Burning out is one of the most tedious experiences a writer can go through. During NaNo season, with the 50k word pressure, it is easy to fall into overworking. So, here are a few quick things you can do to avoid feeling exhausted from writing. Change your environment You could move from your desk to your kitchen. Find a lonely coffee shop. Change your background music or light up a candle. Little things can impact your writing hugely; they are like little motivation gummies. Taking one will keep writing from feeling like a chore and make it more fun instead. Experiment with microfiction Microfiction doesn’t take more than five minutes to write, and it allows me to portray ideas and concepts that come to my mind unannounced. When I dedicate myself to one WIP entirely and don’t allow myself to work on anything else, I tend to get bored and stressed. It’s like building walls that won’t let me see what is on the outside of my project. To keep my mind flexible and my work varied, I write (with pen and paper, if possible) microfiction often. -If you’re interested in this type of fiction, look out for next week’s article-. And, if this format is not your style, feel free to experiment with short poems too. Consume other’s art Movies, photography, music, literature, will not only inspire you, but give you the chance to learn from other people’s successes and mistakes. I particularly enjoy podcasts and audiobooks, for I can learn while traveling or getting ready (shoutout to the Moving Write Along podcast, they are so fun and helpful!). I also recommend reading a previous JUVEN article, called “Advice From Writers So Obvious It’ll Leave You Shooketh”, which explains why reading is necessary for authors in a clear and useful way. Take breaks I know, I know, basic writing advice. But I’ve noticed that when we talk about breaks, we picture long weeks of recharging. And during November, this might not be an option. When having a deadline, the Pomodoro technique is especially useful. By this technique, you work for fifty/twenty-five minutes and rest for five/ten minutes. It’s alright if you extend these breaks a bit. However, you must resist the temptation of scrolling through social media and try to move around and clear your mind during these pauses. If you feel you need longer breaks, don’t be afraid to take them too. It’s okay if you fail The writing community, as wonderful as it can be, puts a lot of pressure on young writers, especially during NaNoWriMo. It’s a tough mental exercise to remind myself that my word count doesn’t define my work. But the passion and enjoyment I take on it does. If you’re anything like me, when you start a project, it is hard to stop until you see it completed. In doing so, you might sacrifice your mental and physical well-being. Learning to take care of yourself might not be easy, but it’s the key to taking advantage of your craft and having fun with it. Paula Argudois a young planster with too much passion and too little time on a day. She has been telling stories for as long as she can remember, whether they are thoroughly researched flash fiction pieces or improvised bedtime stories.
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