You ever get down? I mean really down. Like the lowest of the low. Like so low you don’t think you can rise up again. Like your heart aches and something massive is just sitting on it and won’t let up. This ever happen to you?
I asked Authors what they do when they get this way. When they feel like their purpose for writing has dimmed somewhere beyond in the shadows, unreachable. When they look at their sales diminishing and wonder why this is happening when they’ve done nothing but promote? When the thought runs across their mind that they might be a failure but didn’t know it- didn’t recognize the tell tales signs.
Authors go through mood swings more rapidly than medicine can cure. It’s a wonder we still retain some of our sanity. From writing a book to editing/critiquing/ feeling utter hopelessness when comparing our measly sentences with any other authors’ work. We are the most critical on ourselves but it’s for a purpose for if we didn’t shred, obliterate and even trash our own work, re-writing words that end up into lengthy paragraphs, often re-working and molding our characters for our readers’ tastes, then we’d be left with a rough shell of a novel no one would enjoy.
It’s the moments when we wonder why we go on and we compare ourselves to those who actually earn a living at writing that we have to be careful about. If we get to a point where we want to wallow in our misery and sob our eyeballs out that we are not JK Rowling, that’s an indication to step away from the computer and do something else. It could be writing a blog like this to get all your feelings out, taking a very long walk, indulging in a hobby, eating chocolate as one novelist recommended, or doing anything else to give ourselves a break because- truthfully- when do we do that? When are we kind to ourselves, instead?
If you’re a writer, then you know with every year and every new book you write, you gain experience. Think back at your first manuscript, at your first endeavor into social media, at your first blog you wrote and realize all the knowledge you gained along the once treacherous, undefined path. You have done a great job, my friend! Pat yourself on the back and stop kicking yourself. If after all you’ve encountered, learned and experienced, you are still writing, then there is a reason for it and the world is waiting for you to grace it with your next novel.
However, please, take the time to love yourself and think positive when times are rough and when you think you don’t have enough sales and support. They will come. I hope that I have helped you in some small way along your journey. I know that I, too, need reassurances along the way to continue and even though not every Author may support you, I do!
When you get down, take the time that you need to sit back, relax and re-energize. Reassurance can come in different forms and it can be as simple as a few words of encouragement. Mine came tonight from a friend who reassured me that I am loved beyond infinity, forever and ever. What a sweet message. I am smiling as I write this. This was all that I needed to write this article to encourage you, my fellow authors to continue doing what you do best- spreading joy, light and love through your words, whether they be in a blog, article, or a book- you are valued- never forget that.
Until we meet again. Take care, my friends.
TK Lawyer 