One of my online friends* is dealing with writing burnout**. They've either been trying too many writing projects, are in too many critque groups or are just tired of dealing with the same, multi-year novel they've been beating their head against.
I sympathize. I've been in all three of those situation and am just emerging from my post-World Fantasy slump. First of all, slumps happen. Burnout happens. Most writers, don't ask me why, tend to go up and down. Some weeks we're on fire, ambitious, determined...some weeks we hate ourselves, we hate our work, we hate that we hate ourself and our work.
I've gotten burned out editing Angel Odyssey and while writing The Mageborn Mechanic. It happens to everyone, every writer gets into a slump when they d
But here's the thing: slumps pass. If you don't give up, you can get through it. That doesn't mean to keep beating your head against the wall, though. Sometimes the wall breaks, sometimes your head does. Personally, I prefer to go around walls, or over them, if I have to.
Don't stop writing, but stop writing frantically. Go write something else, pick a new genre or a new form. If you write short stories, outline a novel. If you write novels, write some short stories that are as different as possible from what you're stuck on.
If you're writing too much, cut back your projects. Maybe update your blog once a week instead of 5 or 7 days a week. Rest, recharge, the well will fill up again, don't worry.
Read. The best thing to find new inspiration is to go back to what inspired you. Pick up an old favorite and rediscover it. Pick a new book in a new genre (Two suggestions that are going to be pretty much from out of left field, I suspect, try "The Night Circus" by Erin Morgenstern, for wonder and magic, it's the best book I've read this ear. Or if you like Sci-Fi, try Knox's Irregulars Reminded me of John Ringo -toned down- or Gordon Dickson's old "Soldier, Ask Not.) Or pick something different, biographies and histories are filled with stories. Whatever you read, you'll find it will help re-inspire you.
Edit something else. Edit someone else's finished work, if you're tired of writing. Type out a chapter from your favorite novel, then go through it like you're editing your own work. See how you can improve it, how you can make it sound like your own voice. (Don't, however, try to publish the're-edited work as your own work'. ;) Looking at you, James Frey and Quentin Rowan)
Variety is the spice of life and it is the perfect perscription to burnout.
*actually more than one, now that I think on it
** Some of my thoughts echo what other writers have written about this. Steven Pressfield has written a couple of great books on writing, the War of Art and Do the Work both are worthy of your time, especially if you're struggling. There are many other writers I'm indebted too as well, but it's early and my brain only works so-so at this time of day. So my apologies if this sounds familar to some of you.
But here's the thing: slumps pass. If you don't give up, you can get through it. That doesn't mean to keep beating your head against the wall, though. Sometimes the wall breaks, sometimes your head does. Personally, I prefer to go around walls, or over them, if I have to.
Don't stop writing, but stop writing frantically. Go write something else, pick a new genre or a new form. If you write short stories, outline a novel. If you write novels, write some short stories that are as different as possible from what you're stuck on.
If you're writing too much, cut back your projects. Maybe update your blog once a week instead of 5 or 7 days a week. Rest, recharge, the well will fill up again, don't worry.
Read. The best thing to find new inspiration is to go back to what inspired you. Pick up an old favorite and rediscover it. Pick a new book in a new genre (Two suggestions that are going to be pretty much from out of left field, I suspect, try "The Night Circus" by Erin Morgenstern, for wonder and magic, it's the best book I've read this ear. Or if you like Sci-Fi, try Knox's Irregulars Reminded me of John Ringo -toned down- or Gordon Dickson's old "Soldier, Ask Not.) Or pick something different, biographies and histories are filled with stories. Whatever you read, you'll find it will help re-inspire you.
Edit something else. Edit someone else's finished work, if you're tired of writing. Type out a chapter from your favorite novel, then go through it like you're editing your own work. See how you can improve it, how you can make it sound like your own voice. (Don't, however, try to publish the're-edited work as your own work'. ;) Looking at you, James Frey and Quentin Rowan)
Variety is the spice of life and it is the perfect perscription to burnout.
*actually more than one, now that I think on it
** Some of my thoughts echo what other writers have written about this. Steven Pressfield has written a couple of great books on writing, the War of Art and Do the Work both are worthy of your time, especially if you're struggling. There are many other writers I'm indebted too as well, but it's early and my brain only works so-so at this time of day. So my apologies if this sounds familar to some of you.
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