August Goals
Or why I’m focusing on creative practices to avoid publishing burnout.
This post was also posted on my Substack.
I’ve been staring at a blank page for the past couple of weeks. I started editing my YA contemporary novel in July and had plans to finish a big edit by the end of August, but I don’t know if that will happen.
For the past nine months or so, I’ve been working nonstop to get Begin Again out into the world and then Off Trail Love. I had no breather room, no real breaks. Now that both are out, I feel like I can breathe again. I’ve learned a lot about my writing process this year, and I know that I can’t move so fast.
Because I’m headed to burnout.
In August, while I may write/edit a little, it won’t be my focus. This month, I’m hoping to fill my creative well.
I’m going back to a few things I enjoyed as a kid and trying a few new things. Different creative avenues instead of only writing since the words seem to be stuck somewhere deep inside my brain.
My creative goals for August:
Learn how to embroider. I bought this kit and started using it last night. Each kit comes with step-by-step video instructions, making it easy for a novice to learn. I tried crochet in July, and dang, it did not click (but I still want to try again), but for this month, my new craft is embroidery.
I also ordered this latch hook kit. I LOVED doing this as a kid and thought it would be fun to make colorful rugs for some of our very gray bathrooms.
Read more books. I don’t read as much as I’d like when I'm constantly writing and editing. So, it’s time to make reading a priority at least for this month. The more I read, the more I want to write. I need to make it a higher priority in my life, and I think that by slowing down my publishing schedule, I will be able to do that.
Go somewhere new and write about it. This is a fun writing/creative exercise that I can’t wait to do later this month.
Only be on social media 2-3 times a week. I’ve been super active for the past few months, and I’m completely drained. I’ll be going back to a schedule where I’m not on every day. I’ll delete the app on the days that I’m not active.
I’ll report back at the end of the month/beginning of next month on how everything goes.
I told my (new) therapist last week that I’m feeling a bit untethered right now. I think part of it is because I’ve constantly been working all year. Now that I don’t have any set deadlines (yet) and because I’m so exhausted from all the hustling, I’m not sure what to do with myself. I hope to find myself a bit as I focus on some of these other creative endeavors this month. But we’ll see how it all goes.
I’d love to hear from you. What are some of your favorite creative things to do that don’t include writing? OR what is one of your goals for the month of August? Let me know in the comments.
