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Battling Burnout: How Authors Can Stoke Their Creative Fire

title image: campfire with sparks floating up and lake background


Burnout is a familiar feeling in any creative profession, especially as a writer. Crafting elaborate worlds or working to develop their characters' psyches fully can take up a lot of brain space. All the everyday stress of life, personal relationships, jobs, and school can also add to that mental load. 


Life’s chaos can affect any number of people. I want to be clear: burnout is nothing to be ashamed of. There are ways to deal with it, and you may even use it to your advantage. Today, I want to share a few nuggets of wisdom I’ve learned throughout my creative journey to deal with burnout.



  1. Ride it Out


Sometimes, the best way to deal with burnout is to let it pass you by. Take a break from the story you’re writing. If you’re on a tight deadline, you can still find small moments in your day to decompress, like during your commute to work, doing laundry, or cooking. 


Focusing on other things may help the ideas flow better. A fun idea I’ve heard is to have a dance party for yourself to get your mind off your story. Exercise or other bits of fun, like dancing, can take the stress away.



  1. Work on Something New


If you don’t want to take a break from writing, try switching projects.


Drafting, revising, and editing a piece for months, or even years, can become tedious. Writers can tire themselves out. But if you’ve had a new idea rattling around your brain for a while, start researching that new topic and write a new piece. You may find new angles or ways to approach an existing piece after you stop thinking so hard. 


If you can't find the energy or don’t want to plot a whole story, try poetry or a screenplay. A new mode of writing can spark more inspiration. The challenge of rhyming poetry also can help challenge your prose writing skills.



  1. Rediscover Your Why


When you ask a writer why they started writing a piece, they often point to one specific moment that sparked an idea or one specific message they wanted to convey. Returning to where the story began, where you planted that first seed, can spark that passion again. Reflecting on notes you took at the beginning of the process can remind you how far you’ve come. 


Talking to others about your story can also help. If someone else mirrors your initial excitement about your story, that could reinvigorate your passion.



  1. Connect to Other Forms of Media


Many writers know that TV shows and movies, like novels, take a while to develop. When you’re down on yourself, remember that overnight success is not a natural phenomenon. 


Nobody sees the hours and hours, years and years of work that go into maintaining and polishing your craft. Though everyone around you seems to be taking off, going at your own pace is the most important thing to remember. Don’t neglect sleep and food to get work done. Ignoring proper life functions will only enhance burnout, not prevent it. 


Nourish your brain, too. Reading other books and watching TV shows can fill your mind with new ideas for your story and help you relax. 



  1. Find or Indulge in Another Hobby


Most writers have (and should find the time to cultivate) some hobby other than writing. You may be a sports fan or have a more academic hobby like crosswords or puzzles. You might like to go to the movies or play an instrument. Any way to relax can help get the creative juices flowing again.



This is by no means an exhaustive list of ways to deal with burnout. Different people decide to deal with their burnout in various ways. Taking your mind off things will reignite the passion for a story, give you more ideas, or let you relax for a little while. 


Remember, burnout is nothing to be ashamed of. It happens to anyone in any profession. Second, you are a writer, but you are also human, not a machine. Taking care of yourself is the paramount concern. No amount of food, sleep, or mental health is worth sacrificing to get more writing done. Take breaks when you need them: Your writing will always be waiting when you return to it.



About the author: I am working towards a Bachelor's degree in English at Stonybrook University, and I earned an associate's Degree in Creative Writing from Suffolk County Community College in 2021. I would like to thank all the Writer's Workout team members who have helped me learn and grow during my first time as a judge. Thank you so much for this opportunity.


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