Every January I go through a sort of reassessment program. I look at the previous year and think about deadline schedules, books written, books released, projects submitted and goals met. The next step is looking forward. It’s about what comes next – what do I want to write, submit, accomplish and let go of. I say January but this is really a constant process about every aspect of my writing career from the people who work with me to the words I put on the page.
This year I’m doing something different.
There are a few things I’ve figured out after five years of being published. I know I have to work hard to make this career happen and that I can work really hard it still might not unfold the way I want it to. It’s the “everything is in my control and nothing is” phenomenon. But that’s the writing and publishing part. This year I’ve decided to tackle the other part. Those things I can control. Those things that drive me crazy and derail me. Those things that suck all of my energy, mess up my focus and throw me off stride. It sounds simple, but these things are tough because they stem from my writing insecurities and frustrations.
So, rather than just saying the words in my head, I’m going to commit to overcoming these issues. They go like this:
1 I will try not to get sucked into online brouhahas about stuff that doesn’t matter. Yes, there are issues I care about or should know about or need to pay attention to, but many of the internet fights are little more than white noise and I lose valuable writing time when I do anything more than look briefly and move on.
2 I will (finally) stop measuring my success and my career by looking at authors around me. I know this is self-destructive and, frankly, unproductive. Still, I do it. There is nothing that derails me faster and I must kick this self-defeating habit
3 I will finally write that project that’s been in my head forever but gets shoved aside for deadlines and other commitments. It’s there. It’s calling. It’s in a tough-to-sell genre…and it’s time to make time to write it down.
4 There are people I need to release. These are the folks who seem nice enough or act like they care but who really undermine my confidence. Life is tough enough without them.
The bottom line is that I’m going to try – and it’s going to take some effort – to let go of the unnecessary stuff around me and focus on what I need for my writing career, ignoring the “this can never sell” whispers in my head and concentrating on what I want to do.
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Sounds like a good, sensible plan. Good luck!
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These sound like a lot of my “make life happier” goals. Especially “don’t compare myself to others” — always a big one.
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Great points, and all things I need to add to my own list. That number 2 is a killer. So is number 4. Good Luck, Helenkay, and welcome to Genreality. We’re thrilled to have you.
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HelenKay, good for you! I’m glad you’re taking control of aspects of your life that you do have say over. Getting rid of toxic people is a huge step and I applaud you. It’s hard. But it’s important. Surround yourself with people who you admire, who admire you, who make you strive to be a better person, and most importantly, don’t drive you insane. LOL
The internet is both an angel and a demon, in my opinion. It’s easy to get information about any topic, which means we writers can torture ourselves with blog posts of other writers doing far better than we are. I suppose that’s not true for Rowling or Meyers or Brown. But for the rest of us, I think sometimes it’s good to stay in a bubble.
My. $.02.
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You are bang on!! Stay the course, I’m right there with you!
Nanc