Editor and author Elizabeth Agyemang reflects on the challenge of coping with burnout and keeping the creative fire burning in difficult times.
“Burnout often feels intangible because the idea of keeping the creative fire burning is at the core of how publishing functions. But burnout occurs when one has fulfilled the obligations of one’s creative and work endeavors, yet still must carry the often unacknowledged weight of the emotional labor tied to it.
For authors, burnout can result from shifting goal posts or time spent on elaborate social media blasts, leaving us feeling invisible or like our story isn’t wanted. It’s watching the revolving door of editors, designers, publicists, copy editors, and others leave the industry, and grieving the loss (whether potential or personal) of the creative talents who helped bring our stories into the hands of readers.“
