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nanowrimo · 7 months

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5 Tips to Avoid Burnout as a Neurodivergent Writer

When taking on a project as big as writing a novel, you may run into the risk of burnout. NaNo Participant Joana Hill gives some tips on avoiding burnout as a neurodivergent writer.

Burnout. As writers, we all know it. For neurodivergent writers, burnout can be even more damaging than usual. We can be much more sensitive, both mentally and emotionally, than our neurotypical friends and family.

This means avoiding burnout, and taking care of it when it does happen, can be even more important for us. I’m here today to provide some tips for my fellow neurodivergent writers to tackle just that.

1. Write What Interests You

Write what interests you rather than what you think you ‘should’ be writing. Many of us get caught-up in pleasing others. For neurodivergent people who’ve spent much of their life masking, or hiding their true personality and needs because of fear of rejection, it can be a hard habit to break.

If you want to write a 50k slow burn coffee shop AU of your favorite fandom, an epic space opera starring ants, or a main character with ADHD, autism, dyslexia, or any other disorder or condition you have, go for it.

2. Get A Support Network

For neurodivergent people, we’ve often lived our lives with special interests no one wants to hear us talk about. It often results in us not talking about them at all before someone can tell us they don’t want to hear about it.

Whether it’s offline with friends and family, or online here at NaNoWriMo or other sites, having people who are actively interested in listening to you and helping you plot and write can be a game-changer.

3. Celebrate As Many Victories As You Want

Many years, my personal goal is that I can get the new Pokemon game, which always comes out around the middle of November now, once I hit 50k. But you don’t need just one grand goal.

Get a bag of your favorite candy and say you can have a piece every so many words. Find something on Amazon you want (and can afford to get!) and say you’ll get it once you hit the halfway point. Whatever motivates you to keep going, set it into motion.

4. Plan For Flexibility

That may sound like an oxymoron, but hear me out. Neurodivergent people often love to have a plan. I know I can get frustrated and upset when I’m expecting something to happen and something different does. For a big goal like writing a novel in a month, a lot of things can end up going wrong.

Carry a notebook and pen or tablet with a keyboard case in case an errand takes longer than expected. Back your writing up to several places in case your main writing device crashes. Make sure at least one of those is a cloud service in case you end up writing on a device that isn’t yours. The more contingency plans you have, the better prepared you are when life happens.

5. Be Kind To Yourself

Some days you may not get the minimum goal, or you might not write at all. You may feel like you just can’t do it because you’re behind on your word count, or you decide you don’t like what you’ve written.

I get it. But don’t beat yourself up about it. Take a break. Play your favorite game or read your favorite book. Go for a walk. And remember that you’re awesome. No one can write this story like you can.

Joana Hill is a writer of young adult stories, as well as novellas inspired by Japanese light novels and anime. You can find her books, social media, and anything else you could imagine wanting to know about her on her LinkTree. Photo by Andrea Piacquadio

#nanowrimo #writing #writing advice #self-care #neurodivergent writers #writer's life #by nano guest #joana hill

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sugar-plum-senpai · 3 months

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Fanfic Writer Notion Template | Notion Template for Fanfiction Writers | Writing Notion Template | WIP Organizer Template

Hello! I'm very excited to finally share the Notion template I've created for fanfic writers!

Admittedly, I am more of a fanfiction reader than a fanfiction writer, but I wanted to try my hand at creating this Notion template. That being said, I'm not sure if I've organized the template in a way that is super helpful or makes sense for a writer, so any advice/suggestions you have would be greatly appreciated! I am definitely planning on revising the template - this is a very early iteration.

Feel free to contact me if you have any suggestions! :)

#fanfiction #fanfiction resources #fanfiction writers #notion #notion template #fanfiction writing #writing #writing resources #writing template #character wiki #character wiki template #fanfic writers #fanfic #ao3 #fanfic organizer #notion workspace #notion dashboard #writer's dashboard #writer's life

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lyralit · 1 year

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#jokes #writer's life #writing #story writing #writers #lyralit

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lulubelle814 · 2 months

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#writing #on writing #writer stuff #creative writing #writer #writers block #writer's life #writers on tumblr #writerscommunity #ao3 writer #writers and poets #female writers #writers #ao3 #archive of our own #ao3 stuff #fanfiction #fanfic #ao3 author

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haley-lana · 7 months

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CALM DOWN, SATAN

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inky-duchess · 1 year

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Fantasy Guide to Regents and Regencies

A Regency is a period of time where another party rules of behalf of a monarch who is either too young, too ill or absent. A Regency can either be the monarch's own choice or a decision made for them on their behalf by a third part, usually government. Either way, a Regent is selected to act as temporary Head of State whilst the monarch is incapable of ruling.

