December Downtime
Greetings, dear readers and writers.
As I look back on 2021, I think about all the writing goals I set, whether it be weekly or monthly. I think about the dreams I had, the ideas I planned to execute, the stories I wanted to tell. 2021 was a strange writing year for me because, in terms of publishing, I didn't release much. Well, not as much as I'm used to producing. Releasing only one Court of Mystery book, Innocence Imprisoned, felt odd. There was a time when I was putting out three Jax adventures a year. But granted, there is a lot more going on in my writing world now -- more so than I ever thought possible.
Beyond the release of Innocence Imprisoned, I launched an entirely new series, the Glenmyre Whim Mysteries. Book One, You Can't Candle the Truth, arrived in November, and I spent a great deal of 2021 working on its release. Even though most of the book was written in 2020, I rekindled the project and ran hard with it, falling more in love with the characters every step of the way. It's funny that my latest cozy mystery project is really the first readers get to see.
This brings me to the Trending Topic Mysteries, the first cozy I ever wrote. For those who have been with me for quite some time, you know Coco's had her struggles. First, it was finding an agent who believed that the cozy mystery world was ready for a true "millennial" protagonist. Then it was finding a publisher who believed in her, too. Fast forward five years later, and Coco Cline is getting ready to reinvent herself with the launch of #FollowMe for Murder from Level Best Books in February 2022.
Coco is not the only cozy mystery heroine waiting in the wings. Arwen Lark from the Book Blogger Mysteries is also ready for her big moment. Over My Dead Blog is due from TouchPoint Press in late 2022, so as you can see, there's been a lot going on behind the scenes over the course of 2021.
All these amazing projects are why I intended for December to be a month off from writing and intense book promotion. I needed a creative break to rest and recharge, all while gearing myself up for a HUGE 2022. I have a LOT of book stuff happening next year. If all goes according to publishing schedules, I'll be releasing FOUR different books. Just typing that makes my shoulders cramp up with tension, but I welcome the challenge.
How did I do with my "December Downtime?" Overall, fairly well. I didn't do much writing so my creative brain definitely got a respite. However, it wasn't because I was being super good about taking time away from the writing world. Other than getting lost in a binge-watching session of Selling Sunset and Selling Tampa, I did a lot of thinking/planning/work on my author world throughout the entire month. BUT, I did manage to carve out some “me time” with the helpful tips listed below.
I'm not going to complain about my lack of downtime because working on my books means progress. Progress is EVERYTHING when you're an indie author; if you're not creating or doing something, you're basically not advancing in your career. Everything is on YOU and you alone. You don't have a team of people to fall back on when goals aren't met. The work you put into indie publishing is all the effort being made. That's a scary thing and something that constantly haunts the back of my mind. I am solely responsible for everything in my career, so if I take "downtime" it can feel like I'm wasting opportunities for further success and advancement.
But let me tell you this friends, downtime, even short amounts of it is critical. You can't continue to produce at a hundred miles a minute without taking time for your mental health and to just chill. It might be incredibly hard and almost feel like work in its own way, but here are some helpful tips for stepping away from your work and just focusing on you and your writer wellbeing:
Shut down your computer/put away your writing journals. The old adage 'out of sight, out of mind' can be so helpful in clearing your headspace of thoughts of writing work.
Make a list of goals you want to achieve outside of your work. For me, I wanted to decorate and do a winter cleaning of our home before the holidays. I wanted to reorganize shelves. I wanted to take the dog for more walks. I wanted to read more books. I wanted to get into podcasts (hello, Crime Junkies!). Just because you aren't 'working' doesn't mean you can't set goals. Goals are great motivators for any aspect of life!
Have daily activities planned. The reason I always choose December as my month of rest is due to the holiday festivities that fill up the calendar. It makes it easier to focus on them rather than an itch to go back to work.
Set aside some time each day to "check-in." I'm not saying you should completely forget about your writing/books. I have time every morning where I sit down, check on things like sales, number of reviews, mentions, social media, write blog posts, etc. just to have that moment of reassurance that everything is "okay" and that I can continue about my day.
Schedule social media activity ahead of time. As lovely as it is to be connected, coming up with daily content is tough for creatives who are already using their brainpower elsewhere. So, make sure to 'take a break' when you can from social media during these moments of downtime. A great way to do so is by scheduling posts ahead of time. I scheduled my posts out for a whole week and allowed myself to step back and enjoy the real world around me, using my daily check-ins to comment and respond to requests from the previous day.
Give in if you feel the need. If you want to write, write. If you want to do something, do it. Saying 'no' and holding out will only cause more stress and anxiety in the long run. Do what you have to do!
For creatives, taking time away from your craft can be both a blessing and a curse. I often feel an overwhelming sense of guilt for not having my nose to the keyboard during these times. But downtime is a necessity in this field. You will burn out if you do not take time away from your craft. It's not a matter of if, but when it will happen. Your brain is your superpower and if you do not let it rest and recharge, you risk damaging it beyond repair.
I'd love to hear from you about how you manage your downtime! The writing community is always so giving and helpful; it is a great space to learn from one another.
Wishing you all a very happy 2022 -- I look forward to sharing all that the year has in store!
Arms around,
S.B.