On the last Thursday in February I choked my way through a phone call with the vet who would be coming later that morning to put my dog down. It was time, and he’d shown us clearly he was ready, but it’s still never easy to say goodbye to a beloved furry family member.

My focus was on my dog and my family, but in the middle of all that the edits for my novella showed up in my inbox…edits which would have to get in line since I had two books also in edits, in front of that one. And I was packing for a trip I’d be taking only two days later.

I’d have to consult ancient stars reflected in the bottom of a lost well to know why, but for some reason the publishing industry seems particularly good at piling on projects needing urgent attention, especially after months of quiet. As authors, we have to learn how to swim through all that, and do it while retaining our creative spark and ability to shine on paper. Since I just had a bit of practice with that (at least the swimming), I decided for today’s post I’d share the tools I use–tools I’ve gleaned from ten years of novel-writing and publishing, as well as working with authors as an editor for a publisher. Hopefully something on this list will be of use to you, because I’ve noticed that often the difference between an author coming through with a project feeling pleased, or kind of crashing and burning, is their tools.

1. Give yourself breathing space. When life throws emotional stuff at you–like a health scare, or the death of a loved one–it can feel like your creative well is empty, and if you keep trying to dip in anyway that can lead to writer’s block. I recommend self care as the solution, and breathing space to work through what’s impacting you. Stepping back doesn’t make you less of an author, it means you’re an author who’s in this for the full marathon and going to pace yourself. Remind yourself that whatever challenges you’re going through will deepen your writing…so long as you’ve had the chance to process it!
2. Communicate clearly. Most editors, agents, and so on will understand if you need more time to finish a project or will be taking a few days before you can respond coherently to their edits. The key is to clearly and professionally communicate what’s happening, and when you’ll be getting back to them. Don’t simply disappear, as that leaves them wondering how invested you are and whether the work will ever be done. And also try not to turn them into your therapist. That’s a very different job description and not one they really should be asked to do.
3. Stay grounded. When less-than-favorable reviews come in, or your editor’s notes seem to bleed all over the page, it can be easy for momentary concerns to overwhelm you emotionally. Staying grounded in something outside your writing is key for dealing with this. One thing I do is go for walks outside, in nature, and connect with the world around me as I take pictures. This helps me remember that seasons come and seasons go, and so do bad reviews.
   
4. Take baby steps. Projects can sometimes pile up behind you and truth be told there is always more for an author to do than there are hours in the day. And, there are sometimes editing snarls that you don’t know how to fix. The tactic I use is to focus on those things I can do, and trust I’ll get back to the other stuff. Sometimes that means doing projects out of order, since one is likely to be less stress-inducing. Often I leave a particularly snarly edit with a note to come back, and work forward from there. In every instance, a day or two later a solution comes to me and I’m able to go back and fix it. Best yet, baby steps still count as progress and will get you where you’re going eventually.
5. Embrace joy. As creative professionals, it’s especially important for authors to take care of their inner child or creator. I’ve seen so many author friends fry out because they drove themselves so hard they squeezed all the joy out of life. The fix for that is the same as the prevention–take time to play. Go explore. Be spontaneous. Do whatever it is that you need to keep spring in your step and light in your eyes.
6. Be kind to yourself. Your journey is your own, and it’s wildly unfair to yourself to compare your lows to someone else’s highs, or your middle to someone else’s end. Celebrate every time you see a success or finish a project, and don’t hound yourself if you’re forced to prioritize and some things have to be back-burnered. You are walking this path–you, not those you might be tempted to compare yourself too–and it is your responsibility to yourself to be a good traveling companion.
7. Reach out. It’s amazing what it can mean to have someone offer you a hand up when you’re face-planted on the road, and it’s astonishing how many people are ready to offer that hand. Be considerate of other’s time, but don’t be afraid to reach out. Share your struggles with others in the subbing trenches, and form critique groups when you’re looking for feedback. My former CPs and I are all agented now and pretty much use our agents, editors, and occasional beta readers for feedback instead of trading around manuscripts. However, we still reach out to each other for quick help with a synopsis we’re stuck on, or to share moments in our journey. I’ve retained the CPs of my past as some of my closest writing buddies, and I highly recommend building a tribe of your own that will stay with you throughout your journey.

I’m happy to report that I’ve (temporarily!) cleared my editing queue and this week will start researching a new project…unless someone with an outstanding project gets back to me quicker than planned. 🙂 All in all I will have turned in revisions or edits on three projects in about the same number of weeks–and two of those were 80k! I managed it by using every single one of the tools above, and was sooo much happier because of them. As a bonus, because of the whole ’embrace joy’ thing, I got to drive my bumper boat all around a lake and even under a fountain. 😀

What are the tools you use to help yourself grow and thrive as an author? Do you have any that are like mine, but with your own twist? Please share in the comments–I’m always looking for new ways to make this work!

Within the next week (or two, or three at most…) I’ll have a new middle grade spotlight for you all that feels perfect for spring, as we plan for summer. Until then, stop by Greg Pattridge’s blog for the full Marvelous Middle Grade Monday roundup of spotlights, interviews, giveaways, and reviews. And happy reading!

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