How Planning Works For Me

HOW PLANNING WORKS FOR ME

Most people who've followed me for a time know that I am exceptionally organised and I'm big on planning. It made me chuckle the other day when a friend thought that because of that love of planning, I must be a big planner when it comes to drafting, and I was like, oh, no, I plan absolutely everything but not that, never there. My plan there is more vibes and brain squirrels!

But that aside, I am, and have been a planner of my author life for a while. A big win for me was finding planners that actually worked for me. I didn't want much, but I did want them undated, and also ones with a monthly spread and also a weekly one. For the past five or so years, that was how I planned. Sadly, after the sepsis and the loss of the majority of use of my right hand and arm (my dominant side) I can't use my paper planner. Eerily, it has the plan for what would have been November pencilled in. But I did find an app that works for me, so I can still, somewhat, do the thing.

Planning has been a massive thing for me, mostly since I got a bit more serious with the author life after I graduated with my degree. To begin with it was the sticky notes app on computer, from there it went to the paper planner, and now here we are. I will also add that as a teen, I did similar kinds of things when revising for my exams, so I think it's safe to say that's just how my brain works best!

I still, even coming back to work after eight months of recovery, find that planning is better for me. It allows me to know what I'm gonna be doing on any day of the week, and it also allows me to just keep that anxiety calm. I always feel like if I don't get started doing things by a certain time that I am not going to have time for the thing I need to do. Sometimes it would get to the point where I just didn't do the thing, but now I've been tracking my time for a while, I also have some clue about how long things will take so that happens less now.

It's more than just wanting to be organised, it's also a way for me to keep track of what happened when. I have several chronic illnesses that get worse if I push through on days when I should rest. Or when I pile too much work on a specific day. For the majority of the time before sepsis I would do one thing a day, occasionally two. After, I'm back to one only because my body is not a happy camper if I sit up too long. I don't know when or if I will go back to the occasional two, but it'll be something to keep a close eye on through planner and an app I use to track pain levels and such.

The bottom line is that planning does, very much so, work for me. It also helps me on so many levels. I know that for some people it's not an option, and that's okay not everyone's brains work the same and we gotta do what works for us. Planning has been a saviour for me, and I'm glad that I still have that even if only in an app rather than in different colour pens!  

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Leaning Into Your Strengths - The Creative Process

LEANING INTO YOUR STRENGTHS

One of the things that have always helped me stay grounded when it comes to emergencies in the publishing stages or the like, is that I know what works for me. I know how my brain works in a crisis: I panic, I freak, and then I try and work out a solution along with bullet point list that will show me just what has to be done, and when it has to be done by. This can be something that pulls me out of the fire and allows me to, somewhat calmly, work towards fixing the issue and keeping the remainder of my ducks in a row.

At the end of the day, we can't always see these issues coming. They can blind-side us. They can pop up and freak us out, and make us think we're cursed. I feel like during the panic and freak stage of fixing the crisis, I will always try and cut through the panic rushing around my head, and be like, hey we got this, we've been here before, and it will be okay. I can't claim that it always works or gets through, but it has at times, which has to be a win. 

Whether you're in the drafting stage and found out that whole first half of your book has this massive glaring plot hole that you only just spotted, or when you're in revisions and realise you have three months from the deadline to get the book to the editor, and need to rewrite the whole book from scratch because it's very very wrong. There are more instances, but I feel like you get what I'm going for. There will be times when these things happen, and you're gonna need to have that freak and panic moment, before you settle in at your desk, get serious, and do what needs to be done.

The issue is that a lot of writers don't realise how important that initial stage is. I feel like it might be because that kind of panic and such is usually associated with women? Or that we're told we're adults and should always act like it? I dunno, but I see nothing wrong with venting all of that out and then taking your time, limited or not, to get the work done.

One of my strengths has been knowing that while I will, usually, find the answer I need on my own, I also know that asking for help isn't failing. It's letting me reach out, talk things through and just be allowed to feel what I feel. If you're out there trying to fix this or that, and you do have people you can reach out to, there is nothing wrong with that, like at all, and that applies to all genders.

Writing doesn't need to be something that's isolating. It can be, and I am very aware of that, but it doesn't have to be. We can have our friends, our community, and we are very much allowed to ask for help. Like you might be the person who doesn't ever need to freak and vent, but that doesn't mean you might not, at some point, need that community to help you through this or that. We all need people in our corners, and that's okay, the strength of that should be something you can, and do lean into at any point.

Saying that I do know that it can be hard, and daunting, to both find that community for you, and also be vulnerable with them. It's not easy. I feel like too often the assumption is made that it's awarded to you the moment you pick up a pen or publish a book. It's not, and that means being a grown up, and fighting that vulnerability to put yourself out there.

