Many of you are preparing your works—in—progress to present at the fall writers conferences. This month, we’ll be looking at the fun and the responsibilities of being a writer at this time of year. So hang on and squeeze the last moments out of summer!

Let me guess. By now you’ve probably had at least two family picnics, visited a theme park, met distant family members you forgot you had at a reunion. You’ve eaten enough potato salad to rid Idaho of its potato crop and have swatted enough flies to power the space shuttle. Ahhhh… summer time!

You may also be in the picnicking phase of your work in progress. You remember it, don’t you? Yes, that one you’re dreaming will hit the New York Times Best Seller List. Hey, it’s not really your fault that you are Mrs. Potato Head, right? After all, it IS summer.

Indeed, you should relax and rejuvenate. Your body will thank you for it. Not to mention your spouse, the kids, the dog and gerbil. Go ahead and enjoy the time. Take a vacation to the mountains or rent a condo on the beach. Empty your mind of all those cobwebs your midnight oil produced.

Follow this strategy and you will be a better writer because you will be emotionally whole:

Unplug. Get away from your computer, your email, telephone and spend time just enjoying life.

Change locations. Not everyone can afford to take a vacation in Europe. That’s ok. You can go to the other side of town and still get a positive effect.

Make a pact with yourself. For whatever finite time frame you choose, commit to yourself that you will completely disengage from those activities that are like work to you.

No guilt allowed. I know. You feel responsible for the world being on its axis and if you take a vacation, it will go tumbling off into some black hole in the universe. Well, super hero, as difficult as it is for you to believe, the world will get along without you for a few days.

Have fun. Do you like to fish? Great! Go buy worms. Have a book you’ve wanted to read? Grab a drink and head to the comfy chair. Like the thrill of roller coasters? You need a shrink and I can help.

Seriously, you will be a better, more productive writer by not writing than you will by hammering out word count with a tired mind and body. Take the time. Have a picnic! You and your future readers will be glad you did!

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Reba J. Hoffman is the MBT Member Care Coach. She has a PhD in clinical counseling and is the founder and president of New Hope Institute of Counseling. Reba uses her gift of encouragement to help writers overcome negative emotions so they can live their dream of being a writer. Her works appear in publications such as Running for the Woman’s Soul by Road Runner Sports and The Good Fight by Donna Hicken. She is the author of My Book Therapy’s Dare to Dream, a Writer’s Journal. Contact her at reba@mybooktherapy.com.