by Ann E. Smith

Created on: September 28, 2009

Whether you are a professional writer, a devoted journalist or a blogger, you share some things with your fellow writers. You understand what it feels like to run out of ideas. You also know how fun it is to be inspired.

And you likely realize that it is not wise to write when you are tired, especially if your work is to be published or shared with others. There are a few key reasons why a state of exhaustion can adversely affect your work.

The most obvious reason is the following: when your mind and body are tired, you will more likely make mistakes. These mistakes may be in the form of typos. Or they may occur in that you are not hitting the mark with your writing assignment.

You may leave out key information, for example. Or you could get your facts wrong. And that is just a natural result of what happens when you are in a state of tiredness. You are not as sharp as when you are rested, and it will show up in your writing.

Another reason why you shouldn't write when you are tired involves clarity. Your thoughts are likely to get more muddled, and your ideas will not come across as clear in your writing.

You may end up repeating yourself or using too many words when trying to explain something. Your logic may also be flawed when you are tired, and your perspective is also altered when you are not operating at full capacity.

Finally, being tired will negatively affect your creativity. It's hard to come up with new ideas when you are deprived of sleep or when you have worked non-stop for too many days in a row.

You will not feel the passion for writing that you normally feel, and this will also come across in your work. You will likely deliver sub-par work, and you will not have the energy to go through the iterations necessary to get your writing where it needs to be.

When you are tired, your writing will suffer. You are more likely to settle for average versus your best, and that is just not a good thing.

If you find yourself in a situation in which you have to write when tired, be sure to check your work when you have rested. For example, if you are up against a deadline and have to do some writing late into the night, find a way to read through what you have written after you get a few hours of sleep.

Writing is an art and a craft, and you will deliver your best work when you are in a rested state of mind and body. Life does not always allow for that, though, so be sure to take your time when you are writing when tired.

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