How to take a break

Q. I recently turned my draft in to my developmental editor. What should I do during the gap time while I’m waiting for feedback? Should I be working on something different?
—Anonymous

A. I’m so glad you asked this, because it’s an incredibly common question. There’s a school of thought that can be summarized as, “Always be writing.” (Many of my clients are quick to point out that Stephen King writes seven days a week, and that Nora Roberts begins a new story as soon as she completes a draft.) Consistency and habit are important, yes—but in this case, I don’t recommend bypassing an opportunity to recharge. The reason is simple: working even more so rarely works. Authors often hire me after they’ve burned out by trying to write all the things all the time, and have lost their enthusiasm for their career. The reality is, you cannot push or punish your way to success. It wears you down and it destroys the focus required to create great work. (Ask me how I know!)

Sometimes it’s not burnout, but just everyday procrastination that surfaces when you don’t take time off. If you don’t give your brain a break, it’s going to find creative ways to take one for you—e.g. accidentally spending an hour scrolling on Instagram or sending you to the kitchen for yet another snack. That’s why I recommend setting specific writing hours (such as fifty minutes out of every hour for a two- to three-hour block), and only writing during that time, so that you have a hard stop for your writing day.

What’s more, jumping to a new story before the last one is finished doesn’t allow for creativity-fueling downtime. Paradoxically, the moment we “set aside” a project, we often come up for wonderful solutions for it. (Research suggests that reducing stress allows the brain to be more creative.)

Now, all this said, while your draft is being edited, this could be an excellent opportunity for you to tackle some of the career-related tasks that so often get set aside during drafting. For example, you might work on your website or create a social media plan. You could declutter your office or your computer files; there’s something magical about making space. Or just read! It’s that rare activity that’s both entertainment and work—in that it’s nearly impossible for a writer to read without thinking about how to improve their own craft.

Enjoy this brief blip in your writing life. Before you know it, you’ll be knee-deep in edits and missing the gift of time off.

—Camille