AnimalForce1: Burnout and Creative Slumps

AnimalForce1 02.24.25	IDEK if this rambling was coherent or rational, but venting rarely is
NexCeleris 02.24.25	hey cool taste man keep on rockin
AnimalForce1 02.24.25	Back at ya!
onionbubs 02.24.25	yea ima be honest part of why ive never really tried to do this whole game for real is the realistic expectation that when push comes to shove itd never really be a priority over the real shit i have going on in my head and day to day. really sympathize with those who have to maintain a timely schedule since its ridiculously hard to be able to force something to say also like you never know what tf is gonna happen in life anyway, i had an lp about 80% finished throughout last year and an unfortunate split between my collaborator has more or less put all of that work on the shelf forever so im now just kinda done telling the majority of people what my professional goals are until the day they actually happen lmao
AnimalForce1 02.24.25	Right the fuck after I posted this list, I got told I had been selected for an interview when I had been making a living off substitute teaching and DoorDashing, so there's some good luck in the universe. But yeah, I always want to commit, especially since I love finding new music despite my burnout, but it always ends up falling short somehow. I really do admire those who can pump revs out so consistently, I hope I'll be in a place to do that soon
DaveyMonsoon 02.24.25	If it's any consolation, you're not alone, I've definitely been feeling some of this recently over the last few years or so. I just recently started school again, and trying to adjust to college life along with working a dead-end retail job with terrible management I feel like has been sapping a lot of my energy, mentally, physically, emotionally. I've been trying to write a review for one of my 5s that's been in writer's block hell for a good number of years now, and the aforementioned stuff plus feeling like I wouldn't be able to do the album justice has really slowed writing to a near-halt. I just couldn't get myself to write and I finally managed after a year or two for a terrible obscure power metal album of all things. I hope I've been able to offer at least a bit of solace and hope that things can improve for the both of us. Just gotta keep at it, I guess.
AnimalForce1 02.24.25	I've been trying to force a review out for a power metal album myself, funnily enough. Apex by Unleash the Archers, specifically. I'm kinda in the same spot between constant early hours for substitute teaching and just a lot of real life duties taking precedent. Hope things get better for you, Davey. As someone who only just graduated college, it really does sap so much of your energy
Christbait 02.24.25	I hope you have a chance to rediscover your passion. I've been writing off and on since college (more off than on I should admit) and that drive to want to sit down and write is hard to do. There are times where I'm fueled with ideas and a fervor to write, but those episodes are fewer because I lack confidence in what I'm writing. And it's not even for an audience; it's just for me. And I'm my worst critic.
AnimalForce1 02.24.25	"And I'm my worst critic." God I feel this. The amount of times I've tried to get something down and just thought it's clunky or boring or bad in general is almost agonizing at points
artificialbox 02.24.25	Well your last Poppy review was fantastic so you clearly have the talent AF. I understand the lack of motivation though. I’ve felt that way about various things in my life and I usually just take it as a sign that life is pulling me in a new direction. What do they say?? If you love something let it go? And if it comes back… blah blah? idk. I definitely hope you can break through the slump though because I love seeing your reviews pop up.
AnimalForce1 02.24.25	I'm gonna be trying to relisten to album 5 on this list, see if I can get a review out for it. I've been on my weeb shit again, so it might give me the motivation to write
artificialbox 02.24.25	btw if it helps and you ever want someone to proofread or bounce ideas off of, feel free to hit me up on discord
AnimalForce1 02.24.25	Appreciate that man!
foxblood 02.24.25	how does listening to new music feel like a chore?
AnimalForce1 02.24.25	It's tough to describe, my brain currently doesn't exactly want to pay attention to stuff I haven't heard before. It more wants to just exist and absorb music I already have listened to and know I like, if that makes sense
AnimalForce1 02.24.25	So I feel like I need to dedicate mental energy to listening to new music that I don't have. Which sounds dumb and probably is dumb, but that's the best way I can describe it
Christbait 02.24.25	My advice would be to find a new album that genuinely interests you. Good music helps promote creative thinking. If you're listening to an album because you feel pressed to have to write on it then it'll continue to feel like work. Find an album that's unlikely to get a staff review in the near future and, if you find you're enjoying it, start dictating your thoughts. Maybe that turns into a review or maybe it becomes a good exercise in writing.