Who can be a Regent?

A Regent is an important office, even though its a temporary one. Regencies of child monarchs generally either go to the Consort, though there are all sorts of reasons why this can be blocked. Sometimes governments and kingdoms are uncomfortable with foreign consorts with uncertain allegiances ruling the kingdom or sometimes the government just doesn't approve on the basis that they doubt the Consort's skill set. Other candidates for Regencies are nearly always family members such as uncles, aunts, cousins and even children of the monarch (especially if they are absent from the country or ill). But a Regent doesn't have to be a royal. They could just be a noble elected to the position (Sir William Marshall) or even one that siezes power for themselves (Richard of York) or even a council made up of Regents, headed by a Lord Protector.

Who makes a Regent?

As I mentioned before, monarchs can appoint the Regent that will replace them in certain cases. For instance, a monarch would chose the Regent if they were voluntarily leaving the country or they might designate a chosen Regent on their deathbed or just in case of emergency. But they wouldn't chose a Regent if they were ruled mentally incompetent. In those cases, the government would chose.

The Powers and Responsibilities of a Regent

A Regent is the acting head of state but they are not the monarch. They do not have the right to wear crowns or have a coronation and are not granted the hall pass of divine right. A Regent is referred to as their own title, say for example Duke of X, Regent of Y or Prince Regent. They are merely there to fill in for the monarch. A Regent would meet with the government, make decisions with the approval by government and sign offical documents. In cases of an absent monarch, a Regent may need the approval of the monarch themselves. Regents of child monarchs would usually include their charges in the country's running, either as spectator or student. A Regent, being temporary Head of State, would also have the responsibility of ensuring a natural cessation of their power to their monarch when their term is over. Some regents are better than others at handing over power.

Notable Regents of History

George IV, Richard III, Anne of Austria, Katheryn Parr, Richard of York, Margaret of York, Katherine of Aragon, Catherine de Medici, Louise of Savoy, Phillippe duc de Orléans, Edward Seymour Duke of Somerset, Sir William Marshall, John Duke of Bedford, Humphrey Duke of Gloucestershire, John Dudley Duke of Northumberland.

#Fantasy Guide to Regents and Regencies #Regent #Royal guide #Fantasy Guide #Writing guide #writers resources #writing #writeblr #writing resources #writing reference #writing advice #writer #writer's problems #spilled words #writer's life #Writer's reference #Reference #nanowrimo

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mikajupiterjonesingtimcurryfeet · 1 year

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“Writing isn’t about making money, getting famous, getting dates, getting laid, or making friends. In the end, it’s about enriching the lives of those who will read your work, and enriching your own life, as well. It’s about getting up, getting well, and getting over. Getting happy, okay? Getting happy.”

Stephen King

#when writing my tim curry shit which i fucking love #stephen king #writing advice #writing stuff #writer's life #creative writing #writers #writings #being a writer #writer #writing

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doodle-pops · 5 months

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Dear anons,

If a writer's form of content is not to your liking, there isn't a need to barge into our inbox and TELL us that it's bad and we should seek help from others for improvement. We never asked, so we don't want to hear it. Most of the time, you all don't even know how to give proper feedback, so we don't want it.

We write for ourselves and our comfort. If you don't like a style of content or writing, unfollow, block tags, or come off the site. Attacking writers and claiming your advice was feedback is absolute entitlement. Writing isn't easy!

Sincerely,

Every writer who has gone through this shit

#writer's problems #writer's life #writer things #writer speaks

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wanderrealms · 1 year

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Character did a hostile takeover of the story. I'm alright with that since she knows the story better than I do.

