I have been writing like crazy since mid-July. Thousands of words per day most days. It has been like a compulsion, a driving need. First, it was for the medical fast-track, then New Voices, then NaNo, with a few other projects sprinkled in. For almost four months I have been a productive writing machine.
The last week of October I decided I wanted to finish revising my New Voices manuscript before November so I could start fresh for NaNo. I was a little concerned though, I had been writing like a maniac for months and NaNo would be no let up–in fact it would be even more writing. I didn’t want to hit writer burn out.
So, I worked hard on finishing my revisions to give myself at least a day off writing. In fact, things went so well I finished with three days to spare. Three days where I would not write.
This lasted a day. By the second, I was itching to write again. I wanted to start my NaNo, but I couldn’t. November was still two days away.
This “break” to avoid “burn out” actually was nothing but annoying. So, while I waited to start my novel, I plotted out about ten other novels. I went a little crazy. And when NaNo came around, I dove right in. In the first week, I wrote over 15,000 words.
Burn out? Four months and I still don’t have it. Since making writing a part of my daily routine, it has become a compulsion rather than something to do if there’s nothing on TV or no computer games to play. Writing has become a necessity.
I hope this continues despite the fact that I am going to be starting a demanding full time (although temporary) job next week. I want to finish the year strong so that I’m ready for whatever the results are from my three submissions. Rejection: write more and sub more. The Call: write more and sell more.
Nicole Helm 