Take a break, eat good food, drink lots of water and whatever hot beverage makes you happiest, and get plenty of rest. You're not going to be in trouble for taking a break - if you need one, take it for as long as you like, the novel will be there when you get back. Usually, a fresh brain and full belly make everything better.
I was an avid reader from a young age and when I wasn't reading, I was writing snippets and short stories. For as long as I can remember, writing a novel was my dream. Of all the stories I wrote, Danethrall was the first full-length novel I ever completed.
Yes, though it takes me a while to gather the courage to look at them. I'm equally self-conscious about praise and criticism, but I'm also very curious so I can't -not- read reviews, haha. I don't ever reply to reviews, good or bad, however - I think it's unprofessional. A review isn't the opening topic for a debate, it's an opinion. When it comes to things like books or products, etc, people are entitled to their opinions, they can like or dislike what they want, and no one has the right to try to convince them otherwise. If someone writes a negative review of my books, I'm bummed for a moment and then I move on. If someone writes a positive one, I grin like an idiot, brag to the person closest to me and then I move on. :)
More chaotic and unhealthy than I'd like to admit, haha. When I'm on a roll, I'll ignore my chores and responsibilities as much as possible and write from 8AM to 3AM, taking breaks only when I'm forced to. This can last for weeks before I burn myself out and then I can't write for months. It takes forever to get back into the headspace of writing, but when it happens, I get on a roll, and the cycle continues.
