When you know you need to take a break: A lesson in helping to avoid burn out for authors

"i don't have any more ideas!"

"I'm exhausted, physically and mentally!"

"Everything in my business is stagnent"

Have you been saying the above lately?

Good news: you're not alone.

Same.

There's only so much our bodies, our minds, and our spirits can take before it all explodes, or implodes. You're finding the littlest things are the straw that broke the camel's back. You're overwhelmed by all the advice, all the things we think we must do to succeed, you're not making enough money, and nothing seems to work anymore.

Add in the endless barrage of bad news and world events, and it's a sure fire way to have a full on nervous break down.

If you've found yourself nodding at the above, then, author, you need to take a break.

I will be.

I'm not gonna lie. This year has been stressful, guys.

Add in several family health scares, house moves, world wars, evil dictators, the cost of living pressures, AI, and in the midst of all that, i've been working my butt off in my business.

I've been writing a lot and up until now, i've averaged 3, 4, 5, or 6 publications a year.

And now i need a break.

I'm going to be taking a few months off from December 1st to possibly Jan 31st or Feb 1. I won't be writing. i won't be making social media content, because i just need to relax. I need to rest from the constant act of 'content creation'.

When it all seems to be for nothing sometimes, and you feel yourself actually hating going to work at your desk, of writing. If you're forcing out the words, and struggling to think of new social media marketing ideas. And when you try something that seems to be popular and it doesn't work?

Yeah, that's when you know you need to step back. Hit reset.

and give yourself a refresh.

Hopefully when i return, i'll be exciting to get back into my new book, start creating more content and marketing it.

I hope you do the same, at least over Christmas.

I can't wait to bake, (i can't wait to pick up a new Kitchenaid mixer!) garden, go kayaking, finish decorating my office (i'm getting a new bookshelf soon!). So look out for all those pics on my socials.

What's next for L.L Hunter?

After my sabbatical, i'm going to be diving back into writing my non- fiction book for authors, Author Virtues: How to Thrive as an Indie Author. (I'm going to probably add in a chapter about burn out and life / work balance.)

In Feb, i'll be in Melbourne for Book Fair Australia, in Perth in March for Celestial Fantasy events.

I'm looking foward to getting back to travelling to see my readers and author buddies.

Right now, i have two more books to release before my sabbatical on Dec 1.

The Soul Bond on nov 7, and a surprise coming later in November...I'll tell you all about this after the Soul Bond is released.

And then i need to take my own advice, hey?