Goodreads asked Sylvester Olson:

How do you deal with writer’s block?

Sylvester Olson I've found that, much like lifting weights, I can avoid writer's block when I take every other day off from composing new material. It's just better to have a fresh mind when sitting down with paper and pen. Writing is a joy and I love every moment of it; I don't want it to ever feel like a chore.

But I still find meaningful tasks to complete on off-days. Typically, I'll spend Day A composing on paper. Then on Day B, I'll catch up on typing the story into the computer, editing and checking for continuity errors along the way. This also gives me a chance to look ahead at my outline and gauge whether I'm still on track (or if I've discovered something worth altering the outline for). Composition is so focused, so "in the moment", that it's easy to make impulsive decisions that could derail the train. Taking days off provides time for reflection that, in the end, results in me being happier with the final product.

Because I self-publish, there are other elements that I'm responsible for, such as cover design and interior design, that take significant time to complete. If I've been busy working hard on finishing a chapter, I may opt to spend time on these for a few days in order to introduce some variety toward the book creation. It's still important work that will have to be completed anyway.

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