by Megan Hart

Created on: November 19, 2009

Writers write. Even when they're not typing away in front of the computer or scribbling stories by hand, there's work to be done plotting, editing, polishing, revising, re-writing, submitting, and promoting. And while waiting for the muse to strike before you write might end up with your novel forever stuck on page three, writing consistently without break can lead to the same result. Writer burnout is the inability or lack of desire to be creative. It can affect the most devoted writer, because writing is a never-ending business. There are, however, simple ways to combat writer burnout and keep yourself fresh so you can finish those projects.

Take a break. Sounds easy, right? But every writer knows when the words are flowing it can be hard to break away, for fear the story might be lost. Try setting a timer for half-hour periods. You'll be surprised at how much you can accomplish in thirty minutes, especially if you're deadline oriented. Get up, walk around. Stretch. Go to the bathroom. Drink something other than coffee.

Take care of yourself. Sitting in front of a computer all day can lead to ill health in the form of weight gain, strained muscles and joints out of alignment. Make sure to get some exercise and keep regular chiropractic and/or massage appointments if you find yourself getting fatigued. Feeling bad is no frame of mind in which to find creativity.

Take care of the other people in your life. Don't abandon friends and family for the imaginary. We gain the best inspiration from our lives, so don't forget to live.

Take your time. Writing at top speed might be a good way to meet your deadline if you have no other choice, but budgeting your time to allow yourself to work at a more relaxed pace will also let you take the breaks you need. Working without stopping might be fine in short bursts, but overdoing it can lead to exhaustion, burnout and even writer's block.

Take a vacation. More than just a few minutes break or even a day's reprieve, a vacation (whether you travel to someplace exotic or simply stay home watching movies all day and eating pizza) is total time away from your work. Without the pressure of performing, you might find yourself overflowing with ideas and more eager than ever to get back to the work.

Take a step back. What are your goals? Your deadlines? Are you writing for pleasure or pay? Can you restructure your day to accommodate a looser schedule, or can you work harder during the times you've allocated for writing so that you're not feeling too pressured? What are your expectations, and how can you meet them without feeling as though you're always working?

It's easy to feel as though the work, while finished, is never done, but it is possible to avoid writer burnout.

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