Recently, Anne R. Allen published a post titled “Can Marathon Writing Sessions Lead to Depression?,” citing studies that suggest long, intense writing sessions might mimic symptoms of depression. If you’re an indie author pushing for a prolific writing habit, this kind of claim can be alarming.
I get it. No one wants to wake up one day, drained and empty, wondering if their writing habit is secretly wrecking their mental health. And let’s be real—some writers are already using this as an excuse to retreat to the traditional publishing pace, where writing 500 words a day is considered “prolific.”
(Barf.)
So let’s clear this up right now: Writing a lot does not guarantee burnout, exhaustion, or depression. In fact, for many of us, the exact opposite is true.
The Difference Between Writing Prolifically and Hitting the Mattresses
The study Allen references focuses on extreme writing conditions—what I call “hitting the mattresses.” This is the kind of writing where you push yourself past your limits in a desperate, survival-mode attempt to finish a project under pressure. Think of it as the creative equivalent of a sleep-deprived college student cramming for finals.
That is not the same thing as being a prolific writer.
Prolific writers don’t just sprint until they collapse. We train for endurance. We build the habit of long, sustainable writing sessions, often daily. We learn to work with our creative energy, not against it. And we don’t just survive these sessions—we thrive in them.
Writing Fast and Long Can Be Energizing
I know this firsthand. There are days when I push aside everything else and write for hours longer than scheduled, and those days? They’re electric. I bubble with enthusiasm. Ideas flood in. My creativity spills over into new story possibilities. I end the day energized, not depleted.
And I’m not alone. There are indie authors out there who put my daily word count to shame, outpacing me by thousands of words, every single day. None of them are sinking into depression. They’re thriving.
Writing Itself Isn’t the Problem
I won’t deny that burnout is real. If you’re overworking, neglecting sleep, skipping meals, and shunning human contact, yeah—you might start feeling pretty terrible. But that’s not a writing problem. That’s a self-care problem.
In fact, studies show that expressive writing can actually reduce symptoms of depression, anxiety, and stress (source). Writing, when done mindfully and with balance, can be one of the healthiest things you do.
Don’t Let This Study Steer You Away from Prolific Writing
If your dream is to write a lot—and to write well—don’t let one study (or one blog post) convince you that it’s a fast track to depression. The kind of punishing, last-minute, panic-driven writing that the study focused on is a different beast entirely from the steady, disciplined writing habits of prolific authors.
One will burn you out. The other will set you free.
So if you want to write fast and often, go for it. Train yourself for it. Build up your stamina. Find your rhythm.
Because when you do? It’s magic.