#writing #character #character took over story #writer's life

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nanowrimo · 6 months

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Write Meow! 4 Writing Tips Cats Teach Us

Did you know cats have a lot of wisdom about the writing process? It's because of their cat lifestyles! NaNo Participant Megan Jenkins lets us know what our wise cat friends can teach us about writing.

“Cats are too human-like,” my friend complained while explaining to my cat-lady-self why she’s a dog person. I laughed, but after pondering my cat’s behavior, I realized just how much cats can teach us about becoming a better human, and more importantly, a better writer. (Arguably.)

Here are a few writing lessons we can learn from cats.

1. Have a Routine

As someone who rolled her eyes at this advice for years, I still cannot believe that my cat hoodwinked me into a morning routine.

My cat was right though.

Writing for 15 minutes during my cat’s breakfast has me writing more than ever before. While 15 minutes may not seem like a lot, giving yourself prompts for the next session and having consistent sessions helps you accomplish more than you would think.

Also, cats are great accountability partners. If you stray from their routine, they will meow loudly and slap you with their paw. (Or is that just my cat?)

2. Take Breaks

Before my cat, my writing process was to write for hours at a time on a random weekend day. This process was exhausting and made me feel like I had to block an entire day for writing, which is becoming increasingly impossible.

However, cats inherently know the importance of taking breaks and stepping away from screens, which is why they sit in front of our keyboards and computers when we spend too much time on them (I assume).

One way to remember to take breaks is to participate in writing sprints, in which writers write together for a set time.

For any fellow introverts, the Pomodoro Technique, in which you work for 25 minutes then break for 5 minutes with a longer break after four rounds, has been shown to increase productivity.

You might hesitate to try sprints or Pomodoro like I did because you love to emerge yourself in your writing for hours. However, I have found that both methods have built my endurance, allowing me to write longer.

Plus, the frequent breaks to entertain my cat prevent her from hijacking my keyboard.

3. Prioritize Meals

Cats are grazers, meaning they eat several small meals throughout the day, which they do not like to miss.

Unlike my cat, I skipped meals all the time. I couldn’t be like Pippin in The Lord of the Rings asking for second breakfast while on an important quest!

However, modeling my cat, I now prioritize my eating. While it may not work for everyone, eating throughout the day gives me energy to write after work, not just rewatch The Lord of the Rings.

Since you are likely not on a quest to eliminate all evil, try prioritizing eating, like cats (and hobbits) do, and see how it impacts your writing.

4. Focus on the Present

Do you sometimes focus so much on the past or the future that you forget about the present? I do. With NaNoWriMo especially, I tend to over-plan and dwell on any minor failures.

Cats don’t do this. Cats live in the present, and while cats learn from their past, they do not dwell on their failures or worry about the future. Instead, cats deal with problems when they arise.

Similarly, do not torture yourself if you have a bad writing day (or week or month) or worry about every what-if. Instead, use the past to improve your current writing session.

As NaNoWriMo begins, I hope what I have learned from cats’ behavior helps remind you to have a healthier relationship with writing, which is ultimately the goal of NaNoWriMo. Besides the 50k.

Megan is a business risk and control advisor at a financial institution. The rest of her time, she spends dreaming of fantastical places. Her love for language led her to obtain a BA in English with a concentration in professional writing and an MA in Technical Communication and Rhetoric. When she is not writing, reading, or editing, she also enjoys traveling, watching movies, and spending time with her family and cat, Sophie. Connect with her on Linkedin or Goodreads!

Photo by Pixabay

#nanowrimo #writing #writing advice #writing tips #writer's life #by nano guest #megan jenkins

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i-rove-rock-n-roll · 5 months

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Do you want to talk about your writing nonstop?

Do you want to hear others talk about their writing nonstop?

Do you need more writing friends?

If you want a serious writing group and some brand new friends, this is the server for you!

Dun dun dun dun! Introducing

Writing is like Knitting only without the yarn (wait…)

(HMU for server access!)

