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Featured Rant / Reflection:
Novelists, Just Keep Going & Take Breaks
Tonight I'm watching the Oakland Raiders play the Kanas City Chieftains. The Raiders have lost all of their games this season: except for tonight's (score: 24-20). Thank goodness!
But should the Raiders give up playing football just because they haven't won a game or won very few?
No.
Neither should we when we're feeling like nothing is going right with our writing, our marketing, or anything else related to being an author.
I love watching sports because of how these athletes just keep going, despite the downs, especially the downs. To every game, they bring it -- their heart, their drive, and all their training and experience.
We novelists are the marathon runners of writers. Butt in seat day after day, year after year. And not just for the writing and editing part. But also for the marketing and publishing.
My way of staying sane and staying the course is to remind myself to take it one day at a time, one writing session at a time, one marketing campaign at a time.
I use the same approach when I work out at capoeira and strength training.
All we can control or do anything about is this moment, so let's put our attention here.
That brings me to the second part -- about taking a break.
Sometimes I'm not feeling the creative flow. I feel a tension in my gut or between my temples. It's hard to focus. My body is protesting in all kinds of ways.
So I say, "Okay," breathe, and step away from the writing, or any activity I was telling myself I was "supposed" to do.
My goal is to listen to myself in all things.
Because if I can't trust my creative writing self, who can I trust?
And if I trust myself in this domain, then I can trust myself in every domain of life.
Let me know what this reflection/rant triggers for you. Hit "Reply" to this email and let me know your thoughts.
