For the Love of Writing

It’s easy to get lost in the nitty gritty. Designing newsletters, creating eye catching ads, networking with other authors, planning your next book launch . . . The list goes on and on. 
When we get caught up in the minutiae, it's hard to remember the reason we started on the journey in the first place. The love of writing.
 
Whether you are publishing independently or took the traditional track, there’s no getting around it—you need to peddle your wares and learn the business inside out and upside down. From Marketing 101 to the elevator pitch. 

Like most authors, I walked naively into the world of publishing, fully unaware that becoming a commercial writer also means becoming a business person. It may not be what we signed up for, but know this—neglect one of those roles and the other will suffer. Attend to both and you will have a good shot at success.

How can I balance it all and quickly get back to the page?

Custom schedule your time. I’ve found that my best writing time happens late in the day, sometimes into the wee hours. As such, I do my marketing in the morning and early afternoon. Later, I transition to writing creatively.

One of the best ways I’ve found to switch gears is by joining a silent Zoom of authors. 

Five days a week, I log into a virtual meeting where no one speaks! I know it sounds crazy but being in a ‘space’ with several other writers who are also keeping their butts in their chairs, focused solely on the written word, is a huge incentive for me to do the same. It’s called accountability and it works. My word count has increased exponentially during those hours.

So, reach out to writer friends or to other authors on social media and start your own silent meeting. You'll be surprised at how productive you'll be.

How can I keep my love of writing strong and healthy?

​Here are a few tips. . .
 
-Start each week by reminding yourself why you’re writing. Is it for expression, legacy, a calling? Dig deep. Knowing why will help recalibrate yourself.

-Stick a Post-It note to your computer. Mine says, “I write, therefore, I am.” What’s your note going to say?

-Write a short story just for yourself. Something that makes you happy. Not necessarily market-worthy or your best writing. Just write. Trust me, it will spike the joy like it did before you ever knew what a keyword was.

-Talk books. Chat with other book lovers about your favorites and theirs. Join a book club online or in person. The love of writing is intimately intertwined with the love of reading. Discussing plot lines and character arcs will spark your imagination and love of story, just like it did when you first decided to write.
 
At the end of the day, it's all about the love of storytelling.