#writing #writer's life #writeblr #writblr #writing buddy #discord #my wip #my writing #writing discord #nanowrimo

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devonscroob · 2 months

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It's the worst

You know that feeling when you post a new chapter and then refresh your inbox every two minutes for four hours straight, waiting for comments, and when they don't come you absolutely convince yourself everyone hates the update and your writing and you are a disappointment and a sorry excuse of a writer and should give up and then over the next few days you get so many positive and supportive comments you wonder why you ever even worried in the first place and then you write another chapter and do it all over again? Yeah, that's me.

#writeblr #writing #ao3 writer #writer's life

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sugar-plum-senpai · 19 days

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The green version of my Fanfic Writer Notion Template!

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lulubelle814 · 3 months

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#writer's life #writer stuff #writing community #writeblr #writerscommunity #creative writing #female writers #ao3 writer #writers and poets #writers on tumblr #fanfic writing #ao3fic #ao3 author #fanfiction #ao3 fanfic #fanfic #writer #writing #writers

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skylerchasesbooks · 2 years

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How To Use Foreshadowing

Foreshadowing can be a tricky technique to get right. Give away too little, and you may confuse readers or lose their interest. Give away too much, and you take away your story’s suspense.

Here are some tips for achieving the perfect balance of foreshadowing:

1. Plan your story: You need to know exactly where your story is going before you can decide which events you can foreshadow, and how to do so. You may need to wait until your second draft to properly incorporate foreshadowing into your work. Take as much time as you need to work out every detail before dropping hints. Plan, outline, revise, and plan more.

2. Plant seeds as early as possible: The closer to an event foreshadowing is placed, the less effective it usually is. In fact, foreshadowing immediately before an event can act as a “spoiler” for the reader. Instead, make sure foreshadowing takes place long enough before the event or ending that it is not fresh in your readers’ minds. This will give your readers even more joy when they comb back through your story to find the breadcrumbs you left.

3. Scatter those seeds: When choosing where and when to foreshadow in your story, be as sly as possible. Think of it as a scavenger hunt: you wouldn’t hide all of your treasures in the same place. Instead, distribute your foreshadowing evenly throughout the story for maximum enjoyment.

4. Foreshadow in moderation: Don’t wear your reader out. Add too much foreshadowing, and your readers will feel as though they’re getting all “setup” and no “payoff.” Not enough foreshadowing, and your readers may be frustrated by an unexpected resolution. Craft the right balance, and your readers will find themselves re-reading your stories to find all of your clues.

5. Enlist a second set of eyes: As the person closest to your story, you may feel that your foreshadowing is perfectly clear—but if a reader can’t see or appreciate it, your clues will be ineffective. Grab your friend, coworker, or neighbor for a cup of coffee and hand them your manuscript. Once they finish reading it, ask them if the clues were too obvious, not obvious enough, or just right.

Hope these helped! Like and share! Follow For more content, tips and guides!

#creative writing #writing tips #writing advice #foreshadowing #tips to write #books #readers of tumblr #writers #daily life #bookaddict #writers on tumblr #dank memes #reader problems #book blog #booklover #wip #tumblr writers #writer's life

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saintescuderia · 1 month

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the full catalogue.

ecrit par mdg.

literary-fiction

fan-fiction

non-fiction

below the cut are all my works catalogued according to the above sections. quotes are also mine.

‘it’s literary because i say so / it’s original because you wrote it.’

poems

still i write them. still i bring them into existence. how do i begin to explain 16.3 dearest as i am now, with you

excerpts from my diary (ft. my notes app)

march 1 march 12 notes app excerpt #053 an ode to my fallen comrade, my laptop

chaptered works

coming soon!

‘fanfiction is the self-indulgent reclaimation of art.’

imagines (aka those dot point blurbs)

one-shots

[🏎️] antinal | cs55

multi-chaptered fics

[🏎️] pancakes

‘a writer disconnected from the world / may only find themselves / by writing into it.’

F1 pieces

[🏎️] the cult side of f1 [🏎️] the growing cracks of formula one [🏎️] why daniel ricciardo really, really needs to well in australia [🏎️] thoughts had while marshalling a grand prix

film/music

after life / ricky gervais (2019)

personal essays

on mixtapes the thirty (one) days of march [series] the artist's (read: writer's) way [series] - coming soon! an open letter in defence of creative pursuit an open letter in celebration of creative pursuit the confusing aftermath of being forgiven

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