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

Send us Fan Mail How 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 Highlights 01:57 When It All Falls Apart: The “Empire Strikes Back” Season 03:54 Kristen’s Season of Care and Surrender 05:56 When the Story Goes Quiet: Lynn’s Memoir Pause 07:47 Lisa’s Dark Night of the Soul 12:36 Holding Onto Faith When It Feels Slippery 13:30 The Power of DadderDays 25:24 How Laying an Egg Can Return You To Your Body 27:31 Trusting the Cycles We’re In 31:36 Journal Prompts + Voices from the Community Resources for this Episode: Functional Anatomy of the Female Perineum Can You Trust Your Memories? What Neuroscience Reveals About Trauma, Story & Healing |Stacey Simmons Ditch Your Inner Critic Now Kristin’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_writer Threads: @ktsancken_writer Connect with Lynn: Website: www.lossofalifetime.com Website: www.lynnlshattuck.com Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=100064888772287 Instagram: @lynn_shattuck Building 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 | LinkedIn Produced by Espresso Podcast Production