Katie Hollingsworth

Suzy Bills
English Language 410R
29 October 2014
How to Recognize and Resolve Writing Burnout
Sally dreamed of becoming a successful writer. For several years, she had been working as a
freelance writer, and her upcoming project was due in a few hours. At first, Sally was enthusiastic
about the new project, which shed been working on over the last two weeks. But every time she
picked up her laptop to write a sentence, no inspiration struck. After the initial excitement of the
project wore off, Sally felt increasingly rushed to finish the assignment. Additionally, she started to
avoid writing whenever she could: she would do a load of laundry, scrub the kitchen floor, shampoo
the carpet, vacuum the stairsanything to avoid writing. Disagreements and arguments between
clients and Sally seemed to happen regularly. Now, well after midnight, Sally stared blankly at her
computer screen, realizing that her eleventh hour was quickly coming to a close.
Identifying the Problem: What Is Writing Burnout?
The fictional anecdote above could happen to any freelance writer. Whether freelance
writers have worked independently for several years or have been working on one project for several
months, writing burnout can happen. Burnout means that an individual experiences mental or
physical exhaustion because he or she is overworked or stressed. Writing burnout is a real problem.
But what are the signs of writing burnout, and what can be done about it?
How to Recognize Writing Burnout
Recognizing writing burnout can be difficult for many freelance writers. On the LinkedIn
group page called Freelance Writers, web writer and small business owner David K. William
posted Tiffany Famings article called 3 Signs You Are Approaching a Writing Burnout and asked

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how to deal with burnout. In this article, the three signs Faming warned of were the following: first,
you dont want [the article to be] perfect, you just want it done; second, youll take any
opportunity to avoid writing; and third, youre having problems with clients. Although these
signs may seem obvious, freelance writers must be aware of how they are feeling in order to identify
burnout.
In the story at the start of this essay, Georgiana experienced all three of these signs. First,
she tried to rush through writing to complete the project. Second, she cleaned instead of writing
(which is always a bad sign). Third, she argued with clients more often than normal. If freelance
writers experience one or more of these signs, they are probably feeling writing burnout. After
addressing the telltale signs of burnout, what can freelance writers do about the lack of inspiration?
The Responses: How to Resolve Writing Burnout
If freelance writers begin to feel exhausted from writing, they should find options to resolve
the problem. On the LinkedIn group page, David K. Williams question was how to deal with
writing burnout. In the comments section of this post, freelance writers offered their ideas they use
in their own work. Their suggestions fall under two main categories: take a break or continue
working. These two ideas could appear contradictory; however, freelance writers must determine
which suggestion works best for them.
First: Take a break. On the LinkedIn page, many freelance writers suggested taking time away
from projects. For example, freelance writers could stop writing and start reading. Ronald Joseph
Kule, a contributor to the LinkedIn discussion, explains, When facing burnout, I realize this
phenomenon as a stuck, one-way flow: too much outflow. So, I pick up one of my books written by
another author and sit and read it in a different physical space from where I work. Reading books
may not only help freelance writers clear their minds but also help inspire them to write like other
talented authors. In another comment, Roger Livesey explains that after reading blogs, he not only

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becomes more motivated to write again but also learns something new from what he read. After
reading, the new information freelance writers learn could inspire their writing. Taking a break can
help freelance writers beat burnout.
Of course, there are other options of what a freelance writer could do to beat burnout.
Creative optionsaway from the writing arena, of courseshould help freelance writers. For
example, freelance writer Susan Shuman explains that she takes a break by finger painting or
coloring. Being artsy instead of wordy could be a good way to get out of a funk. Another option for
some freelance writers is drinking. As David Cooper, another contributor to the LinkedIn
discussion, explains, [G]o to the nearest bar like Ernest Hemingway did, or as Frank Cagno
describes, have a drink and have fun to clear your mind. Active LDS freelance writers will not take
this suggestion because of the Word of Wisdom. However, having fun and clearing your mind
even when drinking is not involvedcan help beat burnout.
Second: Continue working. On the other hand, rather than taking time off from writing, the
second suggestion is to continue working. This process can involve continuing to write the current
piece or focusing on other tasks, such as editing or writing something else. Elizabeth Haynes
explains in the LinkedIn comments section, Mostly I just have to force myself to write, albeit in
smaller chunks than usual. No writing = no paycheck. Money is always a motivating factor,
especially for freelance writers. Freelance writers could feel more motivated by pushing through and
working in smaller chunks at a time, instead of feeling overwhelmed by the whole project. Haynes
continues, Sometimes getting an influx of new work gets me moving again. Sometimes if things are
slow I have a harder time writing than when Im really busy. Although constantly pushing work out
will certainly lead to burnout, staying busy is beneficial for freelance writers.
Another way freelance writers can feel motivated is by editing or rewriting other parts of
their work. Editing is an essential part of the writing process, but editing can also help freelance

