Watch Out for Burnout
by Patricia Fry
There are two types of writers: those who can't find the time to write—who procrastinate themselves out of a writing career—and those who write for so many hours each day that their posture when standing resembles their posture when sitting. I recommend that both types of writers read my book, The Successful Writer's Handbook. If you are bordering on burnout, don't waste any time turning to page170. Read, "The Care and Feeding of the Whole Writer." Here's what I suggest and you KNOW I'm right. Get plenty of sleep, eat regularly and make your meals nutritious, exercise every day, take regular breaks (my chiropractor says for every hour you sit, get up and move around for 10 minutes), seek mental stimulation and inspiration of a type different than your current project—in other words, read for pleasure, mingle with interesting people. In addition, expand your creative endeavors, acknowledge your spirituality and volunteer—yes, help others.
Those of you caught up in the opposite dilemma—you can't seem to get it together enough to write, read the chapter on page 13, "Coming Home to Write: How to Avoid the Pitfalls." Here, I talk about prioritizing, organizing your work and your life, learning to deal with distractions and adopting rituals to help you become more committed to your writing work. I also recommend that you create balance in your life, spend time with family and friends, participate in outdoor activities, become involved in other creative pursuits and add a spiritual component to your lifestyle.
Order The Successful Writer's Handbook at this Web site (www.matilijapress.com) or through Amazon.com.
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