Natalie Gould: Overcoming Burnout in the Writing Life

Feeling flat, overwhelmed, or unable to get to the page? Your body may be trying to tell you something.

When most people hear “burnout,” they think of work. But burnout is better understood as a nervous system under more load than it can handle, and that load comes from every part of life, including the writing life.

Natalie Gould spent decades missing or misreading the signals her body was sending, eventually leading to a nervous system disorder that left her severely disabled. In this workshop she shares what she learned in overcoming her disorder, and how you can hear your own signals sooner.

You’ll leave with:

• A new way to define burnout, and a picture of how stress accumulates in the nervous system

• Body-based practices for calming your system and building flexibility, so you can meet stress and recover, not just try to stay calm

• Tools to tell which demands are real and which are perceived, so you can choose with intent

• Tips to design your next season (the upcoming holidays, the next writing year, or any busy stretch) around your actual priorities, including your writing

We’ll do a few body-based (somatic) practices and writing prompts, with time for Q&A.

This workshop is for education and inspiration, not medical or mental health advice. If you have persistent or concerning symptoms, please talk with your doctor to rule out other causes.

Natalie Gould is a coach, retreat leader, and author of the memoir ENOUGH FEATHERS TO FLY. A Covid infection in 2021 triggered a nervous system disorder that left her severely disabled for more than three years. Using mind-body tools, she made a full recovery. She writes the Substack newsletter “Natalie’s Field Notes” and lives on Sparrow & Crow Farm in Sonoma County, where she grows vegetables, talks to birds, and swing dances when she can.

Join us on Thursday, November 12th, 5:30-7:00pm PT, to learn how listening to your nervous system can improve your writing life. You can register here to save your seat.

If you missed last month’s free workshop on Writing Rude, Bold, and Brazen Characters and Narrators with Jordan Rosenfeld, you can watch the recording here.

Enjoy, and happy writing!

Shirin