I love your tips Karen. Thankfully I write mostly evergreen content so I like to have drafts ready for weeks ahead.
I work on them when I have the right energy then a few days before they are due to be sent out, I'll finish them off add in anything extra I want to share and schedule it.
I've made my newsletter my top writing priority for 2024 and my word of the year is consistency.
Burnout struggle is real lol. I burnt out a LOT on Medium, having been there for nearly 5 years. Mostly because I had no focus or direction. I literally wrote about everything.
Now that I've streamlined my focus (here on Substack) it's so refreshing. And posting once a week is also refreshing compared to my posting mayhem over on Medium 😂 It's so easy to become irrelevant over there.
Thanks for that fantastic approach to avoiding burn out. I suspect I might be OK going forward, as I've never been a perfectionist. I might eat my words in months to come, but so far, I'm taking your advice on board.
Thank you for this advice. It's so easy to become overwhelmed on Substack, so much to write, so much to read! Burnout is a real possibility. Getting a post out is about connection and staying in the game, but quality is compromised. I've decided on the strategy of alternating one long essay and then one short post. Even then, life can get in the way so quality can suffer. We just have to do our best is all.
It’s one of the things I worry about on here. The constant need to create new content. I feel on other social media platforms, in general, people are overwhelmed with content and need support on getting the things done in their lives. That is focus of my main program for that reason. I never wanted to run a membership in my business so I’ve chosen a cohort model to provide those breaks. I’ve not quite yet decided how it’s going to be for me on Substack but this was a very helpful posts. I love the idea of budgeting time when writing. I’ve done good work under those conditions. Thanks for the post. 🙏🏻
Fantastic ideas. I totally agree about quality over quantity. If I sub to someone because of a great article, but they post 'just because it's time to post' and it's a bunch of stuff they've seen on the Internet that week -- sorry, you're losing me.
I so enjoy reading your posts which are packed with helpful user friendly information, especially for a 51 year old techno phobic. Your newsletters are always clear and concise and well written. A breath of fresh air.
This post came at the perfect time for me. I am actually struggling with burnout on another writing project, not related to Substack (although of course your information is very relevant for this too). You nailed it on the head:
"it's when the endless cycle of brainstorming, writing, editing, and meeting deadlines starts to drain your creative juices, leaving you feeling exhausted and resentful of the work you usually love."
Just seeing my experience validated here has allowed myself to breathe and understand what is happening.
So bugger my other project for this morning! I am off for a run and a plunge in the lake.
I will approach my writing with a clear head later on. Timer will be set. 😊
Thank you, Karen! I needed to hear that. Reality will sometimes force me to choose consistency over perfection, and that's just fine.
I'd particularly like to let go of the late-night last-minute editing frenzy which can burn hours for a post that's just a post - not a book being read by millions.
That is actually a really useful idea Thankyou. As I am moving from what was a consulting role to a content creators role I have been wondering how this will look for me in the future.
I love your tips Karen. Thankfully I write mostly evergreen content so I like to have drafts ready for weeks ahead.
I work on them when I have the right energy then a few days before they are due to be sent out, I'll finish them off add in anything extra I want to share and schedule it.
I've made my newsletter my top writing priority for 2024 and my word of the year is consistency.
Thank you for your newsletter.
Burnout struggle is real lol. I burnt out a LOT on Medium, having been there for nearly 5 years. Mostly because I had no focus or direction. I literally wrote about everything.
Now that I've streamlined my focus (here on Substack) it's so refreshing. And posting once a week is also refreshing compared to my posting mayhem over on Medium 😂 It's so easy to become irrelevant over there.
Love this! Done is better than perfect. Let the perfectionism go. (good reminder for myself!!)
Great suggestions. I'm hoping that at some point Substack will add the "time spent writing" to the post stats, in addition to word count.
Oooh I would actually love that feature.
Thanks for that fantastic approach to avoiding burn out. I suspect I might be OK going forward, as I've never been a perfectionist. I might eat my words in months to come, but so far, I'm taking your advice on board.
Fantastic tips on how to budget our time! Thank you
Thank you for this advice. It's so easy to become overwhelmed on Substack, so much to write, so much to read! Burnout is a real possibility. Getting a post out is about connection and staying in the game, but quality is compromised. I've decided on the strategy of alternating one long essay and then one short post. Even then, life can get in the way so quality can suffer. We just have to do our best is all.
It’s one of the things I worry about on here. The constant need to create new content. I feel on other social media platforms, in general, people are overwhelmed with content and need support on getting the things done in their lives. That is focus of my main program for that reason. I never wanted to run a membership in my business so I’ve chosen a cohort model to provide those breaks. I’ve not quite yet decided how it’s going to be for me on Substack but this was a very helpful posts. I love the idea of budgeting time when writing. I’ve done good work under those conditions. Thanks for the post. 🙏🏻
Fantastic ideas. I totally agree about quality over quantity. If I sub to someone because of a great article, but they post 'just because it's time to post' and it's a bunch of stuff they've seen on the Internet that week -- sorry, you're losing me.
Not being a perfectionist is my super-power!
Thank you Karen!
I so enjoy reading your posts which are packed with helpful user friendly information, especially for a 51 year old techno phobic. Your newsletters are always clear and concise and well written. A breath of fresh air.
This post came at the perfect time for me. I am actually struggling with burnout on another writing project, not related to Substack (although of course your information is very relevant for this too). You nailed it on the head:
"it's when the endless cycle of brainstorming, writing, editing, and meeting deadlines starts to drain your creative juices, leaving you feeling exhausted and resentful of the work you usually love."
Just seeing my experience validated here has allowed myself to breathe and understand what is happening.
So bugger my other project for this morning! I am off for a run and a plunge in the lake.
I will approach my writing with a clear head later on. Timer will be set. 😊
Thanks again!
Thank you, Karen! I needed to hear that. Reality will sometimes force me to choose consistency over perfection, and that's just fine.
I'd particularly like to let go of the late-night last-minute editing frenzy which can burn hours for a post that's just a post - not a book being read by millions.
That is actually a really useful idea Thankyou. As I am moving from what was a consulting role to a content creators role I have been wondering how this will look for me in the future.
Good advice, Karen. Thank you!