I’m not a fan of hustle-culture.
I don’t like the idea that people think you have to work yourself to death to be an artist. That the only way to create art is to push and push and push every waking moment, and some sleeping moments, to spread yourself too thin and work too hard and all that.
But at the same time, I have deadlines. Soft deadlines, for now (if the novel I’m working on releases in June instead of May, the only person directly impacted by this is me), but deadlines nonetheless. And since I’m elbow-deep in edits right now, the temptation to keep pushing and working and pushing until I actually finish is pretty overwhelming.
But that won’t help! I don’t gain anything by burning out. I lose a lot, in fact. So I have to be measured and careful and steady… but I still have a billion things I want to do and no time to do any of it.
Gah.
Oh well. Edits are happening! The first few chapters are done, and they’re the toughest because they’re also the most important. With any luck, I’ll be done the edits by the end of the week… I think I can do that.
Unrelated sidenote: I’m finally watching the last season of The Expanse. Gosh it’s good. Two episodes remaining!
Hope everyone out there is staying safe and healthy!