workspace – Almost An Author

How To Overcome Creative Burnout as a Freelance Writer

While the life of a writer may seem easy to the outsider, in reality, it is not for the faint of heart. It takes hours of dedication and a big imagination in order to develop new characters, create a pleasing format, and come up with the hundreds to thousands of words that you need to complete an assignment or turn in a draft. Sometimes, the effort necessary to succeed can get the best of us, and we may encounter writer’s block or burnout.

If you are a writer who has ever struggled to stay awake long enough to write a draft, or you wake up dreading the idea of turning on your computer to fill your word quota for the day, then you may be experiencing burnout. Let’s talk about this phenomenon and what you can do to get your mojo back.

What Is Burnout?

While it may not technically be an official medical condition, for a writer, burnout can be very real. It is often defined by feelings of chronic stress, trouble sleeping, endless anxiety, and a general feeling of tiredness or a lack of inspiration that makes it hard to work or be creative. Burnout can also lead to physical ailments, such as headaches, weight fluctuations, and gastrointestinal disturbances.

There can be many reasons why you may experience burnout or a lack of ambition. One of the more common reasons is that you are pushing yourself too hard, and after working long hours every day to complete your tasks, you could become so tired and uninspired that you do not want to continue. If you believe that is the culprit, then set working hours in stone and stick to a strict schedule.

Sometimes, there can be a combination of factors that lead to your creative burnout. You might have writer’s block, and it is causing you to stay up all night fretting about the issue. That sleeplessness can make you feel even more anxious during the day, and it can make your feelings of burnout even worse. It can be an endless cycle, so you need to regain control and get your life and career back on track.

Create A More Productive Workspace

If you are experiencing burnout or extreme writer’s block, then you may need to change your environment and create a more productive workspace.

Start by finding the proper chair and desk combination. Your desk chair should be comfortable while keeping you upright and attentive without allowing you to slouch. Your desk should be at the right height so that the top of your computer monitors are at your eye level to avoid strain and discomfort. Even better, consider a standing desk that will allow you to stay energized and alert so you can get more work done.

Next, you need to create a more inspiring workspace by opening the blinds and putting your desk closer to the window so you can let in the natural light. It is an important step because natural light has been found to increase productivity, and you’ll also save money on the monthly utilities.

Along with natural light, you should fill the space with plants. It is said that being surrounded by plants can create a more calming and mood-lifting effect. That is because greenery reminds us of being a part of nature, and it may lead to some great inspiration. Make these changes and see if you feel a little bit better about your work.

Find Inspiration Elsewhere

If you find that mixing up your work environment is still not getting you out of your funk, then you may have to find inspiration elsewhere. For instance, if you are not feeling creative with your writing, then consider picking up a new hobby like art or music. That way, you will still be creating something with your imagination, and that newfound energy could transfer over into your writing.

Another idea is to get out of the house and join a critique group. By doing so, you can share your work with other writers and even find a personal critique partner who you can use to bounce ideas off and see if you get out of your writing jam. Consider meeting with several different writers from diverse backgrounds and see if you can get your creative juices flowing again.

If nothing seems to be working, then it may be time to get up and step away for a while. Consider taking time off to enjoy a vacation or a weekend out of the house where you do other activities that you enjoy that have nothing to do with writing.

In the end, if you believe that you are experiencing burnout, then you are not alone. Consider the tips and advice mentioned here, and you will get back into your groove.

Amanda Winstead is a writer from the Portland area with a background in communications and a passion for telling stories. Along with writing she enjoys traveling, reading, working out, and going to concerts. If you want to follow her writing journey, or even just say hi you can find her on Twitter.

Declutter Your Writing Life

In my blog about living intentionally I often talk about decluttering—not just in our homes but in all areas of life. My definition of clutter is as follows:

Clutter: any thing, activity, expectation, or task that is non-essential and gets in the way of doing what matters most. Clutter is everything that is not meaningful, useful, or beautiful.

So then, decluttering is the removal of all that is non-essential so that we can focus on what matters most—in our case, writing and promoting our books and our message.

Areas where you might need to remove some clutter

Your workspace. Does your workspace encourage productive work or does it contain objects that distract you? Are the tools and information you need readily available, or is your workspace filled with other stuff that doesn’t help your writing but happens to “live” in that space? Can those non-essentials be moved elsewhere?
Virtual clutter. When you sit down to write, are there virtual things that distract you? Perhaps you need to turn off social media notifications, close internet tabs, or even disconnect with the internet altogether while you write. Perhaps you need to leave your phone in another room. Or perhaps the weight of unprocessed emails has gotten so heavy it hinders your focus. Would an hour spent sorting your inbox and dealing with simple tasks declutter part of your brain and give you more bandwidth to create well?
Unfinished projects. Do you have unfinished writing projects lurking in the back corners of your mind that make you feel guilty? Perhaps you need to declutter them from your to-do list. Life happens and your priorities change. It’s OK to change your mind about a project and decide something else is a better use of your time, but when you do, put the old projects completely away—physically and mentally. They do not need to be fed or watered. You can ignore them completely, and they will still be there if you ever want to revisit them.
Too many spinning plates. Are you trying to keep up with all the big social media platforms, blog weekly, promote your new book while working on two others, and fill up every weekend with speaking engagements? Perhaps you need to declutter your schedule. Return to your Why and your career goals for this season. Identify which writing activities are essential and which are not-so-essential. Thinning out your schedule will help you become more productive and do your best work on what is left.
Other people’s methods. No two writers are the same. Therefore, no two writers follow the same writing process or find the same promotion techniques helpful. I know many writers who have tried Mr. Expert’s method for writing only to give themselves a major angst-filled case of writer’s block. By all means, try any method that sounds like it might work, but also know when to discard that expert advice and do what works best for your unique brain. If your process is working, declutter any guilt you might feel for not following the experts. If your process is not working, perhaps you need to jettison a method that doesn’t suit your creative style.
Expectations. This is a huge area for all of us (and not just in regard to writing). Unhelpful (or unsolicited) expectations can sabotage our self-confidence, creativity, and willingness to share our words with others. What expectations do you need to declutter from your writing life? Comparing your writing to a best-selling author? Listening to friends who think you should have several books published by now? Beating yourself up for once again failing to hit your five-thousand-words-per-day goal? Your success is based on who you are as God’s child, not on what you write, how much you write, or how well it sells.
False Aspirations. Every now and then I go through my bookshelves (both the real ones and the virtual ones) looking for titles of books I aspire-to-have-read but I don’t particularly want to actually read. Sometimes we face a similar issue in our writing. We may aspire to write literary fiction (because it proves how masterful and intellectual our writing is) or crime thrillers (because they sell well) while what our heart and God are actually calling us to is a different genre. Perhaps you need to declutter some unhelpful aspirations and come to terms with what you are best suited to write (in this season of your life, anyway), even if it’s not as glamorous, as spiritual, or as saleable as you think writing ought to be.

I hope these decluttering suggestions will help you write with better focus, more contentment, and greater creativity.

What other kind of writing clutter have you discovered in your life? Let me know in the comments.

Award-winning writer Lisa E. Betz believes that everyone has a unique story to tell the world. She loves inspiring fellow writers to be more intentional about developing their craft and courageous in sharing their words. Lisa shares her words through speaking, leading Bible studies, writing historical mysteries, and blogging about living intentionally.

You can find her on Facebook LisaEBetzWriter Twitter @LisaEBetz and Pinterest Lisa E Betz Intentional Living.