Am I the only one?

Jamesaritchie · May 2, 2012

I burned out severely a few decades back, and it truly sucks. The only time I've come close since then is when I do something stupid and allow deadlines to pile up. I try not to let this happen.

But I no longer suffer burnout from any routine writing. I set a daily schedule long, long ago. It's enough hours to get the work done, but not so many that I have to worry about burnout.

I know how many hours I can write per day without running into the burn out wall, so why push past this number?

mccardey · May 2, 2012

I didn't get burned out with the last one, but gee it stopped being fun at the end. The only thing that kept me going them was that I knew it really was the end.

Even so, it was quite a looong time before I had enough energy to start New Book.

Hang in there. Grit your teeth. Every day done is a day closer to the end.

At least - it should be

Hiroko · May 2, 2012

That happened with my first book.

TomLysander · May 5, 2012

Since high school, I've attempted a few novels in various levels of completion. The way that I know I'm getting better is that I burn out later and later with each novel project.

It's resistance training! Stamina +3! run run run

Smiley0501 · May 6, 2012

I got burnt out right after I finished my YA/adult/something novel first draft. Then my friend edited it and I got maybe 60 pages into the edits and threw my hands up in defeat. It was too much work. It's trunked for now - maybe one day I'll go back to it, but...its such a mess. *shudders*

MVK · May 6, 2012

I know the feeling. Though I'm forcing myself to get better about starting one project and finishing it, despite the temptation to keep jumping from idea to idea.

KatieJ · May 6, 2012

I do get burned out - on all kinds of projects including writing. One way I get over it is to only allow myself three projects at a time. Right now I have a novel at 80% and two short stories going. I can work on any of the three, but I am not allowed to start anything new until I finish one of them.

Sometimes I hate the plan, but I've managed to stick with it for the last few months.

syaffolee · May 6, 2012

Yes, it happens to me sometimes. But usually this is after I've finished a manuscript. Then I need around two or three weeks to recharge.

wishingonasupernova · May 8, 2012

Nope, often once I get around 2/3 of the way done with a story, finishing feels a chore and I just want to hurry up and wrap it up.

Silver-Midnight · May 8, 2012

Right now I'm on my second draft, and I honestly felt bad because I was getting burned out I think after I finish I think will take a slight break before I start my Camp Nano.

Sweetwheat · May 11, 2012

Yes, you are. Haha, Jk.
Anyways, not me..I mean I'd love to get on to my next project, but I LOVE editing and making my first draft better. Every time I think it's finished, I look back at it after a couple weeks and find new things to tweak and change to make it even better. But I mean, I do also seek to edit novels and the such, so I guess that's why I don't find it a burden.... *shrugs* I just have all this energy for every aspect of this field, lol.

kkbe · May 11, 2012

"Burned out?" As in, do I get sick of the thing? Run out of ideas? Wanna chuck it, cut its throat, put it out of its misery? Do I hate it? Loathe it? Beg and plead with the damn thing? Hide it in the microwave, under the couch, in the rafters? Do I fuckin' junk it, kerplunk it, TRUNK IT?

Nope. Never happened. Not with my writing, anyway. With myself? Possibly. Writing non-stop, I have burned myself out, absolutely. Then, I have to walk away from it for a bit. I have to eat, pee (perhaps, responsibly imbibe); in other words, recharge my batteries, or I shall surely perish. . .

Sweetwheat · Jun 8, 2012

kkbe said:
Do I fuckin' junk it, kerplunk it, TRUNK IT?

I will add this to my signature XD hahaha
Love it! (Course, state that you said it^^)

Sunflowerrei · Jun 8, 2012

I tend to lose energy or have wavering confidence around page 100 and maybe gain back all interest by page 150. I guess that's the sagging middle. I don't know if I burn out exactly, but I do tend to lose the thread toward the end of the story. My WIP is a revision. Not looking forward to having to whip that ending into shape.

Am I the only one?

Jamesaritchie

mccardey

Hiroko

Which of them was the machine?

TomLysander

Writer, Scholar, King

Smiley0501

Lurker, now activated. :-)

MVK

KatieJ

I think I'm back....

syaffolee

wishingonasupernova

Silver-Midnight

Sweetwheat

kkbe

Huh.

Sweetwheat

Sunflowerrei