April Fool’s on me because I thought I was up tomorrow. Nope, up today. So…today’s blog chain topic was brought to you by the hilarious Cole. She asks “What hobbies, tips, or techniques do you have for keeping your writerly battery charged?”
It is way too easy for me to get caught up in the Look-how-much-awesomer-all-the-other-writers-are show. People getting one deal after another. Manuscripts that get sold after only days on sub. Etc. Etc. Like Cole, when the yukky voices in my head get too loud and make me counterproductive (I mean, how the heck can I keep getting book deals if I have nothing to sell because I’m too busy being neurotic), I take an internet break. Often, that’s not enough, so I do the obvious. I stop feeling sorry for myself and write. Or I keep feeling sorry for myself but write anyway. I focus on finishing what I have to do and making sure it’s something I’m proud of. That’s not too say my brain has stopped playing that aforementioned show, but at least I’m that much closer to adding my own news in there.
Another thing that helps me a lot is my network of writer friends. We vent to each other, bounce ideas back and forth, tell each other it’s all worth it, that this funk shall pass. They keep me going, keep me writing, keep me sane. Without them in my corner, writing would be that much harder. We show each other what is possible, inspire each other to do better, and keep pulling that string that keeps the chins up. And to all the agents and editors out there who wish we’d all just chill, we’d be far worse without these circle of friends. (Is that scary?). BUT, we produce what we do because of them too.
Don’t forget to read about what keeps Michelle going. And tune in tomorrow for Laura’s wisdom.
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