 By Stephanie Bearce
Burnout is REAL!! I just finished some tight deadlines and got both good and bad publishing news. My brain was fried. I had no desire to write ANYTHING! EVER! Have you had days like this?? Where you question your writing career, wonder if you should give it all up and become a greeter at Walmart? Fortunately (or unfortunately depending on your point of view) I've been in this place before. All the creative energy was gone and no idea of what to do next. This is when I know it's time for some fallow ground. Fallow ground is soil that is left unplanted to rest and regenerate. Farmers have used this technique for centuries to enrich and renew the earth. It's something we humans can emulate by leaving time to be fallow. To rest and rejuvenate. Creativity takes fertile soil. It needs to be rich in ideas and full of life-giving energy. If we keep working, the energy of our brain becomes as depleted as overused soil. We all need to have fallow time. For me, fallow time means reading, sewing monsters, cleaning closets, and watching favorite old movies. Often it involves Jane Austen, Madeline L'Engle, Dorothy Sayers, and Elizabeth Peters. Sometimes it just takes a few days. This time it took FOUR WEEKS! But now, the ideas are flowing again. I'm excited to tackle some new projects. I WANT to WRITE again!! I know I'm lucky. My fallow times are not years, but weeks. However, I think this is because, like the farmers I grew up with, I know that I NEED fallow ground. I give myself permission to just be. It's what my brain and my soul need. Please, give yourself permission to enjoy some fallow ground. And to celebrate fallow time - I'm giving away four of my "monsters". Leave a comment below that tells about your brain burnout or fallow time. You will be entered to win a sweet little idea monster to help you with your newest project!
8 Comments
Linda Skeers
6/22/2022 07:30:28 am
Much needed post -- thank you, Stephanie! You're right -- the key is giving yourself permission to celebrate fallow time. My go-to? Baking!
Johannah Luza
6/22/2022 07:51:27 am
My fallow time has been much of the last 3 years. I couldn't write a simple sentence when my daughter was diagnosed with breast cancer. When her treatment was over we thought she had won the battle! I was able to sit at my desk and gradually get back to writing. When we found out it it wasn't over and she'd be fighting this battle forever I knew if I wanted to write, I'd just have to deal with the ups and downs and take it one day at a time or give up my dream of ever writing a children's book. She makes sure I'm still writing by pushing me to continue. So that's what I do. I'll admit, it's easier to write when she's doing well. But I'm learning to deal with it. And...I actually sent out two manuscripts to 10 different publishers in the past few months! I call that progress! I give myself permission to have fallow time, but also give myself permission to write! 6/22/2022 02:11:54 pm
Nice to know we are in good company here! And glad to hear that that feeling comes to an end. 😊
Jill Esbaum
6/23/2022 04:42:08 am
YES. I've been slogging through the fallow period for 3-4 weeks myself. Heartening to know I'm not alone. 6/23/2022 06:29:28 am
Thank you Stephanie for sharing your amazing words of wisdom! We recently came back from a lovely trip to Europe and were gone almost 3 weeks! I did not write during that time and was very worried about getting back into writing on my return. Although it has taken me a few weeks to get back into the saddle completely, reflecting on this trip I suppose was my "fallow time". I am realizing we need to give ourselves permission to take a break. I'm in the process of writing a few new drafts and also submitting some queries...so this is progress:)! Thank you! Marianne
Yvonne Hurst
6/23/2022 03:50:32 pm
Thank you for this article, Stephanie. I love the analogy of fallow ground and fallow time in a writer’s life. It’s true. I think it is like winter, a period of rest needed for the seasons to turn. Being burnt out can feel as if nothing is happening. We wonder if we’ll ever have a good idea again. But a period of rest and recovery is something happening. It is simply a something happening quietly. Then after that, Spring! 6/25/2022 10:42:30 am
Love your monsters! My fallow time has stretched far too long as I mourn my best friend's death, but I'm not buried under my covers; instead I'm reading stacks of books, catching up on movies, volunteering @ my SPCA, and growing a huge veggie garden that I hope my dogs and rabbits will share with me. And slowly hopping back into writing.... Leave a Reply. |
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Disclaimer: The Nonfiction Ninjas are a group of writers with diverse ideas . The views expressed in each post are those of the author and may differ from others in the group.
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