How do I avoid rapid release burnout?

Is burnout different from being overwhelmed?

Yes, and it helps to know which one you are in. Overwhelm is having too much on your plate. Burnout is what happens when you keep pulling from the creative well faster than it refills. Rapid release condenses a lot of writing into a short stretch, so it can draw that well down quickly if nothing is built in to refill it.

If you are already feeling it, that does not mean you are bad at this. It means the pace and the recovery are out of balance, and that part can be adjusted.

What does burnout look like for a writer?

For me, the clearest sign is that writing stops being fun. When I am writing from joy, excitement, and creativity, the words flow almost effortlessly. When burnout is creeping in, writing starts to feel like a lot of work, a little bit of drudgery, because I have lost that spark. The worlds I was building and the characters I wanted to live inside stop feeling like fun, and that is how I know I have gone into efforting.

Other signs I watch for in my own work:

• Dread when you sit down to write.
• Your brain seizes up on a scene you would normally handle easily.
• A task that should take 45 minutes stretches into most of an afternoon.

Any one of these on a bad day is normal. When they become the pattern, treat it as information about your pace, not a verdict on you.

How do you build rest into a rapid release schedule?

1. Take a real break every 50 to 90 minutes while you write. Breaks of 15 to 20 minutes are a good range.
2. Plan time away from the work itself. I aim for 30 to 45 days a year, with two trips of 8 to 14 days plus a few 1 to 3 day breaks.
3. Leave whole months free of writing. In my four-book year, March, June, September, and December are writing-free.
4. Treat rapid release as a tool, not a requirement. If a pace costs you your health or your peace, change the pace.

Why did I change how I work?

I spent about five years working seven days a week, and it led to stress-related health problems. That is why my current year is built around two weeks of plotting and a six-week sprint for each book, with four months left free of writing. There are no guarantees in this business, so I would rather you protect your peace than chase a number.

If you want to see how the books-per-year math fits together, start with how many books an indie author should publish in a year.

Keep reading

• How many books should an indie author publish a year?
• Is there such a thing as sustainable rapid release? (Episode 57)
• Back to the Rapid Release hub

Frequently asked questions

What is the difference between burnout and overwhelm?

Overwhelm is having too much to do. Burnout is drawing down your creative energy faster than it refills, which rapid release can speed up if you do not build in recovery.

How often should I take breaks when I write?

I suggest a break every 50 to 90 minutes, and 15 to 20 minutes is a good length.

Can rapid release be sustainable?

It can if you plan for it. My four-book year uses two weeks of plotting and a six-week sprint per book, with March, June, September, and December free of writing. Your pace may look different, and there are no guarantees.

What if I am already burned out?

Slow the pace first and add rest before you add anything else. Rapid release is a tool, so it is fine to change how you use it.