An author emailed me the other day, and asked how to sustain themselves when they feel overwhelmed by all that is asked of writers, and how to avoid burnout. Here is an excerpt (shared with permission):
“So often people ask me how I cope being an author and having a full time career and a family. Many authors feel awful, they are burnt out and don’t want to continue to work in an industry that expects so much of them. Dan, I would be so very grateful if you can give me and other authors more inspiration and incentives to want to continue in an increasingly tough and demanding industry. I am completely exhausted and that isn’t how I want to feel after ten years as a published author and certainly not as a human being.”
I bought this sculpture at a yard sale years ago, and when I was looking at it recently, it reminded me of that feeling of overwhelm that a writer or creator can experience:
So today I want to talk about how to sustain yourself as a writer, and navigate the risks of overwhelm and burnout. Before we begin, I want to remind you of my fall curriculum, which I am calling The Joy & Connection Marketing Plan. We will be spending three months exploring how to share your writing in a way that is infused with meaningful connections and personal fulfillment. My first exclusive series for paid subscribers starts Tuesday September 10th. Become a paid member of my community here:
Okay, let’s dig in…
The Opportunity — Not the Obligation — to Write
You do not have to write. You can take a pause, a hiatus, or hang it up completely. This decision is yours to make, and needs to align to your personal needs and goals. I always try to remember this, because when I remember that writing is not an obligation but an opportunity, that helps me go back to the well. To return to the source of inspiration that fuels my creative vision.
You can also change what you write, how you write, and how you share. I’ve been surrounded by writers and artists my entire life, and many times have spoken to someone who felt trapped by what they create. They were known for a certain style, but wanted to change and explore new avenues in their work. But they felt trapped. That they would be letting down others by changing, they would be on untested new ground, and that it would somehow be “foolish” to do that. But it is never foolish to listen to your heart, and to forge a path where you feel a sense of growth and fulfillment.
We each get to create, we don’t have to create.
For a writer whose career relies on their craft, is this more complicated? Of course. Yet, as I look up from my computer, I see a wall of faces looking back at me. I have photos of dozens of famous creators posted to that wall, each who remind me of the power of risk in creative work. That sometimes you have to do the unexpected thing, the action that scares you, or what people lease expect. That you have to sometimes let go of what is safe and easy and expected, in order to follow your passion. Here are two stories of creative risk that always inspire me:
Take the Creative Risk (featuring Bono)
Your next act (featuring Steve Jobs)
If you are a writer who feels more and more is asked of you, please remember that you don’t have to do any of it. You can choose the path that is right for you, whether that is big picture stuff, or the tiny details.
If I ever feel overwhelmed or burned out, one thing I do is consider a clean slate. How would I work and create if I started fresh, tomorrow? What would be included in that day? What experiences and moments would I optimize for? How would I want it to feel? And of course, I would go back to my Clarity Cards.
Focus on the Craft of Sharing
We all know that writing is a craft, one that you can work on and develop over time. But I also believe that sharing is a craft, one that you can attend to in a slow and meaningful manner, making it feel more nuanced and beautiful over time, and less overwhelming.
Craft allows you to make clear choices focused on improvement, not “doing it all.” For example, I’m sure some writers may say, “Well I know I need an author platform, but I’m struggling to keep up with Substack, TikTok, Instagram, Threads, Facebook, and so many other channels.”
Now, I’m a writer, and I have worked with writers full-time for 14 years. This is not only a total joy for me, but it is also the only thing that financially supports my family. It would be easy to justify that not only is social media essential for “promoting” my work, but that I truly need to be everywhere. Yet, I didn’t share at all on social media for 6 months this year. When I returned (literally this week!), I wasn’t “everywhere.” I created a single video each day. I even skipped yesterday with no guilt because I was busy. I’ll probably skip today too, and instead go for a walk. I’m not posting to Threads or many other places. I’m focused on what fuels my creative vision, and what creates meaningful moments with readers and those who inspire me. What I try to remember is to:
Show up and try. While I help people create strategies for how they share their work, sometimes just showing up is more than enough.
Focus on small steps. Were the videos I shared this week perfect? Nope. But they were fun and each was a small step to sharing something meaningful. In that process, I am developing my voice, and in many cases, amplifying the work of those who inspire me.
Identify lessons each week. Even weeks that go off the rails are filled with lessons. Counting the lessons helps me know I am attending to this craft of sharing.
