ddwebb
patreon
burnout
🕑 Added 2023-10-12 00:13:32 +0000 UTCSo...I think I might need to pause again for a while.
I hate doing this - I always hate doing it, but I especially hate to coming so soon off a recent scheduled break. And it hasn't been all that long, just a couple months, since my last unscheduled major break. Stopping now feels unearned.
But I'm beginning to think I've come to a point where I have to or there's going to be a much worse problem.
I've had more trouble getting chapters out lately than ever; I don't think the Avenist tier has had one on time since I resumed TGAB. Just now, I realized I have spaced out so badly I haven't unloaded any of the planned chapters to Royal Road all day, which is an unprecedented lapse. I've also just realized I haven't even done the bonus chapter polls or AMA stuff for Patrons since re-launching TGAB, which is even worse. In talking with my therapist, it came up that doing a complete re-write of all three books of OVDT at a time when I was just beginning to recover from the stress that series causes me seems to have kicked me into a state of complete burnout.
I do not, overall, feel that bad. Usually this kind of thing is accompanied by a major depressive episode. Okay, I had a super bad one of those very recently which is probably related, but I'm pretty sure I'm over that. It's just creatively that I seem to be flaming out. Trying to get my work done is like scraping the last dregs of sauce out of the bottom of the bottle with a spoon that doesn't quite fit.
I hate it, but I need to pause for a while. I am going to give this a week, making an active effort at self-care, and then reassess. I'll keep in touch on my progress.
Thanks, everybody.
Comments
fionag11
You write a lot and the quality is always high. Do some things that recharge your creativity so we can continue to enjoy it.
AllenR
Hey, Webb. I know my paltry sub doesn't pay your bills but I'm not going anywhere. We'll be happy to hear about your progress when you check in. Later.
Dominic Corbin
Taking care of yourself is always appropriate. It sounds completely reasonable that re-immersing in OVDT is causing more issues.