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writers feel motivated again. In the LinkedIn post, another freelance writer, Matt Duncan, claims
that editing my work helps me get over a block. Editing [is] the part of writing that is the least
creative and I find that the creative side of my brain [will] fight to work when Im not using it.
Editing may not seem creative for some freelance writers; therefore, working that part of the
brainthe supposedly less creative sidecould motivate a freelance writer. Additionally, freelance
writers could try rewriting previous sections of their work. In the LinkedIn post, Vicki Roth
describes her process: she likes to take something [she has] written before and rewrite or correct
it. By rewriting, freelance writers could not only dispel burnout but also create better writing.
Although taking time off or continuing work may seem like contradictory options, both are
valid for freelancer writers to try if they feel unmotivated. What works for one writer may not work
for another. For freelancer writers, what is important is to be aware of how their bodies are
responding, mentally and emotionally. However, if these options do not dispel burnout, what else
can freelance writers try?
Additional Ideas of How to Resolve Writing Burnout
There are many ways to resolve writing burnout. The opposite of burnout is to stay inspired.
Elsie Larson is the creator and writer of the blog A Beautiful Mess, which hinges on inspiration,
imagination, and creativity. Her success story is based on her ability to avoid burnout. She suggests
five tips to stay inspired when working on multiple projects: first, carry a journal; second, find a
new muse; third, develop a creative playlist; fourth, refresh your workspace; and finally, prove
yourself wrong by making a list of the impossible and then accomplishing those goals. When
freelance writers evaluate how they are feeling about a project, they can try these ideas to continue
staying inspired.
Maybe freelancer writers need to get away. Where should freelancer writers go to find
inspiration? As Elsie Larson suggests, freelance writers could try a flea market, the library, a local

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historic district, or a bookstore. Perhaps they would prefer to go outdoors: have a picnic, take a
country drive, or check out a flower shop. These ideas are just a few places for freelance writers to
go to avoid writing burnout and to become more inspired.
Conclusion
Freelance writers must recognize their career goals and work hard. As wealthy freelance
writers, freelance writers should be conscious of how they are feeling about work because the reality
of writing burnout is important to be aware of and to recognize. When freelancer writers know how
they are doing, they can adapt to their needs easier by taking a break or continue working. As a
result, wealthy freelance writers may be emotionally and mentally fitin the workforce and in life.

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Works Cited
Faming, Tiffany. 3 Signs You Are Approaching a Writing Burnout. The Web Writer Spotlight.
Web. 19 Oct. 2014. http://webwriterspotlight.com/3-signs-you-are-approaching-a-writing
-burnout.
Larson, Elsie. 5 Tips to Staying Inspired. 8 Sept. 2011. Web. 19 Oct. 2014. http://abeautifulmess
.typepad.com/my_weblog/2011/09/5-tips-for-staying-inspired.html
Larson, Elsie. 10 Places to Get Inspired. 18 July. 2012. Web. 19 Oct. 2014. http://www
.abeautifulmess.com/2012/07/10-places-to-get-inspired.html
William, David K. How do you deal with writing burnout? Freelancer Writers. Web. 19 Oct.
2014. https://www.linkedin.com/groupItem?goback=%2Egmp_101577&commentID
=-1&item=5813587096371240964&type=member&gid=101577&view=&readyComment
=true#lastComment.