Set intentions, and worry a bit less about specific goals. Maybe this sounds too chill, but I have found that when I focus on intentions, I end up finding more to feel satisfaction with. And when I set specific numeric goals, I tend to be much more stressed. So I focus on the intentions, and assume that “no one knows what works, but doing stuff works.”
Follow a methodology so that I don’t get trapped in a rut. More on that below.
Have a support system! I encourage you to develop relationships in your life — professional or personal — with those who can support you, and you them. When I feel overwhelmed, someone I know is going to get a text message. Reaching out to someone is so important, please don’t suffer alone. If you feel you don’t have a colleague or friend like this, then slowly work to develop them. Start by being there for others, it’s just that easy.
I did a deep dive on my Creative Success Pyramid for paid subscribers the other day, and shared this image in my Substack last week:
I also mentioned that I tend to use a 20-tab spreadsheet with clients, where we can carefully work through this methodology to create a personalized plan for how they will share and reach readers.
Some people expressed to me that this felt overwhelming to them. That it looked complex, they instantly felt they had to do it all at once, and that even the word “spreadsheet” freaks them out.
That’s fine!
There are clients I work with where I say, “Oh, you never have to use the spreadsheet, but just know that I’ll be working from this model in our work together.”
As you navigate all of this, I would encourage you to not focus so much on the quick fix, the latest trend, or something that doesn’t feel good but you have convinced yourself you “have to do” because everyone else is doing it. I have an entire chapter in my book Be the Gateway titled, “Avoid best practices.” Choose the path that works for you. Recently I was talking with a writer I’m working with, and just before our chat ended, she said: “I never thought this would be so much fun and interesting.” That is the goal!
This is why I love looking at how one shares as a craft. This is an active process of understanding and improvement. One that you attend to in small ways each week. Where you focus on moments of meaning and fulfillment.
You are What You Do
All of this aligns to the theme I am exploring this month of defining your creative identity. You are what you do, and you get to define what these things are. As a writer, I assume that for many of you, this focuses first on the craft of writing and reading.
In sharing your work, I often encourage writers to talk with readers — to be curious about what people read and why. Many favorite example of this is the time I spent with Barbara Vey years ago, who was a contributing editor for Publishers Weekly. I took her on her first subway ride in New York City, and on a crowded car she did something unexpected. Usually on a subway ride, you don’t stare at other people or talk to them. Barbara did not follow this rule. Instead she turned to the woman sitting next to her and asked her what she was reading. Barbara and the woman then had a lovely conversation about books!
She would tell me stories like this all the time. If she had to go into a medical facility, she would later tell me what her nurses and doctor liked to read. If she went to get a sandwich before we talked on the phone, she would tell me what the person behind the counter liked to read.
When you talk with readers, you dive deep into the “messy” side of the publishing world. You learn that readers don’t neatly fit into a box of only reading one genre, or reading regularly, or liking what you would expect they would. When you learn how to talk with readers, you learn so much about how books are shared, but also you develop a this capacity in yourself. Because when you launch your books, you will want to have the ability to casually talk about it in a way that will truly engage someone.
I encourage you to develop these skills, knowing how to talk about what you write and why. To focus on it as a conversation, not a tagline or elevator pitch. To develop your identity as a writer because you talk about the themes you write about and explore those themes with those you meet.
Please let me know in the comments: how do you manage overwhelm and burnout as a writer or creator?
A final reminder that my exclusive series for paid subscribers starts Tuesday! Become a paid member of my community here:
And if you are curious about getting started on Substack, I’m teaching a course next week hosted by the amazing Jane Friedman: Start on Substack with Power & Purpose.
Thank you for being here with me.
-Dan
Kids of the Week: first day of school for both of them. I took my oldest to see his old elementary school for the first time in a few years:
My mother-in-law visited with my mom!
As usual, you have wise advice. Being a writer doesn't mean we have to be writing every day or month or year. Living life feeds our writing, and if we decide not to write ever again, that's okay, too. Having written is a good thing. Trying writing and deciding to do something else instead is a good thing, too. Let's let go of the guilt. I'd love it if more people were reading instead and posting more reviews or sharing news of books or defending libraries and librarians who in turn support writers. There is so much to do in the writing industry that isn't just writing.
Thank you, Dan! I found this post very helpful, empowering, refreshing, and encouraging! I've always valued permissions that encourage free thinking! Owning your own pace honors both your work and your creative vision. Cheers to more guilt-free walks and skipping days!:))