Looking at the benefits we receive through writing is a great strategy. When I started publishing, all of my writing became about publishing those stories. That brought me down big time and ended up stopping me from writing. After I fought my way through depression and burnout, I learned to push aside any thoughts of publishing during the writing/creative process. I’ve finally gotten back to writing for fun…for me. Once I finish writing, that’s when I allow myself to think about publishing that project. It took a bit to get here (and often that follows a lesson or coming through the other side of a deep struggle), but it is possible. <3

Seeing others’ accomplishments has brought me down time and time again, no matter how happy I am for them. I think it’s totally normal. But that doesn’t make it any easier. I ended up unfollowing (but staying friends with) a few writers on Facebook because of how often they posted their successes that fed into my depression. We gotta do what we gotta do. <3

I can also relate to overworking myself and feeling undervalued. Both of those triggered my burnout, as well as my depression. I love how you ask yourself questions to evaluate the situation and how you feel. That is very smart and the best way to heal…if you have understand yourself and what you’re going through.

Thanks, Jemi! I am glad you that the things that were contributing to your burnout improved and everything worked itself out. 🙂

You’re welcome, Fox!

We all struggle with envy and comparison. The best remedy I’ve found for this particular issue is to look at the benefits you’re getting from writing—even apart from publication. It’s therapeutic; you’re writing stories no one else can write; look at how much better you are now than when you started; consider the joy your get from writing… If someone’s only validation is being accepted by a publisher, they’re going to be frustrated and could easily burn out. Not to say publication isn’t something to strive for; but for the sake of longevity, we need other motivators. Find those motivators and focus on those :).

Hi Dawn

I can relate to the feeling of being undervalued. For me, it’s mixed up with the idea that only publication is validation. I don’t get to write much but I’m a member of a crit group and some of the other members write a lot and get a lot of acceptances, and post about it. I don’t like to be mean spirited and envious but it makes me feel useless. I think the key to that could be to step back from it all and try to think about it in a different way. Starting with “so what if they are?”

With my writing, I often get bogged down emotionally with imposters syndrome. It’s a constant fight between giving up or pushing through because I enjoy the creative process and I can only get better if I keep writing. There have been times when I pushed through so much that I got burned out. It took a lot of effort to get back into writing for the sole purpose of acquiring a sense of accomplishment within myself without the worry of what others think.