Writers,Creativity and Depression
After the Manuscript is Finished: How to Cure the Post-Novel Blues
It has long been known that writers, artists, and others who work in creative fields can become prone to depression, especially just after completion of a project.
Congratulations! You've just given birth to a 300 page brain child. You've had your big celebration. Now what? If you are feeling a bit blue, you may not be alone.
After finishing a novel, many authors go through a period of depression that is not unlike grief. Many authors liken the creative experience to giving birth. The let-down feeling after finishing a novel may be just is as natural as the feelings a woman experiences after delivering a baby.
What Causes the Feeling of Depression?
This novel and its characters have been a part of your life for many months, maybe years. The sadness you may be experiencing is justified. It is a natural part of letting go. Even though it may be a happy experience to finish or publish a book, along with the sense of accomplishment may be feelings of anxiety and lack of a goal or purpose. After all, your creative nest is empty.
Cures for Post-Novel Depression:
Replenish your Creativity by Doing Something New and Different
Just after finishing a novel is a good time to take a break and do something entirely unrelated to writing. If you can afford it, take a well-deserved vacation. If not, replenish your depleted creativity by adding new images and experiences into your memory bank. Taking a walk, shooting some photographs, communing with nature are all good ways to find new inspiration.
Network with other Writers
If you are not a member of a writer’s group, consider joining one. Writing is a solitary profession, and authors sometimes must be prompted to socialize. And who understands your specific problems more than other writer?
Organize the Office
Don’t feel like starting a new project just yet? Now’s a good time to do a little spring cleaning. Get busy organizing those old those files and doing the small maintenance chores you have put off while you worked on your novel. This will mentallly prepare you to start a new book or short story.
Start another Project!
Nothing cures the post-novel blues like having another project to work on. Writing again will help get the creative juices flowing. If you do not feel like plunging into another novel just yet, start a smaller project such as a short story or start keeping a journal. Or use this transition period to think about scenes, situations and ideas for a next novel.
Prepare- Being Forewarned is Being Forearmed
If you haven’t completed your novel yet, there are steps you can take to avoid or lessen the post-novel blues. It helps to maintain an idea file with other possible novel ideas in it so that you do not feel aimless after the completion of your book.
If possible, have another plot outline ready. If you can slowly transition into your next project, it will ease the sense of loss at completing your current novel.
For more writng tips related to developing the novel, see Generating Story Ideas , Turning Ideas into Stories, and Do you Need a Plot Outline?
