How to Avoid Creative Burnout

How to Avoid Creative Burnout

How to Avoid Creative Burnout

Rob McNeil
Rob McNeil
2 years ago

I've long since been on a writing hiatus. Call it treating myself. Call it writer's block. Call it what you will. What's important is that I am taking a mental health break on my own terms. This is necessary every now and then. Yes, it can be seen as lazy. Yes, it can be seen as a lack of creative energy. What I call it is: essential. There was a time in which my output was off the charts. Quite possibly unhealthy levels of writing. Of course, I write because I enjoy it. But, I had reached a certain point where my writing became laborious. It felt like a job. It should NEVER feel like a job.

How to Avoid Creative Burnout

Avoid Burnout at ALL Costs

Burnout is the number one enemy of a writer. Quite frankly, it's the mortal enemy of anyone. Burnout is a real thing. Writer's block is a real thing. Give yourself a break. I don't know or care how long it is or should be. You have to give your mind, your creativity, and your edge a rest. It's the only way we can come back from or prevent burnout.

As I mentioned before, it will or could appear as laziness to others. We cannot care about nor can we give credence to this perception. This is about rejuvenation. We must rejuvenate our creative juices. If we sit down and bleed at the keyboard, we could very well be forcing it. And everyone knows that if you force it, it's probably gonna be sh*t.

We cannot allow this to happen. And it's draining when it does. Granted, I understand that the best writing comes out in rewriting. But when we're straining to put words on the page, and it hurts our heads, it might be time to give it a rest. It's the prudent thing to do for our fragile minds.

How to Avoid Creative Burnout

The Time Will Come When We HAVE to Work

And I understand this. There's no one who understands this more than I do. We will have writing assignments. I get that. But in between creative projects, if you ever have this luxury, we have to take this time to rest our strained brains.

I am a firm believer in the adage, "one for you, one for me." Yes, we will have scripts in which we are conscripted to write. Of course, we may not always have time to write our passion project, or whatever the case might be. If there's absolutely no time to write what we will enjoy writing, then sadly, we do have to put that on the back burner. There's no doubt that writing for others might not be the ideal situation.

We do have to look within ourselves and be thankful that we even have that opportunity. Let's take a step back and get some perspective. Not everyone is lucky enough to be able to write for others, let alone themselves. So, let's work hard on that project so we can get back to what we actually want to write. Or, let's give that writing assignment our all so that we can have that well-deserved break. Either way, your hard work will be rewarded in the end.

How to Avoid Creative Burnout

Ways to Fend Off Burnout

The tried and true ways of defending against burnout would, of course, be taking a vacation, going for walks, or simply, just living life. More specifically, I've found that watching movies, shows, reading other scripts, doing research related to your screenplay, and gaining inspiration from other works are great ways of doing this. Now, if that is too much for you, meaning you just want to get away from film, TV, and anything associated with writing in general, then I have other ways for you.

1. Get in the Zone: One way to do this is via meditation. Meditation is probably the single most tranquil way of alleviating your burnout or, ideally, preventing it entirely. Yoga is another serene way to get away and clear your mind.

2. All Naturale: Find yourself in nature. If you live in a densely populated area, going for a hike, sitting by a pond (or the beach), or going sightseeing are all great ways to rid yourself of dissonance. Pete Docter (Soul, Inside Out, etc.) had himself a breakthrough when he went out for a walk in the woods while working on the script for Inside Out. This comes highly recommended.

3. Quality Time: Hanging out with friends, family, or even taking a solo trip might just be what you need to regain peace of mind. I have gained inspiration from a night out with friends, a family get-together, and treating myself to a solo vacation. These may seem obvious, but many writers shut themselves out from the outside world until they finish their screenplay. And while that's all well and good, being more social can be the key to the success of your screenplay that maybe you just weren't seeing before. This is not only potentially good for your script, but it can also be good for the soul, too.

How to Avoid Creative Burnout

This Vacation Could Be Exactly What Your Script Needed

It's also quite possible that it may not even be a vacation at all. Maybe it's just a staycation. Perhaps you just needed to walk away from your keyboard for a few days. If you shelf your script for a bit and simply just live life, then you might find that inspiration that you so desperately needed on that script.

I also recognize that we all have deadlines. This may not be a luxury we can all enjoy. But I promise, if you kindly request from your boss (whomever that may be) that you have an extension or a break, it's possible they may grant you just that. It's also entirely possible I'm just living in my own dream world where all of this could be reality. Maybe none of this is realistic. All I'm saying is, how about we just try? You cannot force greatness.

