I've been back from the wedding festivities for a few weeks now, but not back to writing until today. I'm dabbing in a little at a time. Truth is that I'm having a serious case of summeritis combined with procrastination. Instead of writing I've been watching Wimbledon, The World Cup and currently the Tour de France (watching it right now). The problem is I feel guilty. Is that bad? I'm still an unpublished writer, so isn't it okay to slack off when need be? I figure it's my brain telling me I need a break after spending the last five months working nonstop and using up all my free time to write. What can I do to cure summeritis?
The good news is that on my break I devoured three books in the genre that I'm writing in. Since I'd put reading on the side while I was working on my novel, I was anxious to get back to it. Devouring books really is like eating your favorite food.
Seriously folks, what do you do to refocus on writing during the summer months? I'd be curious to know if any of you are suffering from this 'made-up' disease too.
18 comments:
I have summeritis too. Good thing is that it's treated with a few books from my TBR list, and the desperate need to start writing again!
It helps having my crit group actively exchanging chapters, that way I sort of have deadline. Otherwsie though, I hear ya.
I like Matthew's "support group" idea. That's pretty good.
I recently returned from vacation. I'd hoped that would help me refocus, but I'm not so sure it did.
It's really tough. Hang in there.
(And if it makes you feel any better, you're still getting more done as a writer than I am.) :-)
I'm with you. I'm spending more time with the family, but I know that once school starts up again that writing life will become more regular, too.
Summeritis is NOT made up! I suffered every year until I found a crit partner who doubles as a slave driver.
Right there with you with the summeritis. I'm reading a lot, writing a little. Need to switch that around. Thinking seriously of taking a blogging break totally, but realistically know that's not going to happen. However, the only way I can think of refocusing on writing is to be single minded and focused and give up the blogging for a while. Don't know why I can't do both lately. There has to be a happy medium.
Matt,
I know! I really miss being in a critique group but since I've moved I haven't found another one. I was in one for nearly three years though and needed the break.
Kat,
Long time, no see! Glad to see you back. I've realized that vacation does just the opposite. That's what started my summeritis.
This always happens to me when i take a break. It's hard to get back in to the daily routine of life. Especially in the summer!
But I enjoy myself in the summer because it's not here for very long and I justify it by saying I'll make up all the time once the long winter gets here. And I do.
I am really inspired in the summer because I'm out more and mingling with the people, so I take a lot of notes in the summer.
It's hard to write when the weather is so nice and when SO many things are happening all around. I hope you can find some time to squeeze it in! Good luck!
Reading is good for writing. We do need breaks. I don't know if there's a cure for summeritis. If you worked for five months, maybe you need a break. Give yourself a deadline - perhaps the end of the World Cup?
I'd say reading books in your genre is a good start. Sometimes it takes inspiration of that sort to get me writing again after I've taken a break.
I thought summer was going to be a good time to write and it is panning out to be but I feel myself gravitating out the door a lot more than I thought it was. Summeritis. At least now I have a name for it. Thanks!
Ah, summer... I remember it well. It was only last week. Now of course I'm back down under in the cold.
I do tell myself half the time "unpublished means I can slack" and the other half a time I tell myself "get working so that you CAN be published."
I have to agree with Lydia that readng really gets me in the mood to write. Whether the book is good, bad, in my genre or whatever, it sets me in the mind of an author.
So when you're enjoying yourself in the summer, pack along a book and you'll find your fingers itching to write.
I just read and read until I can't take the fact of me just sitting around reading and not creating to get me going. And some music never hurts either. :]
I haven't been on a proper vacation yet this summer (money issues) but I hope to at least hit the beach soon...
By the way, thanks for following my blog!
G,
Thanks for stopping by! I love the layout of your blog.
Keri, thanks! It's always nice to e-meet another writer. :)
Amanda,
Short on money here too so I haven't gone on any dream vacations, but I always say try to get away a day or two here or there. For me, I'm going hiking this weekend. :)
I think it's just called recharging your batteries. Let's face it, the World Cup is only around once every 4 years so you deserved to watch it.
You'll be fine, just keep reading and do a little writing each day, even if you only make simple observation about your daily life.
I only have summeritis because there's so much going on with trips and out-of-town guests that I can't find time to write anymore. But that's done with now that my daughter starts school this week, so I hope to start being a lot more productive. And reading is a great way to be "working" without really working - writers need to read!
Oh definitely! I try to set targets that are slightly less than what I might achieve at other times... so I can feel like I'm slacking off and relaxing a bit, but still getting stuff done.
Summeritis -- I think it's real!
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