Excellent advice here from you and others. I "quit writing" often. I never actually quit, but even "quitting" for 5 minutes (or a few days or weeks) and imagining that writing is not in my life takes the pressure off, helps me to appreciate all the other aspects of my existence...then reminds me that I love doing this despite the challenges. I always circle back. "Quitting" is like taking a break, but, you know, with more drama.
The “outside time” angle is pretty essential. When the punchlines stop making sense, I know it’s been too long since I’ve fallen off a skateboard. I think of it as launching my body through writer’s block.
Love this, Julie! Now, when I want to procrastinate, I can just call it managing my burnout! Seriously, though, I've been feeling a bit burned out and loved your ideas.
Creative burnout? Who me?? LOL. I don't have time for creative burnout with my book about to be launched, but I'm planning a long period of burnout sometime this summer. I guess my strategy, then, is giving myself permission.
I sometimes give myself a day to be a blob aka binge watch Netflix, order take out, do minimal physical activity. After all that slothing, I usually wake up the next day like the Energizer bunny.
I've heard from other authors that post-publication depression is real. (Did you experience that?) I'm at the point where--and this sounds terrible, I don't mean to minimize depression--but I almost welcome it. Spending a week on the couch? Man, I can't wait.
Excellent advice here from you and others. I "quit writing" often. I never actually quit, but even "quitting" for 5 minutes (or a few days or weeks) and imagining that writing is not in my life takes the pressure off, helps me to appreciate all the other aspects of my existence...then reminds me that I love doing this despite the challenges. I always circle back. "Quitting" is like taking a break, but, you know, with more drama.
The “outside time” angle is pretty essential. When the punchlines stop making sense, I know it’s been too long since I’ve fallen off a skateboard. I think of it as launching my body through writer’s block.
Love this, Julie! Now, when I want to procrastinate, I can just call it managing my burnout! Seriously, though, I've been feeling a bit burned out and loved your ideas.
Creative burnout? Who me?? LOL. I don't have time for creative burnout with my book about to be launched, but I'm planning a long period of burnout sometime this summer. I guess my strategy, then, is giving myself permission.
I sometimes give myself a day to be a blob aka binge watch Netflix, order take out, do minimal physical activity. After all that slothing, I usually wake up the next day like the Energizer bunny.
These are really helpful, Julie, thank you!
I've heard from other authors that post-publication depression is real. (Did you experience that?) I'm at the point where--and this sounds terrible, I don't mean to minimize depression--but I almost welcome it. Spending a week on the couch? Man, I can't wait.