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How do you survive the tough times as a writer? What do you do when you feel, ironically or un-ironically, like the "Leave Britney Alone!" YouTube girl who channeled her frustrations into a hysterical video about a pop star, and you beg the world to Leave This Writer Alone?

No matter how over-worked or beat-down you feel, you must pick yourself up and write again. That's our job. Over the weekend, a couple readers shared their thoughts about how to survive the tough times.

Jurgen Wolff had this advice: "For me, one of the best strategies is to have several different kinds of projects going at once...I try to keep at least 3 or 4 projects going at different stages--usually the 'downs' of one will be balanced by the 'ups' of another."

Richard Grayson had a simpler solution: "I steal."

Finally, over at the MFA Blog, , M. Ramirez Talusa reminds us to relax, especially as we prepare for critical readings or reviews. Dig it: 

"I would definitely recommend not stressing out too much so that you don't end up feeling too emotionally spent afterward. I tend to use the week before workshop as a fun week... I take a break that week so that I approach the workshop enthusiastically."