3 Things That Helped Me Write During Burnout

For the writer who feels like giving up.

Apr 18, 2025

If you feel burned out, know this: you’re not broken. You’re just resting. And something is still growing underneath. (photo: tomertu / Shutterstock)

Dearest writer,

A few years ago, I was certain I was never going to write again. This came after a string of seriously unfortunate events that started with a devastating fire in our town and ended with the pandemic.

The fire was in 2017, when I worked at our local newspaper. I woke up early that morning to the smell of smoke, realized what was happening, and jumped on the computer to update the newspaper’s website and social media.

And I didn’t stop for two weeks.

In the midst of it all, I was preparing to release two books I’d worked so hard on, with a plan to quick-release them and bring readers back to the series. I ended up postponing the launch because my town was literally on fire. And when I finally did release them, I was so rundown and exhausted that I did nothing to promote them.

To this day, those two books—which I’m still incredibly proud of—have barely any reviews and are largely forgotten.

That was the start of my burnout. I limped through writing and releasing another book, but by the time it came out, I had nothing left in the tank. Then the pandemic hit just a few months later. Cue the rise of TikTok and BookTok, and I tried desperately to keep up. I posted daily, followed trends, and did everything I could to catch that viral moment.

It never happened.

I had a few small wins, but nothing life-changing. I was devastated. I felt old and washed up, a woman in her 40s trying to keep up with people in their 20s. It all felt so unnatural. I just wanted people to read my book, but nothing I did seemed to make a difference.

So I stopped trying. Sure, I put in effort here and there. But daily posting? Nope.
And writing? Forget it.

How could I write when I was completely empty? It didn’t feel like anyone was interested. Why was I fooling myself into believing this dream? I even fantasized about never writing again—imagining a life of gardening, long walks, and spending time with friends. When I was deep in a book project, I barely had time for anything else. But without writing, I could finally live a slow life.

So I did.

My garden flourished. I spent evenings coloring, drawing, and practicing henna. We were in a pandemic, so socializing wasn’t an option, but I found ways to connect. I soaked up family time. I watched TV shows. I even got a decent tan from all the time outside.

And I rested.

God, did I rest. It felt so good to not do anything related to writing. And even though I missed it a little, I seriously considered what life would be like if I never picked it up again.

So imagine my surprise when a book idea came out of nowhere—and suddenly, I couldn’t write fast enough.

That was in 2022. Since then, I’ve released four books and am working on two more. I still have moments of self-doubt, but they no longer hold me hostage.

Along the way, I’ve learned a few things about writing through burnout that I want to share with you.

1. Don’t.
Honestly, this might be the most important tip of all. If you're burned out, the best thing you can do is rest. Your body and mind are screaming for a break—so listen. What good will come from pushing through exhaustion? Inspiring words? Beautiful prose? Probably not.

Do yourself a favor and take the break. A week. A month. A whole year, if needed. Recharge. Go for walks, break out the finger paints, veg out with TV. Relax.

Yes, it’s possible that if you stop, you might not start again. But more likely, you’ll return to the page rested, inspired, and ready to write something gorgeous.

If you absolutely must keep writing, here are two more things that helped me.

2. Turn off the noise.
We’re constantly bombarded by voices—funny, brilliant people on social media, authors writing page-turners, creators who’ve made it.

And where are you? Limping through a rough draft, staring at sad social media stats, wondering if you’ll ever make it (and secretly believing you won’t).

Comparison is the thief of joy. And when you’re constantly tuned in to what others are doing, it chips away at your own creative energy.

So turn it off. Step away from the platforms that make you feel small. Or do what I do: set app limits. I’ve placed limits on all my social media apps—and even Amazon—to stop obsessing over stats. I don’t use the limits all the time, but when I’m deep in a project, I absolutely do.

It helps me stop feeling like I’m not enough, and start believing that the world is craving a book like the one I’m writing.

3. Touch your writing (almost) every day.
Yes, I know the first tip was to take a break. But if you're not doing that, then at least stay connected to your writing.

Touch it daily—or as close to daily as you can. When you do, you stay close to the story, the characters, the plot. It feels like a friend. Sure, it’s flawed. But with each pass, you start uncovering the magic.

When you skip days, that’s when the lies creep in. You’re not good enough. This book is garbage. Why bother when [insert favorite author] is doing it better?

Don’t let that happen. Stay close to your writing. Even if you’re not actively writing or editing, at least read it. Create a character bio. Write yourself a letter from your character. Let the story live in your thoughts by staying in relationship with it.

Beyond these three things, take care of yourself in general. The gardening, the art, the walks? Keep doing those. You can write and still make time for other joys. You can step away and come back again.

Get plenty of rest. Eat nourishing meals. Drink water. Move your body. Don’t forget to take care of the author—because they’re the one writing the book.

Until the next chapter,
Crissi

P.S. What are some things you do when you feel burnt out?

3 Things That Helped Me Write During Burnout

For the writer who feels like giving up.

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