#5 was a gamechanger for me! 🥰 Word count goals got pretty toxic for me, especially around Nanowrimo time (seriously, 1667 words a day??). Now, I promise myself to write 100 words a day and give myself A LOT of grace! 🙌🏾
I recently switched from word count goals for drafting/number of chapter goals for editing to a purely time based goal system, and I couldn't believe how much better I liked it. I always thought word count would be better for my brain because then if I stay focused and finished faster, I could just be done. But you're very right in saying that it makes bad/hard writing days so much worse and definitely led to more burnout. I don't have very scheduled days currently, so I just have a timer on my computer for the amount of time I want to write that day. I start and stop it when I start and stop writing until I get up to my time goal. Then I'm done for the day, regardless of how much I've actually gotten done. I'm sure I'd do much better with an actual schedule, but it's just not possible right now due to other commitments on my time that are either higher priority or higher urgency. Maybe someday! I do like the idea of writing out priorities and how much time you have/would like to allot to each. I tend to give attention to the things that are right in front of me at the moment, which probably isn't the best way to make good use of my time OR to prevent burnout.
Oooh I’m totally the same way with focusing on the urgent stuff. And that’s okay if you can’t do a regular schedule at the moment - sounds like you’re taking a much more sustainable approach for where you’re at now! 🙌
AHHH, PERFECT TIMING! ❤ I stayed up until 3am to finish my WIP and woke up at 5am with an idea for my new WIP's outline 😅 Haven't watched the whole thing yet, but I'm 100% that you can cure my (impending) burnout! 😂
This was helpful! I like to pretend that I’m immune to burnout, even though I have a career and kids and exercise is a big priority as well. The most helpful was to acknowledge how long I can write at a time. I push and push and PUSH past my limit a lot and it has been taking a toll lately.
Good stuff here. I wrote my first novel in 2011 during NaNoWriMo and haven’t written since because it was such a stressful situation. But now I want to try again with more sustainable practices. Hyperfocus is both a blessing and a curse.
So true!! I find that if I force myself to stay limited to my allotted writing time, the hyperfocus pays off because I get loads done without giving it time to wear off.
3 books in 3 years with a full time job!! Wow!
Thank you - it’s been wild!
#5 was a gamechanger for me! 🥰 Word count goals got pretty toxic for me, especially around Nanowrimo time (seriously, 1667 words a day??). Now, I promise myself to write 100 words a day and give myself A LOT of grace! 🙌🏾
The grace part is key!!! And 100 words per day sounds a lot more achievable on a consistent basis. Well done!
I recently switched from word count goals for drafting/number of chapter goals for editing to a purely time based goal system, and I couldn't believe how much better I liked it. I always thought word count would be better for my brain because then if I stay focused and finished faster, I could just be done. But you're very right in saying that it makes bad/hard writing days so much worse and definitely led to more burnout. I don't have very scheduled days currently, so I just have a timer on my computer for the amount of time I want to write that day. I start and stop it when I start and stop writing until I get up to my time goal. Then I'm done for the day, regardless of how much I've actually gotten done. I'm sure I'd do much better with an actual schedule, but it's just not possible right now due to other commitments on my time that are either higher priority or higher urgency. Maybe someday! I do like the idea of writing out priorities and how much time you have/would like to allot to each. I tend to give attention to the things that are right in front of me at the moment, which probably isn't the best way to make good use of my time OR to prevent burnout.
Oooh I’m totally the same way with focusing on the urgent stuff. And that’s okay if you can’t do a regular schedule at the moment - sounds like you’re taking a much more sustainable approach for where you’re at now! 🙌
AHHH, PERFECT TIMING! ❤ I stayed up until 3am to finish my WIP and woke up at 5am with an idea for my new WIP's outline 😅 Haven't watched the whole thing yet, but I'm 100% that you can cure my (impending) burnout! 😂
Hahahahaha no pressure 😅 but congrats on finishing your WIP!!!
Thank you! 🥹🫶🏽
This was helpful! I like to pretend that I’m immune to burnout, even though I have a career and kids and exercise is a big priority as well. The most helpful was to acknowledge how long I can write at a time. I push and push and PUSH past my limit a lot and it has been taking a toll lately.
Exactly! There’s a clear point of diminishing returns and it’s different for everyone. Well done on you for fitting all that in though!
I have yet to decide if it’s a blessing or a curse to be so driven to meet my goals, but I love my life and I’m happy so I’m thankful.
And that’s all that matters! 🫶
Neurospicy authors roll call 👉
LFGGGGGG
Good stuff here. I wrote my first novel in 2011 during NaNoWriMo and haven’t written since because it was such a stressful situation. But now I want to try again with more sustainable practices. Hyperfocus is both a blessing and a curse.
So true!! I find that if I force myself to stay limited to my allotted writing time, the hyperfocus pays off because I get loads done without giving it time to wear off.
The algorithm is algorithming 😭 I needed to hear this ❤
So glad it found you!! You got this 🫶
Love these tips!
Thank you! Are you a writer then?
@@searchingforsamantha yes, I am!
Amazing! What do you write?
@@searchingforsamantha I mostly write poetry and romance but I’ve been experimenting in dystopian fantasy.
Ooooh I LOVE a dystopian!
2:00 - 2:30 ❤🥰
I cured my burn out by quitting my job instead to write full time
If that option is available to you, that’s great! Unfortunately that’s not a possibility for most people, even successful authors.