I’m starting to get that familiar groove of being a writer. I’m a huge proponent of staying in the zone, but life as a part time writer doesn’t fully allow for that. Instead I burn a great deal of energy and time slipping in and out of the zone. I can feel myself getting closer to that zone and I really want to make sure it continues. How do I stay there without burnout?
First things first: Burnout must be earned. In order to feel overworked you gotta work. That is to say I have a lot of time and words to go before I get to the point of brain drain. My laziness might make me seem like I am burned down to a cinder, but the reality is that I’m fairly fresh. I feel like I get back to that happy place whenever I really sink into remembering why I am doing this. It is not for anyone else. I write for the sake of story and because I still feel I have story to share. Whenever I fall farthest from the zone is when I am trying to force something–when I am trying to tell a story that is not my own or has no appreciable angle to work with.
So, why worry about burnout at all? It feels more like an excuse for not working hard or hardly at all. There are more excuses not to write than the basic reasons why I do it. So, I try to ignore the excuses and find my way back to story.
Almost there…
Some Thoughts:
- Back here at the tourney my kid has lost. He did well, but fell to a familiar opponent–one he has never defeated. I’m proud of him but the kid clearly expects more out of himself. He won’t medal this season, but hopefully this gives him the impetus to work harder in order to succeed.