How Writers Keep Going When They’re Exhausted, Overwhelmed, and Doubting Themselves

Send us Fan MailHow do you keep the faith when your nervous system is fried, your heart is tired, and the world feels like too much? In this editors’ roundtable episode, I’m  joined by Kristin Sancken and Lynn Shattuck for an honest conversation about what actually helps when times are tough. Together, they share personal stories of losing faith in creative projects, the hidden cost of valuing product over process, and the gentle, sustainable strategies they use to care for themselves during hard seasons. This episode explores how to honor the season you’re in, lean into community, and choose care in a culture that tells us to go it alone.Episode Highlights01:57 When It All Falls Apart: The “Empire Strikes Back” Season03:54 Kristen’s Season of Care and Surrender05:56 When the Story Goes Quiet: Lynn’s Memoir Pause07:47 Lisa’s Dark Night of the Soul12:36 Holding Onto Faith When It Feels Slippery13:30 The Power of DadderDays25:24 How Laying an Egg Can Return You To Your Body27:31 Trusting the Cycles We’re In31:36 Journal Prompts + Voices from the CommunityResources for this Episode:Functional Anatomy of the Female PerineumCan You Trust Your Memories? What Neuroscience Reveals About Trauma, Story & Healing |Stacey SimmonsDitch Your Inner Critic NowKristin’s Bio: Kristin Thomas Sancken was born in Panama, raised in Mexico, and came of age in Minnesota before settling in Charlottesville, Virginia, where she lives with her husband, two children, and an exuberant Golden Retriever. Her writing has earned numerous awards and appeared in publications including The Guardian, HuffPost, and Columbia Journal. You can find more of her writing at her Substack, Sanctuary of the Holy Others.Lynn’s Bio: Lynn Shattuck writes on topics like grief, parenting and mental health. She was a columnist at Elephant Journal for ten years, where several of her essays on the topic of grief and sibling loss and parenting went viral. Lynn co-founded the website lossofalifetime.com, a hub of resources and community for those who’ve experienced sibling loss. She co-edited the essay collection, The Loss of a Lifetime: Grieving Siblings Share Stories of Love, Loss, and Hope, which was released in June of 2025.Connect with Kristin:Website: http://www.sancken.com/Instagram: @ktsancken_writerThreads: @ktsancken_writerConnect with Lynn: Website: www.lossofalifetime.comWebsite: www.lynnlshattuck.com Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=100064888772287Instagram: @lynn_shattuckBuilding Better Memoir Scenes: https://janefriedman.com/building-better-memoir-scenes-with-lisa-cooper-ellison/Connect with your host, Lisa:Get Your Free Copy of Ditch Your Inner Critic: https://lisacooperellison.com/subscribe/Website | Instagram | YouTube | Facebook | LinkedInProduced by Espresso Podcast Production