You got this, and I wish you all the luck! 

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Doing Things Your Way - The Creative Process

DOING THINGS YOUR WAY

I have been writing seriously since I was 19. I didn't grow up wanting to be a writer or author. My dreams were set on medicine and being a doctor. That, obviously, did not work out, and while I've always enjoyed writing and telling stories, I felt the pull back to it when faced with that fact that I would never be able to work a conventional job again. I don't say this to get pity or sympathy. I've always been pretty open about my chronic illnesses and disabilities, but I give you this opening because I find, way too often, that people assume disabled/chronically ill equalling that we have nothing to offer anyone, and that is so far from the truth it's almost funny.

One big thing about disabled people is that we adapt, usually quicker than a non-disabled person. I have been writing for 25 years, and publishing for 21 years. I may not have done either of those in the more conventional routes, but it's okay to do things your way. It's okay to take your time, it's okay to query, it's okay not to. There is no one set way to be an author, and it is completely fine, and valid, to do it differently than someone else.

Before I got myself adapted to the new keyboards and such after the sepsis, I thought about other ways of both writing and publishing. I've tried doing dictation before, and I know for a lot of people it's amazing, but for me, it did not work. I found it hard to speak the story aloud, and even more so found that having to go through and edit and add punctuation just drove me up the wall. I did, have a few people commenting about using AI. My answer there and it's the same now is no, never, not happening, and ew! I know plenty of disabled people, writers or otherwise, who feel the same way.

I knew, and know, that at my core I am and always will be a writer and author. I was terrified what would happen to my mental health if I couldn't do this any more, but I found a way. It might not be the way things were before, it might get back to that (though I seriously doubt it!), but if it doesn't, that's okay too. You have to find your way of doing things, and no one, absolutely no one, should tell you that you have to do this a certain way.

At the end of the day it feels like there are millions of ways to plot, to draft, to revise, to edit, to publish. Some will work for some writers, others will not, and that is okay. We all create differently. Our brains work differently. Doing things your particular way, that's not you doing it wrong, it's you finding what works for you, and your process. The only time I'd suggest a change would be if it was making it harder, or making you ill, or even just not working any more. 

We've all gotta find ways that work for us specifically. If it takes you a whole lot of trial and error, that's fine. If it ends up being a way that is held together with glue because you've taken this snippet from one way and this one from another, still fine. You gotta do this your way. Good luck, because the world needs your stories.  

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Leaning Into The Good

LEANING INTO THE GOOD

Last week, I talked about not accepting the bad when it comes to being shut out or excluded from the writing community as a whole (piece found here). My experience was not the best, and it was, I feel, based very much on being a disabled and chronically ill author, as well as someone who wasn't getting their start in being an author right in the times of social media. Yes, I am an old, and today is actually my 21st Authorversary, which is wild to me to be honest. I feel like the 20th was only a few months ago, but given what happened shortly after that milestone, I can somewhat understand why my brain is stuck thinking we're either at the end of 2025 still, or only just at the start of 2026!

With that behind me, I wanted to focus on the fact that with social media, and with the ability to connect with both disabled and chronically ill indie and trad authors a whole lot easier, that it's okay to lean into that fact. I don't mean that you should only talk to and/or make community with other authors who are disabled and/or chronically ill, and should exclude all others. I just want to be clear there. You have to find the space and community that is best for you, and that's okay.

We all know that writing can be isolated. In the lockdowns, things like livestreams, at least on Authortube, skyrocketed, and with it came this idea that we don't have to stay locked in our offices and not see or talk with other writers. We could, easily in some cases, create and foster that community, and I love that. I love it for writers from all walks of life because having that community around you is such an important and validating thing. It's the people who will join your inner circle and make sure you know you can ask and talk about all things writer and author, whether that be those in the query trenches or those who are planning to go indie. I love that, it's just freaking amazing!

Like I said in last week's post, I didn't have that when I was debuting in 2005. I was one disabled and chronically ill writer, who just wanted to have at least one book to my name if nothing else. Had things like KDP and ebooks and the like not opened up the indie path even more, I doubt I would have been in the position to publish a second book, never mind the rest! I had support from friends sure, but they were not looking to publish, and that, for me at the time, made the whole thing both scary and exhilarating all at the same time.

So if you are now thinking about wanting to find that community, then yes, go for it! There is no shame in needing to find your people, and you don't have to click with everyone, but I urge you to keep trying, to keep putting yourself out there. Sometimes you are the one finding the people, and other times, they find you, and it's always a beautiful and amazing thing!

I found a lot of my community during the lockdowns, and even some before that. I feel like the connection we all have has opened us all up to bringing others in as well. Writing doesn't have to be an isolated thing, you're allowed to embrace the people in the writing and author space that you click with, even if you write wildly different genres and ages. That's the beauty of both writing and the community as a whole, we vibe with who we vibe and ain't nothing wrong with that!

