Why You Should Write a Novel "Just for Fun"

By Janice Hardy, @Janice_Hardy

Not everything you write needs to be published—or even publishable.

A few years after I published my third novel (Darkfall), I fell into a dark time with my writing. I was drafting a novel that did not want to work the way I wanted it to, and I dreaded sitting down at the keyboard every day. Writing was no longer fun.

With sad relief, I set the manuscript aside and worked on a non-fiction project I'd been wanting to do (my very first writing book, Plotting Your Novel: Ideas and Structure). I fully intended to return to fiction afterward, expecting my dread of the novel to have passed by then.

It hadn't.

I'll be honest—it was terrifying.

Struggling with Writing Burnout? Try These Tricks

By Shanna Swendson, @ShannaSwendson

Part of The Writer’s Life Series 

JH: After years of difficult times for everyone, many writers are struggling with burnout. Shanna Swendson shares ways to deal with not wanting to write and how to handle it. 

Shanna Swendson earned a journalism degree from the University of Texas but decided it was more fun to make up the people she wrote about and became a novelist. She’s written a number of fantasy novels for teens and adults, including the Enchanted, Inc. series and the Rebel Mechanics series. She devotes her spare time to reading, knitting, and music. Her newest novel is the paranormal mystery Interview with a Dead Editor. 

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Take it away Shanna…

A Lifeline for When Writing is No Longer Fun

By Janice Hardy, @Janice_Hardy 

Losing the fun of writing is more than just writer’s block. And it takes a different path to fix it.

Talk to a group of writers and you’ll hear a common theme—we write because we can’t not write. It’s our passion, our love, what we enjoy doing.

But what happens when we lose the joy of writing?

Years ago, I started a novel I couldn’t wait to write. I loved the idea, the world, the characters. I was excited about the theme and how this novel would stretch my creativity. The first draft went well and I submitted it to my critique group.

And they hated it.

7 Ways to Deal With Burnout

By Bethany Henry

Part of The Writer's Life Series

JH: Burnout is a bigger problem now than ever. Bethany Henry shares tips on how to overcome and prevent these stressful times.

Bethany Henry writes fantasy novels and blogs about writing and wellness at bethany-henry.com. When not writing, she can often be found on the frisbee field, drinking tea, or reading picture books with her two little girls. Sign up for her email list for weekly posts on writing craft- along with fun extras like quotes and freebies.

Website | Blog | Facebook | Pinterest | Email List

Take it away Bethany...

The Hidden Risks of Emotional Burnouts in Writing

By Lesley Vos, @LesleyVos

Part of the How They Do It Series

JH: Burning out happens to writers every day, and some of them don't even realize it--they just feel blocked or stuck, and don't know what to do about it. Lesley Vos visits the lecture hall today to share tips on what to do, and how to avoid, writers' burnout.

Lesley Vos is a seasoned web writer, content strategist, and blogger. She currently writes at PlagiarismCheck.org, helping peers to discover the world of plagiarism-free content.

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Take it away Lesley...

Does Your Writing Need a Literary Palate Cleanser?

By Janice Hardy, @Janice_Hardy

Unless you’re a writer who writes in several different unrelated genres (and if so, here’s something from the archives for you to read today), you will likely reach a point where you need a break from your writing. You’re tired of saving the world from evil. You can’t stand the thought of getting one more couple to happily ever after. If you have to kill off one more witness who saw too much you’ll scream. You’ve reached genre overload and can’t take it anymore.

That’s okay, it happens to a lot of us.

A break usually fixes this problem, but some writers require a little more than time off to revitalize their love of their chosen genre (I was one of these a few years ago). They need a literary palate cleanser.