I hope that producers, directors, financiers, and whomever all recognize this (I'm sure they do). The answer for that project might be right in front of our faces, but it's hard to see when we're staring at a screen all day.

Get out, take a breath, and find that answer in nature.

Let's hear your thoughts in the comments below!

Got an idea for a post? Or have you collaborated with Stage 32 members to create a project? We'd love to hear about it. Email Emily at blog@stage32.com and let's get your post published!

Please help support your fellow Stage 32ers by sharing this on social. Check out the social media buttons at the top to share on Instagram @stage32, Twitter @stage32, Facebook @stage32, and LinkedIn @stage-32.

Get engaged
12

About the Author

Rob McNeil

Rob McNeil

Screenwriter

Award-winning screenwriter with eighteen completed feature screenplays, two pilot scripts, and several short scripts. I am currently working on several projects at once with many more on the way.

Want to share your Story on the Stage 32 Blog?
Get in touch

12 Comments on Rob's Article

Lisa Lee
Author, Screenwriter
Great article, Rob. Thanks for the advice!
2 years ago
Rob McNeil
Screenwriter
Thank you, Lisa! I'm glad you thought so. I hope you got something useful out of it. Happy writing! 
2 years ago
Haley Mary
Actor, Songwriter, Comedian
Great article! I find if I sit down and force myself to write, I don't get a lot of inspiration. Oddly, it's been when I'm out bike riding or hanging with family or friends that inspiration for lyrics and jokes comes to me. I've learned a long time ago not to force my creativity out, the words come to me when the time is right.
2 years ago
Maurice Vaughan
Screenwriter
I learned that last year, Haley! :D Now, I try not to force it. Unless I really want to get a project done or I'm on a deadline. But even then, I like to go back and make sure forcing it didn't affect the script in a bad way.
2 years ago
Zuzana Fort
Actor, Author, Comedian, Director, Film/Theatre Journalist, Host/Presenter, Performance Coach, Playwright, Screenwriter, Stunt Performer, Theatre Director, Voice Artist
Great article and so necessary... I've been there, burnt to a crisp, so brain-dead and drained mentally that I could hardly string a sentence together, let alone write a script... will try to recharge using some of the advice... (I find that I become more creative when chilling with my kids, just watching them play...). Have discovered the value of a notebook and a pen to jot those moments of genius (fleeting as they are) and the joy of seeing my pencil shrink with use... Also, just turning off the Wi-Fi t as not to be disrupted by the avalanche of emails and barrage of messages. On that note, turning the Wi-Fi off now, good night or good day wherever you may be and HAPPY NEW YEAR!
2 years ago
Maurice Vaughan
Screenwriter
A bunch of useful ideas, Zuzana!
2 years ago
Zuzana Fort
Actor, Author, Comedian, Director, Film/Theatre Journalist, Host/Presenter, Performance Coach, Playwright, Screenwriter, Stunt Performer, Theatre Director, Voice Artist
Love it!
2 years ago
Iri Bugandwa Gabriel
Art Department Coordinator, Art Director, Assistant Director, Casting Assistant, Filmmaker, First Assistant Camera, Line Producer, Music Editor, Production Assistant
Since i have been using stage 32,every day i learn something new, thank you William Anderson for this opening eyes, and happy new year
2 years ago
Thank you, Rob
2 years ago
Very thoughtful.
2 years ago
Thank you, Rob
2 years ago
Jim Boston
Musician, Screenwriter
Rob, I like to rejuvenate my creative juices by reading other people's scripts and by doing research on what I'm about to write. (And I also research while I'm writing.) Thanks for the blog...and all the VERY BEST to you! Glad you're here on Stage 32!
2 years ago
Stephen Foster
Actor, Screenwriter, Acting Teacher, Director, Playwright, Casting Director
I've learned the art of saying NO to almost everything that does NOT serve my purpose.
2 years ago
Maurice Vaughan
Screenwriter
Great blog, Rob! I don't think burnout is talked about enough in the creative community and the film industry/TV industry. I've experienced burnout a lot, but I'm learning to balance out writing/industry-related jobs, social media, rest, and life. Thanks for the blog and the reminder! Happy New Year to you, your family, and your friends!
2 years ago
Maurice Vaughan
Screenwriter
Extremely helpful.
2 years ago
12