AnimalForce1 02.24.25	That's kinda what I might be going for with Zero-Go. It's classic Vocaloid quirk, and I feel like the only staff member who might even come remotely close to reviewing it would be Johnny, and even he's expressed that Vocaloid is a huge no for him barring stuff like Kikuo
pizzamachine 02.24.25	If you're having writing problems I feel bad for you son I got ninety-nine problems but writing ain't one
Hawks 02.24.25	Quick idea for you bro, maybe try to write somethinf about am album from a genre you're no SUPER familiar with. Maybe bm or dm or something of the like? Would probably get your brain out of thay slump. Or maybe write something about an album that is already one of your favs and easier for you to write about. Just a thought. :]
tyman128 02.24.25	For me, when I hit a slump, I either write a review about an album I already love (throwback style) or find an album that even somewhat catches my attention in the slightest and write an "extended soundoff" review. Even if it feels like a chore, often times just writing words on the page and putting a review out there breaks that weird constraint in your mind when it comes to writing (at least it has for me)
AnimalForce1 02.24.25	Thanks for the tips gang. Gonna try to take this into account over the next few days and try to get some more writing done
AnimalForce1 02.25.25	Update: did in fact manage to churn out a review, for album #5 on this list. Vocaloid reviews don't tend to get much traction here since it's outside of the usual material Sput gravitates towards, but it felt decent to write! Gonna try to write another throwback review today, probably for Rush since I could talk about them for ages
fogza 02.26.25	I really relate to this list, had thought about applying for staff last year when the next round comes up after getting over imposter syndrome. But then the well ran dry. Obviously I'm aware this has something to do with my personal circumstances but I thought I'd snap out of it, 6 months later and all and I am struggling to get back into listening to new stuff. I'm excited for a release this week, I hope it doesn't disappoint.
Futures 02.26.25	i've found listening to short albums is a great way to get back into music and reviewing. totally relate to a lot of what you've said here. i absolutely burn myself out on new stuff since it does take up much of my focus to digest it. i've had long stretches of burn out before and just getting back in the groove with short albums or eps is great. no anxiety over long albums just something short you can definitely focus on. then you string those together and eventually you'll be back jammin full albums again. same goes for reviewing, have a structure just two short paragraphs since the albums are shorter. those artificial constraints i've found beneificial as well since it can just drill down your focus on specific points. hope this was of use to someone haha. i think it's a common feeling.
JohnnyoftheWell 02.26.25	"My advice would be to find a new album that genuinely interests you. Good music helps promote creative thinking. If you're listening to an album because you feel pressed to have to write on it then it'll continue to feel like work." this 100% + removing yourself from the pressure/pace of new music discovery is very helpful too. if you feel you'd be better off spending time with old favs than keeping up with newly released shit, then do exactly that. if you feel that whatever gratification you get from new releases just ain't worth it, then go off-piste and explore a discovery rabbithole for yourself that doesn't revolve around sput (or any) discourse, or listen to stuff from the past you've never had the occasion to check before. music never needs to feel like a grind, and there's never any reason to approach it in a way that doesn't serve your needs and needless to say, it's a whole lot easier getting inspired to write when your consumption habits are in relative sync with what you actually want from music. focus on yourself rn and let that one figure itself out later (shock horror, it inevitably will). you're exploring your relationship with a vast, insanely diverse medium - no need to reduce that to how little three or four flavour of the week records everyone has already forgotten about did for you
AnimalForce1 02.27.25	Firstly, a very massive thank you to everyone who left advice or words of encouragement. Reading it made my day, and I mean that genuinely. I'm focusing right now on just listening to and reviewing what I want, and not caring as much about if it's current or in vogue or if it has reviews already. Hope you wonderful people have wonderful days!