Tag Archives: process

Writing Life

Avoiding burnout

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So I set a goal to finish my revisions by May 25th.

Ha. Hahaaha. HA!

I set the goal because I was having a hard time getting motivated. But in this case, a deadline just made my problem worse. I wasn’t having a hard time focusing and working because I was lazy or distracted. I was shirking because I was on the verge of burning out.

Burnout, for me, happens when I push myself too hard just for the sake of being done. I find myself completely blocked. If I do may any progress at all, it’s just throwing something on the page so I can move on and be done with it, often not really improving the problems (or simply noting them and moving on).

I can work quickly, especially when I’m really excited about a story. But if I’m not excited about the story at the moment (or just overwhelmed by it), I need to allow myself to slow down. So I am. I might flirt with a story I shouldn’t be writing if something strikes me. I might just work on my crafts or play the piano, or explore another creative outlet.

How do you avoid burnout?

Photo by Patricia Espedal

Originally posted May 2011

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News & Contests, Technique

Avoiding burnout (and website critiques!)

15 Comments

So I set a goal to finish my revisions by May 25th.

Ha. Hahaaha. HA!

I set the goal because I was having a hard time getting motivated. But in this case, a deadline just made my problem worse. I wasn’t having a hard time focusing and working because I was lazy or distracted. I was shirking because I was on the verge of burning out.

Burn out, for me, happens when I push myself too hard just for the sake of being done. I find myself completely blocked. If I do may any progress at all, it’s just throwing something on the page so I can move on and be done with it, often not really improving the problems (or simply noting them and moving on).

I can work quickly, especially when I’m really excited about a story. But if I’m not excited about the story at the moment (or just overwhelmed by it), I need to allow myself to slow down. So I am. I might flirt with a story I shouldn’t be writing if something strikes me. I might just work on my crafts or play the piano, or explore another creative outlet.

But I still have good news for you: I’m going to do some website/blog critiques! Sign up in the comments before noon EST on Friday, and I’ll randomly draw three sites to critique. Website designer Ted Finch will also be on hand to critique the visual aspects of the lucky websites!

Don’t have a blog or website yet? Don’t worry! I’m also looking for one volunteer who doesn’t have a website or blog. We’ll be working together to get you set up, with the results posted as a tutorial! Again, this will be chosen at random from the comments left here before noon EST Friday.

The lucky winners will be announced on Friday. The critiques and tutorial will be posted starting June 6.

How do you avoid burnout? (Or just volunteer in the comments 😉 )

Photo by Patricia Espedal

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Works

Okay, for real this time.

3 Comments

Remember the romance blogfest Monday!

All right, so remember how I promised I’d tell you how I’m doing at my goal of getting up early to write? Yeah, lousy on that, and lousy on the getting up early. I forgot about one very important thing when I set that goal: my now-8-month-old likes to get up before 7 anyway. So she’s really helped me get up early every morning. And I’m basically a vegetable after that.

Still, I apparently need some sort of impetus to get going on the WIP I really wanted to finish six weeks ago, but have only tinkered with since November. So (as soon as I finish what I really really really really really mean is my last, final, conclusive set of revisions and finally submit), I’m jumping on February’s Ninja Novel Writing Month!

Which makes me think of this:

I’m also enlisting in the crusades. The Writer Platform Building Crusades. Because, hey, I need more friends. Don’t you?

What’s coming up for you this month? Aside from a certain blogfest, of course.

Is your writing any good? Join my writers' email group to find out how you can get a free edit & skill assessment!