Put yourself out there, and keep going, you got this! 

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Not Accepting The Bad

NOT ACCEPTING THE BAD

I, as an author, as a writer, have known a lot of bad. Whether that's recently in my career, or not. Whether that's tied to writing and publishing, or not. Whether that's because of disability and chronic illness, or not. I also know I am not the only one. I am also have privilege as a white woman. I can kinda imagine the faces some people will make reading this, like what does this have to do with writing, with advice, with being the author you are? It's a part of the author life. It's something most people, at some point, experience. The big factor that helps isn't necessarily people on the outside calling it out or the like, it's the community you have found, and keep close.  

When I first started planning this piece, I think my focus was very much on community, but at the same time, I can't be completely sure because my memories of that time are hazy and such because of how unwell I was. I have always known though that writing can be very isolating, as a profession, it's rarely something that comes with an office where you, and writers like you, clock in every morning and out every evening. There is very much a community online, but even then it takes time to find the one you fit into most.

I was 19 when I was retired from the working world for medical issues. I was told I would never be able to work a conventional job again. I turned to writing, but back then (it was 2001, yes I am an old) there weren't really writing communities. There wasn't any kind of social media, and so I never really had that sense of community, and even later, when social media became a thing, I was pretty much shut out of a lot of the, because I didn't meet their standards, or being disabled and therefore not able to attend everything every single time because I was sick and/or in hospital, got me kicked out. It happened enough that I basically accepted that community like that was for 'other people'.

Even with me being on things like Facebook, or Twitter, or even Instagram, and early YouTube days, I didn't have the connection others did. It really didn't happen for me, the finding that community until the COVID days, maybe a couple of years before. It felt like during those early days with lockdowns and such, my world opened up. I found people both in the UK, and further afield. People who were disabled and/or chronically ill, and it was just eye opening to see what had been blocked from me for so long. 

Writing does not have to be an isolated experience. I don't mean that you have to like start a YouTube channel, or anything else like that, but you can find people in all the places all the other people exist in. Threads, now that I've left Twitter and will never go back, has been great for me finding other authors and writers who are also looking for writers to connect with, and you can find the same across most social media platforms.

Back when those groups and such made it clear that I was not welcome and not one of them, I should, maybe, had advocated for myself, should have pointed out the ableism, but I just didn't have the confidence to do so. I didn't have the courage to do so. If it happened now, especially to someone I care about? Oh you bet I would be spitting nails and making sure they knew what they were doing was not okay. Sometimes you have the tools to fight your corner, sometimes you don't, but even if you don't, you don't have to give up. You don't have to accept the bad. You breathe, you give yourself a moment, and then you keep going.

You got this! 

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Dealing With Multiple Ideas

DEALING WITH MULTIPLE IDEAS

I have, throughout my writing life, always been juggling ideas. Whether that's ideas that have nothing but a small puzzle piece, or ideas that are already pretty fleshed out, or ideas for scenes later in a draft, or ideas for things to take into account when it comes to revision or editing. Before the sepsis in Oct 2025, I was juggling multiple revision projects with one just about to be sent off for edits. Having had to take eight months off, I knew when I came back that I would, at best, only be able to manage two projects, and even then, I still don't know if that will work long term. 

Ideas, for writers, are something that come with the territory. I would, to be honest, worry about my chosen career if I wasn't constantly having to deal with all the ideas. Right now my focus are two revision projects because while in recovery mode I had some sparks of ideas for one that should, hopefully, answer some of my lingering questions, and do the same for readers as well. It makes me happy to be going back into those projects and knowing I am making them better.

However, some of the ideas are coming for new drafting projects, and while, originally, the plan was to start drafting those in April, my body had other ideas, and my life took a sudden turn. But I have found many ways to help myself when it comes to dealing with all the ideas, because as a lot of people know, sometimes you think: I'll remember that, and your memory laughs at you as it deletes all traces!

So how have I managed to keep hold of them all? Being the organised person I am, I have a variety of ways to track, sort, and work out how to make sure none get lost along the way!

#1 WRITE THEM DOWN
It doesn't have to be pen and paper, which hasn't been a viable option for me for a while, and definitely isn't now! I have a notes app on both my phone and iPad, and I will write it all down there in a brand new note. If it's gotten to the point where it's fleshed out completely, it gets moved, but up until that point, it's there on its own, and I can expand and add to it as and when new pieces of the puzzle come to me.

#2 COMBINE WHEN READY
This is what I do when the idea has graduated. Like the initial idea is a seed, and now the flower it blooming. That's when I will move all the notes into another note on my iPad which is basically filled with story ideas that are far enough along for me to think about starting to write them. Sometimes, I'll go back and look at how it's going, and move things around to see if that adds more. This point is the closest it can be to being drafted.

