12 Comments
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Sean Hood's avatar

If you are ever in a place to write about it, I’d be curious to read more of your experience of burnout and then return to creativity. I myself had I period of burnout and withdrawal from my screenwriting career around the time of Covid, but I’ve returned to creativity, writing and screenwriting in different forms.

John Watson - Horror Author's avatar

I think I may have done it here already. If I find it, I will restack it and tag you. It was mental health issues that took me down over about a 2-3 year period. I got to a point where I was experiencing regular anxiety attacks and ended up in the ER. Getting back on meds essentially brought me back to creative life. Once I started writing again, I opened a Substack account and started posting. That was in October of last year.

Sean Hood's avatar

Congratulations on coming back and getting out out of that spiral. I’ve had success with finding the right meds to get me back on track so I can relate.

John Watson - Horror Author's avatar

Happy to hear that!!

Cory's avatar

Glad to meet and know more about you, John! ❤️

John Watson - Horror Author's avatar

If there is ever anything else you want to know, please just ask.

Cory's avatar

Thank you for being open! Perhaps I shall have questions in the future.

Sarah C. Brody's avatar

Loved reading this. I grew up in the Atlanta area and lived their until I was in my 30s. My dad's still there. I miss the city, just not the traffic.

John Watson - Horror Author's avatar

The traffic is brutal. We are about 30 miles north of ATL and it’s just as bad out here.

Sarah C. Brody's avatar

So brutal. My dad is in Marietta and my mom used to live in Alpharetta. Sometimes I feel like I spent half my life on 285 and 400.

KelleyTauffel Fiction Shroom's avatar

Making me want to get more organized, sir.

John Watson - Horror Author's avatar

I asked ChatGPT to audit my Stack given that growth has stalled. It said that it feels more like a magazine than a newsletter, which I am okay with. It also said my product was better than my visibility and suggested doing this into type post. I have a 30-day plan of action to follow, after which it will reassess.