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Why Time Off From Writing Can Be Hell | The Brew

July 14, 2026 · 8 min

Show notes

Taking a vacation from the desk can be a recipe for disaster for a workaholic writer like me. Here’s why taking two weeks off triggered a massive 5:30 AM anxiety attack!

Fresh off a family holiday that forced me to confront my need for daily writing to stay sane, I'm breaking down my panic spiral over my career backlog, an update on my new feature spec notes and TV pilot commission, plus my thoughts on finally watching the first season of "Shrinking".

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ON THE ITINERARY:

  • MY VACATION PANIC SPIRAL: Why stepping away from the desk for two weeks triggered a 5:30 AM anxiety attack about my career.
  • WRITING AS MY MEDICINE: Daily pages aren't a choice for me — they're a requirement to keep me sane.
  • SPEC & COMMISSION UPDATES: Where things stand with my new feature spec and the status of my TV pilot rewrite.
  • DIVING INTO 'SHRINKING': My reaction to finally catching up on Apple TV's comedy-drama.
  • BUKOWSKI’S BRUTAL TRUTH: A quote from the great poet to help you on your creative journey.


TIP JAR:

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⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://buymeacoffee.com/colehaddon⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠

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  • Cole Haddon @ Instagram⁠⁠: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://www.instagram.com/colehaddonwashere/⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠
  • Bluesky⁠⁠: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://bsky.app/profile/colehaddon.bsky.social⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠
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EMAIL:

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CREDITS:

  • 5AM StoryTalk acknowledges the Traditional Owners of the land on which this podcast is recorded, the Djarra people of the Kulin Nation and pay respects to Elders past and present.
  • This podcast’s music is by ⁠⁠Cary Brothers⁠⁠: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://www.carybrothers.com/⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠

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