We all know it happens, burn-outs and hiatuses. What’s your philosophy on it, and what length of time do you guys take when needing to take a hiatus?

Plus, how do you communicate this to a partner or partners you’re RPing with?

I’m considering my options, and would love your advice.

Best thing you could do is be honest.

"Hey, I've been pretty overwhelmed recently. Just stuff going on in my life and I'm finding it difficult to concentrate on the roleplay. I'll need some time/need to back out for now. I'm sorry but it's what I need at the moment."

You don't necessarily have to be overwhelmed/have adverse things going on in your personal life to justify a hiatus. Sometimes we all just plain burn out, lose interest, lose our motivation to write, etc. It's best to really be honest, don't worry about fabricating some sort of outside issue if one doesn't exist. If you force yourself to write through a burnout just because you feel like you have to have some kind of better excuse to justify taking a break, your writing is going to suck, your partner will notice, and your rp will suffer. Not good for anybody. Your partner should understand, it happens to all of us.

I've taken breaks from the guild in the past that lasted almost a year, and shorter ones for a few months, but you really don't know how long it'll take to get your energy back until it happens. When you're ready to return and craving rp again, return. Don't force yourself to come back after a certain time if you're not feeling it.

Honesty is the best policy when it comes to feeling burned out or to justify a hiatus. Though I have taken at least two breaks before but both were at least a few weeks to a month at the latest.

Time is the important factor when it comes to it as it is dependent on you and your morale so take your time in going through the motions.

Shit happens. You can't help it if real life gets in the way and sometimes you do need to step away and look at the important things before you can relax and spend your free time writing.

In regards on how to tell a partner, be up front. It's more of a dick move to lead people on in the hopes of something than just being honest.

Think of it this way: if you don't say anything to them, they'll just assume you're good with whatever.

Regardless what it is, be it something that's happening in a roleplay, plot direction, or your own mental health, if you don't communicate with whomever you're writing with (group or otherwise), there's no way for them to know what you want to do. So yes, the best thing to do is be honest about where your head is at. If they aren't going anywhere and are plenty invested in the story you guys have, they'll wait as long as you need to regroup. And if they're not, then better to end the writing partnership before it gets too toxic.

When in doubt, communicate.

Everyone basically said the same thing, but they're all correct. If I may be a little more precise, it's a vital necessity to consider others well-being and speak directly to all involved, to express what's bothering you and that you need personal time to sort things out. You can always write another day, life and personal health is more important at the end of the day.

If your writer's block and burnout isn't backed up by anything bigger, perhaps it is still a sign that you need to do something else. (Exercise, sleep, eat more etc.) And if you think that will effect your output and make things move slower, same rule above applies, just say so. I can assure you, speaking is the best thing you can do. As no one worthwhile gets upset when your honest and personable.

Don't message a sidebar that no one will read. Don't go radio silent. Don't shift blame and make it about someone else. Whether it's a specific RP that you lost interest in, or have burnout from writing in general. Be direct, be honest and say what you personally need to do. And don't be afraid to give details if you have them. (I.E, How long of a break you may need.)