I’ve made the bold decision to resurrect an old idea from my pre-published days this year: the holiday writing sabbatical.
Before I got published, I used to take the last two or three months of the year off from writing. Nobody in the traditional publishing industry accepted queries, and I was usually worn out and busy with the holidays so I felt like I didn’t have time to write. Ebooks changed everything, and of course the last quarter of the year is prime book selling season, so the sabbatical went away because I really do love to write and need to promote my work. But this year has me beat and busted, and the muse has pretty much stopped on me. Since I just published Phantasm and Revenant is with the reviewer, there’s really not much for me to do with my writing now anyway. So I decided that, instead of pretending that I’ll do short stories, I’ll set my publicity posts for the holidays, go ahead and write my Roost articles for December and January, and pull the plug on creative writing in November and December 2021.
I need some time to focus on getting my life on track, and to replenish the well of creativity. Of course, I’ll keep this blog and the Conure Corner blog updated. I’ll write entries for Transitions and for my fiction journal if I’m so inspired (which I haven’t been lately). But otherwise, I’m not actively pursuing writing in November or December. My muse needs a break, so I’m giving him a break.
My writing usually slows down during the holiday season anyway, so I don’t think this will be a big deal. I’m just acknowledging it this year by resurrecting that old idea to my present advantage. And really, burnout does happen and sometimes you need a break so you can restore your energy to move forward. I do have some big goals for 2022. I’m hoping to publish the last two novellas for The Sentience Series next year: Phantasm, Book Three in March or April and Inversion, Book Four and the full volume set in October or early November. I also want to get on rewrites for Broken Time in 2022, and that’s a mess that’s going to need a lot of work, but I believe it can be pulled together into a great stand-alone novel.
I need time, energy, and creativity to do all of this, and I’m out of that now. It’s ok. It happens. I’m not one of those people who think writer’s block isn’t real. It’s as real as burnout from your day job, and I believe it’s cured by acknowledgement and rest. We all need breaks from things that are a regular part of life, even things we love. It’s why we take vacations, and love holidays so much. We need a break from the norm sometimes.
Of course, I’m anxious about getting anxious once this hiatus actually starts. Writing is so much a part of my life that I tend to get out of sorts when I’m not doing it. Well, I found a way to settle before, and I’ll find a way again. There’s always reading, and my cross stitching and crafting, if I’m so inclined. And life is busy enough to keep me occupied anyway.
So that’s that. You don’t always like what’s best for you, but it’s wise to do it anyway. Something tells me that I’ll feel better if I’m obedient to this idea to take a break, and that I’ll benefit from it in the long run.
That’s all today. Take care, and have a great week.
Bye!
Before I got published, I used to take the last two or three months of the year off from writing. Nobody in the traditional publishing industry accepted queries, and I was usually worn out and busy with the holidays so I felt like I didn’t have time to write. Ebooks changed everything, and of course the last quarter of the year is prime book selling season, so the sabbatical went away because I really do love to write and need to promote my work. But this year has me beat and busted, and the muse has pretty much stopped on me. Since I just published Phantasm and Revenant is with the reviewer, there’s really not much for me to do with my writing now anyway. So I decided that, instead of pretending that I’ll do short stories, I’ll set my publicity posts for the holidays, go ahead and write my Roost articles for December and January, and pull the plug on creative writing in November and December 2021.
I need some time to focus on getting my life on track, and to replenish the well of creativity. Of course, I’ll keep this blog and the Conure Corner blog updated. I’ll write entries for Transitions and for my fiction journal if I’m so inspired (which I haven’t been lately). But otherwise, I’m not actively pursuing writing in November or December. My muse needs a break, so I’m giving him a break.
My writing usually slows down during the holiday season anyway, so I don’t think this will be a big deal. I’m just acknowledging it this year by resurrecting that old idea to my present advantage. And really, burnout does happen and sometimes you need a break so you can restore your energy to move forward. I do have some big goals for 2022. I’m hoping to publish the last two novellas for The Sentience Series next year: Phantasm, Book Three in March or April and Inversion, Book Four and the full volume set in October or early November. I also want to get on rewrites for Broken Time in 2022, and that’s a mess that’s going to need a lot of work, but I believe it can be pulled together into a great stand-alone novel.
I need time, energy, and creativity to do all of this, and I’m out of that now. It’s ok. It happens. I’m not one of those people who think writer’s block isn’t real. It’s as real as burnout from your day job, and I believe it’s cured by acknowledgement and rest. We all need breaks from things that are a regular part of life, even things we love. It’s why we take vacations, and love holidays so much. We need a break from the norm sometimes.
Of course, I’m anxious about getting anxious once this hiatus actually starts. Writing is so much a part of my life that I tend to get out of sorts when I’m not doing it. Well, I found a way to settle before, and I’ll find a way again. There’s always reading, and my cross stitching and crafting, if I’m so inclined. And life is busy enough to keep me occupied anyway.
So that’s that. You don’t always like what’s best for you, but it’s wise to do it anyway. Something tells me that I’ll feel better if I’m obedient to this idea to take a break, and that I’ll benefit from it in the long run.
That’s all today. Take care, and have a great week.
Bye!
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