Exhaustion and combating stress after dealing with a story.

[Ani_nerowriter]

Been feeling pretty exhausted after constantly chapters. I'm almost done with my story. I been feeling this sort of strain lately especially after forcing myself to write two parts today, it's this sort of exhaustion that feels something mixed out of author confusion and being slowly burnt out. Like "What am I supposed to do after this huge passion project that is a fic?"
It's really this confused state that it is complicated.

I been wondering what to do to help my stress out in a healthy way because attempting to make myself constantly motivated is just a drag. Because I feel like I'm relieved with my new writing style but I feel like I'm making mistakes that don't visibly appear.
What do to in the meantime?

 

[Eldoria]

Go to the doctor... she/he'll probably say, "Get enough rest (~8 hours), eat nutritious food, drink water, exercise regularly, and relax."

You're experiencing creative burnout. Don't push your brain beyond its limits.

 

[Hans.Trondheim]

Been feeling pretty exhausted after constantly chapters. I'm almost done with my story. I been feeling this sort of strain lately especially after forcing myself to write two parts today, it's this sort of exhaustion that feels something mixed out of author confusion and being slowly burnt out. Like "What am I supposed to do after this huge passion project that is a fic?"
It's really this confused state that it is complicated.

I been wondering what to do to help my stress out in a healthy way because attempting to make myself constantly motivated is just a drag. Because I feel like I'm relieved with my new writing style but I feel like I'm making mistakes that don't visibly appear.
What do to in the meantime?

Stop writing.

No, seriously, if you feel like that, it's your cue to just stop and do something else.

After you're rested, you can always come back. But you definitely don't wanna burn out. Another benefit of stopping is that, you'll eventually get 'level headed' and that will help you spot these 'invisible' mistakes in your work. Or even better, come up with a fresh idea.

Passion projects are always a great source of distress because we wanted to show something, yet for others it often falls short, or don't get the appreciation we think it deserves, so you shouldn't do it for the benefit of others. Just do it coz you want to finish something you can leave behind.

 

[Placeholder]

Been feeling pretty exhausted after constantly chapters. ...

I been wondering what to do to help my stress out in a healthy way because attempting to make myself constantly motivated is just a drag. ...
What do to in the meantime?

Do up or copy out a selfcare checklist, and figure out what stuff you've been neglecting!

 

[Joyager2]

The last time I felt this way, I pushed myself to keep going. When I was done, I couldn't write anything for months--the idea of it was too exhausting. Take a break. Read a good book, watch a good movie. Feed your brain. Tinker with other ideas you've been excited about to stay in practice, but don't force yourself to spend all your time on something that's burning you out.

 

[Rachel_Leia_Cole]

Definitely take a break. The myth that you have to write every day to be a serious writer is just that, a myth. If you push yourself through it, the work will suffer. Your work deserves the best of you…don’t burn yourself out trying to make something happen. I find, after taking a break, I come back to the writing clear minded and eager to begin again.

 

[Ral_062]

Do a lazy day, no thinking, writing, making plot just relax and let all the pieces fall into place. Eventually you'll find yourself back on track.

Take a second rest day of needed (optional)

 

[TinaMigarlo]

or, you could just lean into it.
do it more.
drive yourself irrevocably insane.
start talking to yourself.
then, answering yourself in a scary voice.

rinse and repeat, rinse and repeat.

then, when you;re ready? go *out* and make your bad day, everyone's bad day...
Bwah-hah-ha-hahhhhhhhhh.... (evil laugh)

or just smoke more cigarettes and drink more energy drinks, talk to the cat more.
that's what I do.

 

[L1aei]

or, you could just lean into it.
do it more.
drive yourself irrevocably insane.
start talking to yourself.
then, answering yourself in a scary voice.

rinse and repeat, rinse and repeat.

then, when you;re ready? go *out* and make your bad day, everyone's bad day...
Bwah-hah-ha-hahhhhhhhhh.... (evil laugh)

or just smoke more cigarettes and drink more energy drinks, talk to the cat more.
that's what I do.

Both. But it's cigarillos and shots of... whatever is available. Sometimes I scoop up grounds into a pipe, but that always leaves me onehanded at the keyboard.

 

[TinaMigarlo]

L1aei... two observations.
1--- I don't believe you're smoking "coffee grounds" in your pipe
2--- Tell the truth about why you're typing one handed
*kek*

 

[L1aei]

L1aei... two observations.
1--- I don't believe you're smoking "coffee grounds" in your pipe
2--- Tell the truth about why you're typing one handed
*kek*

Looking at my box right now. Nica Rustica, Connecticut Shade, 6 x 50 Toro. Inside it, I've got my pipe, two little box matches (currently spent), three baggies of grounds, a bundle of pipe cleaners with... some weird metal narrow-spade I'm supposed to use the pipe cleaner with but never do, and then my pipe. As for the baggies, they are... let's see. One is "No Bite Delight", "Spice & Nice", and "(insert brand name here)'s Best". Oh, and the white filter that is between the barrel and the mouthpiece? I remove that.

 

[Juia_Darkcrest]

Remember that, as much as you might enjoy it, writing is work.

Take some time for yourself for a day or two. You won't lose any readers over 2 days.

If you burn yourself out to a point that you hate your work, you might not come back to it for a month or two and lose the thread you were working on. Or in extreme cases, you might abandon it altogether.

Go touch some snow, or grass if you happen to be lucky enough to be somewhere that isn't buried right now.

 

[L1aei]

Remember that, as much as you might enjoy it, writing is work.

Work? Not for all of us.

 

[Juia_Darkcrest]

Work? Not for all of us.

=P

 

[L1aei]

=P

Nah, that's why I deleted the rest of what you said and focused on that one line of your advice.

It's good advice.

Thing is though... my point: we are all different. We all have a different response, reaction, and, yes, we recover differently too.

Take anxiety for example. Some people, they get winded up by the stress. Me? I shut down. If I'm being lectured, I'll start blanking out, staring at the fellow with glossy eyes, and just nod along. That's a cope.

Most of everyone here is suggesting getting either some rest or pushing through it. Okay, that works for the workforce or the vacationers. Those are conflicting suggestions. See, that's still not my point.

My point is that @Ani_nerowriter is someone else. Somebody who knows enough to realize they have an issue. And they can address that issue by first figuring out what is the cause. If it is writing alone? Then there's a problem there. Writing shouldn't be causing someone to suddenly lock up and stare at their screen in a stunned silence. You see somebody doing that as you pass by, you're gonna wonder what just happened to them.

There needs to be pinning down on what is the cause of the issues before searching for the cure. That's my point.

 

[Juia_Darkcrest]

Nah, that's why I deleted the rest of what you said and focused on that one line of your advice.

It's good advice.

Thing is though... my point: we are all different. We all have a different response, reaction, and, yes, we recover differently too.

Take anxiety for example. Some people, they get winded up by the stress. Me? I shut down. If I'm being lectured, I'll start blanking out, staring at the fellow with glossy eyes, and just nod along. That's a cope.

Most of everyone here is suggesting getting either some rest or pushing through it. Okay, that works for the workforce or the vacationers. Those are conflicting suggestions. See, that's still not my point.

My point is that @Ani_nerowriter is someone else. Somebody who knows enough to realize they have an issue. And they can address that issue by first figuring out what is the cause. If it is writing alone? Then there's a problem there. Writing shouldn't be causing someone to suddenly lock up and stare at their screen in a stunned silence. You see somebody doing that as you pass by, you're gonna wonder what just happened to them.

There needs to be pinning down on what is the cause of the issues before searching for the cure. That's my point.

Fair enough