Sonia M. Rompoti, MSc, bsc

It’s August. Your manuscript is staring at you. Your notebook is sweaty. And somehow, your brain is convinced that every other author on the internet is writing their third book this month, lounging in silk pajamas, sipping iced lattes.

Meanwhile, you? You just want to go to the beach and forget how to spell “epilogue.”

Let me say this loud and clear:
Hot authors get burnout too.

Burnout isn’t a sign you’re lazy. It’s a sign you’ve been doing too much for too long—usually without proper breaks, boundaries, or belief in yourself.

And guess what? That’s practically the definition of being an indie author.

---

When You Love Writing but Hate Writing

It’s a strange summer feeling: You miss your characters, your plot, your cozy writing cave… and yet, you also want to throw your laptop in the sea.

That doesn’t make you a bad author. That makes you human.
Especially if you’re juggling writing with work, parenting, surviving a heatwave, or simply being alive in 2025.

So, what do you do when your brain wants sun but your guilt wants edits?

---

Let Writing Meet You Where You Are

Here’s the trick: You don’t need to push through. You need to soften in.

Instead of fighting the season, let August become part of your creative process. Try these small, forgiving shifts:

• Micro-sprints: 10-minute bursts with a popsicle as a reward. Summer = low-stakes writing.
• Poolside plotting: Bring a notebook or voice memo app. Dream, don’t draft.
• Permission to journal: Ditch the manuscript for a day and write what you need to say.
• Summer playlists: Create a vibe that makes writing feel like self-care again.

Remember: Rest is part of the process.
Your creativity doesn’t vanish when you step away—it simmers. It gathers. And sometimes, it needs vitamin D to do its best work.

---

The Beach Isn’t a Threat to Your Book

You are allowed to enjoy summer.
You are allowed to write less and still call yourself an author.
You are allowed to rest now and write like wildfire in September.

Because here’s the secret: Books born from a rested, full-hearted writer?
They hit different. They heal.

So go on—grab the sunscreen. Your manuscript will still be there when you get back. And when you return, you’ll bring the whole ocean with you.