There’s a myth among some writers, particularly in the early stages of their career, that pushing through fatigue is a sign of dedication. That typing late into the night or scribbling through exhaustion is somehow romantic. That the best creativity comes in those bleary-eyed moments when everyone else is asleep and you’re running on nothing but coffee and ambition.
I used to believe that too.
But experience has taught me otherwise. In fact, I’m writing this just days before taking a ten-day holiday in St Ives, Cornwall, because I’m, quite frankly, exhausted. Completely drained. Every creative muscle in my brain feels like it’s been overworked.
And as someone who writes books for children, I’ve learned that writing when tired is rarely a good idea. It doesn’t make you more disciplined or more serious. It makes you make mistakes. It dries up imagination. It chips away at the joy of storytelling. And it can even make you irritable with the very characters you love creating.
So before I switch off for a few much-needed days of sea air and Cornish ice cream, I want to reflect on why we, as children’s authors, must give ourselves permission to rest.
Imagination Needs Energy
Writing for children isn’t like writing for adults. It requires a constant supply of imagination. The worlds we create must be rich, strange and exciting. Our characters must be funny, curious, brave and unpredictable. We’re not just telling stories. We’re inviting young readers to believe in something magical.
That’s a big ask on a good day.
On a tired day, it’s near impossible.
I’ve sat down at the keyboard on many evenings and tried to force out a chapter. But when I’m tired, the sparkle disappears. My sentences become flat. My ideas repeat themselves. I lose the ability to surprise or delight. The pacing suffers. And worst of all, my characters stop talking to me.
What usually takes an hour takes three. And the results are rarely worth keeping.
Imagination, like any muscle, needs fuel. That fuel is energy. It’s found in sleep, movement, conversation, laughter and reading. Not in stress and burnout.
This is backed up by studies in neuroscience and creativity. According to researchers at the University of California, creative problem-solving requires a well-rested brain. Sleep deprivation affects the prefrontal cortex – the part responsible for creative thinking, empathy and emotional regulation. This article by Psychology Today explains it in detail.
So, the next time you’re forcing yourself to write a magical talking hedgehog or a spaceship made of jelly when you’re barely awake, know this: you’re not lazy for needing rest. You’re human.
Mistakes Multiply When You’re Tired
There’s a more practical reason not to write when you’re exhausted. You make mistakes. Lots of them.
Spelling errors. Continuity slips. Dialogue that doesn’t flow. Scene transitions that jump or drag. Even simple grammar goes out the window. You lose track of timelines or mix up character names. I’ve even written entire chapters that, when I read them the next morning, made absolutely no sense at all.
Of course, editing exists for a reason. But editing can’t always save poor writing that never should have been written that way in the first place.
When we’re tired, our focus narrows. We skim instead of read. We assume instead of checking. According to Harvard Health Publishing, even mild fatigue can impair cognitive performance, reducing your ability to process language, spot errors or engage in complex tasks.
Writing children’s books is not simply about stringing sentences together. It’s about structure, rhythm, tone and emotional connection. Those things require clarity and care.
Tired minds cut corners. And our readers – no matter how young – deserve better than that.
Irritability Creeps In
This one’s more subtle, but no less damaging.
When I’m overtired, I become short-tempered. Not just with people around me, but with my work. I find myself getting annoyed with plot points that aren’t working, scenes that feel slow, or characters who won’t behave.
There’s a danger here. Because that frustration often leads to deleting perfectly good material or giving up too quickly on an idea that just needed more time.
Writing should feel playful, especially when writing for children. There needs to be room for silly ideas, strange turns, and bursts of fun. But when I’m irritable, I second-guess those instincts. I try to fix problems with force instead of patience. And that almost always backfires.
The emotional state we write in affects the emotional tone of our stories. If I’m anxious or rushed, my stories reflect that. The characters become impatient. The pacing gets uneven. The humour loses its sparkle.
In contrast, when I’m rested, ideas flow more easily. I’m kinder to myself. I give scenes time to unfold. I laugh more at my own ideas, which is always a good sign.
Publishing Deserves Your Best
Writing is one part of the process. Publishing is another.
In just a few weeks, the next Space Ranger Fred book – Space Ranger Fred and the Great Galactic Bake Off – will be back from the illustrator. Richie Williams has been working his usual magic, and I can’t wait to see the finished pages.
Once I return from my break in St Ives, the publishing process begins in earnest: proofreading, layout, promotional planning, and launch prep. All of it takes time, focus and clarity.
This is no time to be tired.
I want to bring the same energy to publishing that I bring to writing. Because every stage matters. Children notice when a book is carefully crafted. Parents notice when you’ve made an effort. Reviewers notice when the quality shines through.
Publishing while exhausted leads to missed deadlines, poor decisions and lacklustre results. It also drains the joy out of what should be an exciting moment – launching a new story into the world.
That’s why I’ve made the decision to take ten full days away. No emails. No drafts. Just rest, walks, food and fresh air. I owe it to the book, to myself and to the readers who’ve been waiting for Fred’s next adventure.
The Myth of Constant Productivity
We live in a culture that often equates rest with laziness. Writers, especially those working freelance or building a career, feel the pressure to always be creating. Every day not writing feels like a missed opportunity.
But here’s the truth: not writing is sometimes part of writing.
Taking time off allows ideas to settle. Characters breathe. Plot problems solve themselves in the background. Inspiration returns in unexpected ways. It’s not wasted time. It’s creative composting.
As bestselling children’s author Julia Donaldson once said in this interview with The Guardian, “You can’t be writing all the time. Sometimes you have to stop and live life. That’s where the stories come from.”
Rest is not indulgence. It is strategy.
Cornwall Calls
St Ives is calling. As I write this, my suitcase is still empty and my to-do list longer than I’d like. But mentally, I’m already halfway there.
There’s something about the Cornish coastline that resets my mind. The sea air, the gulls overhead, the changing light on the water. I don’t go to Cornwall to write. I go there to remember why I write.
No characters. No deadlines. Just long walks, slow breakfasts, and perhaps a book that I read just for me.
It’s in those quiet moments that the best ideas often arrive.
Final Thoughts
If you’re a writer, especially a children’s author, you don’t need to prove anything by writing when you’re tired. You don’t get a medal for forcing yourself through creative burnout. You’re not weak for needing rest.
You’re wise for knowing when to step back.
Children’s books require joy, energy and imagination. They are some of the most important books ever written, and they deserve our best selves.
So next time you feel guilty for taking a break, remember this: writing while tired is not brave. It’s inefficient, it’s frustrating, and more often than not, it’s unnecessary.
Refill the tank. Reconnect with the world. Let your mind wander.
Your readers – and your future stories – will thank you.
About the Author
Matt Newnham is a British children’s author, speaker and creative thinker. He is the author of Space Ranger Fred, Princess & Chicken, and a growing list of fun, imaginative books for young readers. His mission is to tell stories that make kids laugh, think and believe in possibilities.
📍 Based in the UK | ✉️ matt@mattnewnham.com | 🌐 www.mattnewnhamauthor.com
📸 Instagram: @mattnewnhamauthor