together for allowing me to take a break from one or the other.

I think having the break allows you to look at what you write objectively and helps in the editing process.

Glad you got back into it!

It varies.

At the moment, my novel is on my brain 24/7. I'm having dreams about the protagonists! It's become my obsession.
But then I have times when I don't write at all... After I finished my first novel, I had no inspiration and consequentially wrote very little.