The interesting thing about a writing rut is that sometimes, it is a myth. You may feel like you didn't have anything concrete or interesting to say, but this was still insightful. Lean into that. Sometimes the best posts come from sharing how you feel just like you did. I also love what you said about breaking tasks up and giving yourself rewards like reading for pleasure. Personally, I read a lot of blogs during weekdays and on the weekends, I have been reading novels for most of the summer. It feels good to read for pleasure. So, thanks for forging ahead and sharing anyway. PS: I love Fixer-Upper!
Hi Kathleen! Question about the classes (and apologies if this answer is obvious and I just missed it): Are these live only or will there be a recording? (I'm interested in the book publicity one but won't be able to make that time ...)
Thank you for publishing this one! I write but I also...publish books and I'd like to coat-tail on Kathleen's post with a recentish experience.
I run an independent publisher but I also write. Which means I know what deadlines mean and how 'slippage' sets off a chain of changed pub dates and blows up the marketing plans. Yet, my finally-published-in-September 2023 book was nearly two years late. WHY?
The WHY nearly broke me. I couldn't figure out why I was paralyzed when faced with my own generative work. I started working to unravel it. A trusted editor friend who read a first draft gave me cheeky feedback. We're friends, my heart knew it was funny but my brain short-circuited and landed on a rumination cycle of not-being good enough, not having the academic bone fides, not, not, not...you get the idea. Totally paralyzed.
I was doing all my other work and lots of it, but I wasn't making progress on the book. I felt sick and lost and like a failure. It was the pandemic days, I theoretically had nothing but time at home to work. There should have been zero reason for the rut. I implemented strategies like going away from family and distractions to a remote cabin for a summer to focus and write. (Got a little more done.) But ultimately I was stalled and feeling like my mental health was tanking.
My brilliant kid sat me down after a year of this and said, 'Hey ma, I was working with my therapist and we've done the assessments; I'm officially AuADHD. You know it runs in families and our family is pretty weird. You may want to explore that as a reason why you're feeling so horrible.' The kid was absolutely spot on correct.
Consulted with my doc and specialists and at age 52 was diagnosed AuADHD. Knowing this unlocked an entirely new path forward and allowed me to reframe my entire past. Without boring you with details, I was stuck in a pattern I had experienced my entire life. (Did you know that Rejection Sensitivity Dysphoria and Pathological Advoidance are ADHD traits/symptoms often experienced by women? A real eye-opener!) I had learned healthy and unhealthy coping skills that I immediately re-assesed. I got medication support. And after a few months, I was back on track and feeling more like my better self. It wasn't a single thing, but doing all the little things and giving myself the space to be a human with a spicy brain. I broke out of the paralyis rut and finished the book.
The experience made me a better editor and co-worker. I understand myself more and have stopped getting wrapped around the axle when I feel the stress of not fitting in with the normies. When you're in a rut for longer than you're personally comfortable, it is valuable to do a bit of gentle self-interrogation to discover causal factors then give yourself the grace and space to resolve those issues in a manner that works for you.
Oh, if you like and trust your agent or editor...consider letting them know about your issues. They may have tools and strategies to assist as well.
The interesting thing about a writing rut is that sometimes, it is a myth. You may feel like you didn't have anything concrete or interesting to say, but this was still insightful. Lean into that. Sometimes the best posts come from sharing how you feel just like you did. I also love what you said about breaking tasks up and giving yourself rewards like reading for pleasure. Personally, I read a lot of blogs during weekdays and on the weekends, I have been reading novels for most of the summer. It feels good to read for pleasure. So, thanks for forging ahead and sharing anyway. PS: I love Fixer-Upper!
I got obsessed with Fixer-Upper when I was doing some remodeling. Chip and Joanna are the best.
I’m seriously addicted to the show. It’s amazing what they do to houses.
It really is. They’re incredible.
I read Liars recently too! A lot of food for thought in there, as a writer and a publisher.
Hello! Will the class be live and will we be able to ask questions or will it be pre-recorded?
Thank you so much!
Meaning live & you can ask q’s. Mine are never pre-recorded.
Thanks so much, looking forward to it!
Yes and yes.
Hi Kathleen! Question about the classes (and apologies if this answer is obvious and I just missed it): Are these live only or will there be a recording? (I'm interested in the book publicity one but won't be able to make that time ...)
There will be a recording of both!
Awesome, thanks!
Thank you for publishing this one! I write but I also...publish books and I'd like to coat-tail on Kathleen's post with a recentish experience.
I run an independent publisher but I also write. Which means I know what deadlines mean and how 'slippage' sets off a chain of changed pub dates and blows up the marketing plans. Yet, my finally-published-in-September 2023 book was nearly two years late. WHY?
The WHY nearly broke me. I couldn't figure out why I was paralyzed when faced with my own generative work. I started working to unravel it. A trusted editor friend who read a first draft gave me cheeky feedback. We're friends, my heart knew it was funny but my brain short-circuited and landed on a rumination cycle of not-being good enough, not having the academic bone fides, not, not, not...you get the idea. Totally paralyzed.
I was doing all my other work and lots of it, but I wasn't making progress on the book. I felt sick and lost and like a failure. It was the pandemic days, I theoretically had nothing but time at home to work. There should have been zero reason for the rut. I implemented strategies like going away from family and distractions to a remote cabin for a summer to focus and write. (Got a little more done.) But ultimately I was stalled and feeling like my mental health was tanking.
My brilliant kid sat me down after a year of this and said, 'Hey ma, I was working with my therapist and we've done the assessments; I'm officially AuADHD. You know it runs in families and our family is pretty weird. You may want to explore that as a reason why you're feeling so horrible.' The kid was absolutely spot on correct.
Consulted with my doc and specialists and at age 52 was diagnosed AuADHD. Knowing this unlocked an entirely new path forward and allowed me to reframe my entire past. Without boring you with details, I was stuck in a pattern I had experienced my entire life. (Did you know that Rejection Sensitivity Dysphoria and Pathological Advoidance are ADHD traits/symptoms often experienced by women? A real eye-opener!) I had learned healthy and unhealthy coping skills that I immediately re-assesed. I got medication support. And after a few months, I was back on track and feeling more like my better self. It wasn't a single thing, but doing all the little things and giving myself the space to be a human with a spicy brain. I broke out of the paralyis rut and finished the book.
The experience made me a better editor and co-worker. I understand myself more and have stopped getting wrapped around the axle when I feel the stress of not fitting in with the normies. When you're in a rut for longer than you're personally comfortable, it is valuable to do a bit of gentle self-interrogation to discover causal factors then give yourself the grace and space to resolve those issues in a manner that works for you.
Oh, if you like and trust your agent or editor...consider letting them know about your issues. They may have tools and strategies to assist as well.