How I Balance Writing Books, Running a Membership, and Not Losing My Mind
You’ve seen that “road to success” comic, right?
Where we think the path from point A to point B will be a straight line… but instead, it’s a squiggly, tangled mess that leaps from A to J to B again before spiraling into X, then taking a nap at C.
That’s called: The Journey.
And sometimes, during The Journey, it feels like we’re not going anywhere at all—while the clock kicks into hyper-speed and suddenly it’s the year 2068.
My old solution? Work harder.
(PS, Hustling does work… until it doesn’t.)
On the other side of hustle is burnout, and if you’re there—I’m with you in spirit.
If you’re clawing your way out of the grainy darkness, I am here for you like now.
Because I was in a creative wasteland for so long, I’ve slowed waaaay down…
...and yet I still built a membership for writers, created a course, and re-released a full paperback series with all new covers.
And I’m not stressed.
How the heck did I do it?
If you’re wondering how to balance writing and business without lighting your creativity on fire, I get it. There is a better way to be a creative entrepreneur—one where your energy actually matters.
Here’s how I’m keeping my author productivity and peace intact:
✨ I examine my beliefs daily. I ask: “Is this even mine?” or “Where did this story come from?” It’s wild how many of our limits don’t even belong to us.
✨ I reroute my energy when I notice I'm stuck in masculine mode. Sometimes this means stepping away for a walk… or a midday bubble bath (no lie).
✨ I follow my bliss. If something feels fun, I do it—even if it’s not “on the agenda.” The funny thing? Everything on my list still gets done… but it flows better because I feel better.
This is the kind of writing schedule for authors that works long term, and it’s based on ease, not pressure.
If you feel "stuck", just remember, you can choose to tell a new story around it.
Writing and burnout don’t have to go hand-in-hand. Work-life balance for creatives isn’t a myth. It’s simply a decision.
Maybe you're simply ripening, basking on the vine, soaking in the scenery, until the perfect moment arrives.
And when it does? You’ll be ready.
xo,
Jessica 🍋
PPS, If you’re looking for how to avoid burnout as a writer, the key might be in community. I founded the Lemmon Society to be that safe space to land and learn. Check it out here.