I got COVID during the holidays, and to prevent myself from going nuts, I took long walks. It helped me clean out the attic of my cluttery brain. But on December 27th, something peculiar happened: I made the decision to stop writing. Before anyone panics, it's far from the first time something like that happens.
Give yourself time, man. Recharge your batteries. Past 2 years have been tough, and recent holdiday "vacation" (haha) have also been tough, I'm sure.
I think not putting pressure is the right approch, but gotta separate pressure and ambition. I think it's fine to have ambition -- to do good work, to improve, to be the best you can be, to learn more -- and it can be part of the drive.
But putting pressure on yourself based on external markers -- number of stories published, etc -- can be counter-productive and lead to creative burnout, IMO, because that stuff isn't in your control. The only thing you can control is your process.
Give yourself time, man. Recharge your batteries. Past 2 years have been tough, and recent holdiday "vacation" (haha) have also been tough, I'm sure.
I think not putting pressure is the right approch, but gotta separate pressure and ambition. I think it's fine to have ambition -- to do good work, to improve, to be the best you can be, to learn more -- and it can be part of the drive.
But putting pressure on yourself based on external markers -- number of stories published, etc -- can be counter-productive and lead to creative burnout, IMO, because that stuff isn't in your control. The only thing you can control is your process.