In January, I added to my to do list by
increasing my fiction words by 10,000. I
did this so I could be ahead of schedule for my surgery in March. In February, my goal was to write the normal
20,000. This way I would finish up my
next challenge book and have a good start on the last challenge book. I made the 30,000 words. February was a huge struggle. I think I broke myself.
A few weeks ago, I hurt almost twice as much as
normal. My energy depleted. I rode the wave like I always do, but
something felt different. I felt burnt
out. Now, I felt this way in December. When we got home from our trip, I did feel
better; however, I felt a little shaky in the writing department. Like just getting over a sickness and still
weak. I tried not to panic. I rested all week.
Even with a week, I knew the rest wasn’t enough. I needed to change something and quick. I talked with Clay, Madelle, and Jerry. I talked to myself. I googled writer’s burnout. I know it isn’t writer’s block. Unfortunately, I was doing everything that
they say to do. I kept looking. Finally, I read an article that got me to
thinking. My spreadsheet at the moment
is killing my writing. All the things on
my to do list while in pain just isn’t possible for the time being. Also, I hate my writing room. It feels like a prison.
One Saturday I stayed out of the room and away
from my computer. I goofed around on my
laptop. Jerry asked for 500 words. I wrote 1,000 and the morning pages. I opened my laptop intending 500 words only
for the next few days.
Then, I started to feel a little stronger. I thought maybe I was on the other side. I
went into the room and started my computer.
Instant stress. Wow, I was still
broken. I uploaded my new words and
closed out of my writing files. I paid
my bills and turned off the computer. Later,
I went to my laptop and wrote 1,000 words.
From here until the end of March, I am
officially on a new schedule. My
February to do list consisted of 5,000 words, editing 28 chapters, creating a
book cover, loading it to Amazon, and sending it to Dean. That was it.
Nothing more.
March, all I have on the list is to write
20,000. Nothing else. If I feel inspired, I will do a blog post. But really, that is going to be it. I just can’t do all the minutes, editing book
5 of the Tenet series, three blog posts a week, and on and on. The novel challenge is the only thing on my
list.
Writing this, I wonder if it is still a lot. I am not sure. Time will tell. But alas, I hope to be back in April, rested
and no longer burnt out. I will try to
let you all know how the surgery went on Facebook. Oh, and I would really appreciate prayers for
the next couple of months. I am nervous
but also excited. Until then, blessings.
