Comments on: Avoiding Writing Burnout

By: Anne Wayman

Anne Wayman — Tue, 16 Jul 2013 19:51:18 +0000

I'll take a day or two off… ideally go somewhere, but even if I stay home and just read junk novels, when I get back to it I'm fresher and so seems the writing.

By: Lori

Lori — Tue, 16 Jul 2013 19:36:46 +0000

Good point, Paula! Venting can bring about resolution. I like that!

By: Paula

Paula — Tue, 16 Jul 2013 18:01:20 +0000

All of my stuff is Mac, and I don't know 3G from Wifi (probably because I've never used anyone). Besides, if I had $300 to spare, I'd use it to have the chimney repaired.

I forgot to add something earlier. Venting to another writer has a side benefit: they often have suggestions to improve the situation you're complaining about. I don't know how many times writer friends and I have offered each other possible solutions.

By: Lori

Lori — Tue, 16 Jul 2013 15:48:29 +0000

Paula, that's why I finally bought a Surface tablet. I can't type on laptops (awkward hand positioning), and I don't want to lug around something so bulky. A tablet with a detachable keyboard is just easier, from my perspective.

I saw Dell has one for $299. Not sure what it has/doesn't have, but it may be worth looking at.

By: Paula

Paula — Tue, 16 Jul 2013 14:50:46 +0000

You lasted longer with resumes than I did. At first I liked them as a simple diversion, but once the client started wanting two a day I put on the breaks and slowed down to maybe three per week. Now I only do them when a friend or family member refers someone my way. Just had one request come in and as soon as the check arrives I'll get started.

I can't proof a resume without actually editing or rewriting it. A friend just updated the resume I did for her three years ago and asked me to look it over. She was confident it was good enough to send out. Boy was she wrong! Unless the year actually is 20213. It wasn't just that she didn't follow the basic format she had before her, she had typos, incomplete sentences, uneven spacing, and she Capitalized any Word she thought was Important. What a mess! I couldn't help but clean it up since it would take longer to explain what was wrong, why it was wrong and how to fix it. Worst of all? The first term she used to describe herself was, "Detail-oriented." Obviously not!

To keep things from getting too boring, I try to mix things up. Yesterday I worked on a short article for a local client and did a long, fun interview for a different client. Today I'm tracking down sources for a couple of articles and transcribing.

I wish I could change locations. It's going to be really humid and in the 90s again today with a heat index around 100. No central air, and my lone window AC is in the dining room. This morning I was wishing I had a laptop or tablet or some way to work by the AC.