From Edie: Struggling with writer burnout or discouragement? Discover 10 practical ways to overcome depression, renew your mindset, and rediscover your passion for writing.
How to Overcome Writer Burnout and Depression: 10 Ways to Get Your Writing Passion Back
by DiAnn Mills @DiAnnMills
No matter how dedicated we are as writers, depression and burnout can drag us to the bottom of a well filled with quicksand. I know you’re trying to grasp what seems to be lost, but the gray days weigh heavily. Whether you’ve written for two decades or two years, now is the time to get out of that rut and back into the writing game with passion and enthusiasm.
Grab a pad of paper and your favorite pen, and let’s get started. This may not be easy, and it doesn’t need to be completed in one sitting, but it’s worth the effort. I’ve been in the pits of discouragement, and it’s not pleasant. The uncomfortable moments of our lives plant seeds for intense writing.
Get Your Writing Passion Back with These 10 Questions
1. Think back to why you started writing. What fueled you to learn the craft and move forward with your publishing goals? Do you remember the nudging in your heart and soul to create with words? I urge you to craft a mission statement that speaks to your values. If you already have one, does it need updated?
2. What changes did you make in your life to accommodate writing? Are those changes still in place? Do you need to venture back or modify them? Write every single physical, mental, emotional, and spiritual change that accompanied your newfound goals.
3. Why is getting into your writing game important? What might stop you?
4. List your accomplishments as a writer. How do you feel about those successes?
5. List the items that have disappointed you. What have you learned from those experiences?
6. What are you reading? Do you read the same genre or unique books?
7. Who are your favorite authors? Why? How do they affect your writing?
8. Reconnect with your readers. What can you do for them?
9. Write something that is dear to your heart, not necessarily publishable, but a piece that gives you satisfaction.
10. Invite God into your writing for guidance, encouragement, and inspiration.
11. Bonus: Do not compare your success to any other writer. You may not be where you want to be, but courage to move forward is a double bonus.
Ten ways to get your heart and pen back in the game, and a bonus tip for all writers.
Do you have a tip to help other writers in the gray seasons?
TWEETABLE
Her novels have appeared on the CBA, ECPA, and Publishers Weekly bestseller lists and have earned numerous honors, including the Christy, Selah, Golden Scroll, Inspirational Readers’ Choice, and Carol Awards.
DiAnn is a founding board member of American Christian Fiction Writers and serves as Conference Advisor for the Blue Ridge Mountains Christian Writers Conference. She is also active in Advanced Writers and Speakers Association, Mystery Writers of America, International Thriller Writers, the Jerry Jenkins Writers Guild, Outliers Writing University, and The Christian Pen. Passionate about helping others succeed, she invests in writers through mentoring, book coaching, editing, and dynamic workshops she teaches across the country.
A self-proclaimed coffee snob who roasts her own beans, DiAnn enjoys diving into good books, experimenting in the kitchen, and unabashedly spoiling her grandchildren—whom she insists are the smartest kids in the universe. She makes her home under the sunny skies of Houston, Texas.
Connect with DiAnn for behind-the-scenes glimpses, writing tips, and lively conversations at diannmills.com, or on Facebook, X, Instagram, Pinterest, Goodreads, BookBub, YouTube, and LinkedIn.
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