Since my last blog in Salamanca, Spain, I’ve entered Portugal, travelled all the way down the country, and popped out in South Spain again. I’m currently writing this from Cordoba in Andalucia. I’m on the cusp of finishing Masters of Our Fate (Pomp and Poverty Book 4) and beginning the fifth edition of the series entitled Hard Luck.
But constant writing does take its toll because I have to balance so many facets all at once. If I write too much, I lose out on the actual tourism. If I do too much of both, I miss out on the social aspect of meeting people.
Burnout is a very real threat, and I’m incredibly conscious of it.
Photography as a Second Option
You may or may not know that I run an Instagram page called Farnerauthor. This is where I post the photos from my travels. Right now I’m uploading two of them each day. The quality isn’t fantastic because I’m taking them from an iPhone instead of my DSLR, but for efficiency purposes I have no real choice in the matter.

Photography is something I’ve had an interest in for quite a few years. I’m no good at drawing, but I always love art. So photography is a good second option because I can freeze the moments I like and enhance them through the right machinery and the right software, namely Lightroom.
Preventing Burnout
I have always believed that creative people are multi-talented. The skills and attributes they have in one area can be carried over into other areas. Don’t get me wrong, I don’t believe that a painter could instantly pick up a guitar and start headbanging along to Highway to Hell; at least not well. But I do believe that some of the most closely related fields are within reach.

That’s what I think with me and photography. I think in many ways writing and photography are connected. The difference is instead of seeing the scenes in my head I’m seeing them in person.
Perhaps these scenes will become part of my writing work, but it’s a nice break from writing. It’s a new way to see things, and that’s why I believe it prevents burnout.
Moving Forward
I do so many things to make money while travelling. The vast bulk of what I need to keep travelling does come with writing, but I have multiple streams of income. Over the last few months, they have become more prominent and it’s made it difficult to juggle everything at once.
I only expect that to intensify as I make my way out of Spain and towards Italy.
Masters of Our Fate (Pomp and Poverty Book 4) will be on its way on April 1st, so check it out. If you haven’t already got round to it, take a look at The Worst Sins (Pomp and Poverty Book 3).
Until next time…
James Farner