you'll probably be thankful for this break... You'll be crap when you first pick up a guitar a gain, but you'll get better quickly, and will probably improve over all... As some one said, take this as a chance to extend your knowledge of music/ recording etc... and maybe even read up on the odd musicain's auto/biography...
I'm gonna have to try that grip thing... cos, as fast as i can go, i cant maintain my speed... :(, it's no good when your speeding a long and your arms feel like falling off (oh yeah, anyone got an exercise to help out trem picking... I can go pretty fast, but it feels like my shoulder will fall off after about 10 seconds:(.. serious suggestions though..)

take care...