(no subject)

[glorious_spoon]

I think I wrote a hole through my brain?

I just finished NaNo, and I've been writing a bunch of prompt-fic, and now I'm editing the second draft of another novel and my brain just... doesn't... want to make the words go. After a month of writing close to 3,000 words a day, I made it to like 400 today before I gave up. And this is editing! I have maybe--MAYBE--7k worth of new scenes I'm going to have to actually write! I'm mostly just fixing weird grammatical choices and repetitive phrasing! This should be easier!

But no. It's all, like 'he made walking feet to the door and went. away. somewhere. then boom.'

I genuinely do not know how professional authors do this all the time.

Comments

[out_there]

It's all, like 'he made walking feet to the door and went. away. somewhere. then boom.'

Hee! Okay, that might be your brain needing just a few hours away from writing, I think.

[sholio]

I think of it half-jokingly as being overdrawn at the word bank. There is definitely a feeling like I hit a wall and just can't write anymore, and then I need a recharge period to recover. I've developed, over the years, a writing schedule that involves taking regular days off (at least 2-3 days a week, usually, though I might write fanfic during that time) or I write myself into a spiral where my brain just won't word anymore.

[tomakeanoffer]

I am so, so not a write every day person. I wanted to be, I thought I could be, but I have learned the hard way that I'm just not. I burn out very quickly and get maxed out on not only words but a little bit of everything.

I think part of being a pro writer, and part of being a pro creative in general, is knowing your limits and not letting yourself get to the burnout point. It's hard as all get out when you're depending on your skills to live but it's true all the same.

Short version: I feel you so hard.

[glorious_spoon]

:D you're probably right. I've been taking a break to watch Tumblr self-destruct in a flurry of obscure nipple memes, so there's that

[glorious_spoon]

That... is a very smart strategy that I should probably try.

[glorious_spoon]

True. I think I CAN write every day, but the volume I can write every day is a lot closer to 500 words than, like, 3000. But it's times like these that I'm very glad I don't rely on writing to support myself, much as I love it.

[flamingsword]

"I am so, so not a write every day person. I wanted to be, I thought I could be, but I have learned the hard way that I'm just not. I burn out very quickly and get maxed out on not only words but a little bit of everything."

Hard same.