#3 ARRANGE IN ORDER
This part is basically me deciding order of importance, or just which ideas I am more excited about writing next. The order can, and does change, but it's usually only because something newer has moved into this space and I want to write that more.

Basically after this, when I get ready to start drafting, I take the top two and do my minimal outline and jump in! When it comes to ideas for revision projects, while, for some reason they stay remembered, I have a separate note for those and keep an eye on them.

Overall, ideas are plentiful when you're a writer, and how you deal with them is up to you, but whatever way that turns out to be, have fun, enjoy, and keep writing!  

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Finding Your Voice - The Creative Process

FINDING YOUR VOICE

Something that can be hard when you're writing a new project is finding where your voice is. It can be pretty common to not recognise either your authorial voice, or the voice of each project. These two can be the same, and they can also be different, depending on the genre, the age category, and the way the story is told, like first person compared to third. 

When I was first writing, I felt like the story I was crafting had a pretty unique voice to it. Some of that is newbie ego, and some of that is not having the experience to really know what all these things meant. That's not a bad thing, but I thought that today I was talk more about both kinds of voice, and also that it's completely okay if it takes you a while to spot and know yours.

I have drafted nearly fifty books. They are all young adult, and have all been a range of genres from thriller to mystery to paranormal to dystopian and urban fantasy. I usually, write solely in first person, and they are usually all told from one POV, though I do have some that are dual POV and such. I have published twenty-four books, with my next two, hopefully, coming out next year. I tell you this to give you an idea of where I'm coming from. I am, by no means, an expert, but I do have some solid experience to pull from, I was first published in 2005, and have been continuing with publishing since.

So let's focus on the first, the author voice. What do I mean when I say that? What are people looking for when they talk about wanting an author who's 'voicy'? How can you know, and work out, what that means for you?

AUTHOR VOICE

An author voice is quite simply, their way of telling a story that is so unique to them that you could pick up a random book, have no idea who the author is, and be able to tell from the prose, the descriptions, the way the characters sound, who the author is. It can be something writers have naturally, and it can also be something that develops over time. The more you write, the more you discover it.

As for what people are looking for, while this usually is something I see attributed to literary agents and publishers, and I have no experience with either, I'm going to focus more on the readers who talk about wanting this. A lot of the time what they want is a voice or story that is told similarly to one particular author they love. They're looking for recs of books that might meet their needs. Sometimes it's not always about the author's voice, but the characters, but it's a way to find new to them authors who they might enjoy.

A lot of the time, finding your author voice comes with practice. My debut was not the first book I'd written, but it was the first one I felt really had my voice to it. Now, granted I wrote it when I was 19, and it was published when I was 23, and while aspects of my author voice remain the same, others have changed as I've grown as an author. If you are someone who is just starting out, I would not stress on finding your voice in your words. It might take time, it did for me, and that's okay. Write your stories, enjoy yourself, and just lean into growing and changing.

CHARACTER VOICE

The character voice has a similar description as the author one, in that you could work out who these characters written by blindfolded simply because of the way they talk and go through the story. The difference is that it's not the same voice for every single character. If that happens, there's problems. But for me, usually, the character voice comes into play with the main character. Again, just to be clear, I do not mean that every main character I've written is exactly the same. That would not be good!

Character voice to me is more subjective, and leans more into the reader experience. Some readers will see it straight away, and others won't, and neither of them really are wrong there. I do feel like it's somewhat easier to lean into character voice than author voice, but that, of course, is subjective to each author!

So there we go, while I do think author voice is something that can take a while to develop, it doesn't mean you are bad at writing, or that your work is not worthy of publication. Everyone moves to their own pace, and that is completely okay! 

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Presenting Your Author Side

PRESENTING YOUR AUTHOR SIDE

I set this blog post to be written last year, when I was in my 20th year as an author. So much has changed since then, but I am happy to be here, writing a blog post that has waited so long to be written out. For those who don't know, I'm chronically ill and disabled, and in October 2025, my body tried to kill me. I had sepsis, in ICU, coma for seven days and then more on a regular ward. I have a few parting gifts from the sepsis, the biggest being partial paralysis in my right hand and arm, which is, or was, my dominant side. I've been off work since then, and because of my organisation, I had three posts I'd already written ready to go, and you'll have seen them finally posted at the start of June 2026. This is the first blog post I have written after recovery.

But I'm getting off topic, and not at the same time. I have always been a disabled author, and have never been shy about people knowing that. I have, just like everyone else in either the author sphere, or just a person in general, the ability to draw a line between what parts of my life are talked about publicly, and which I choose to not share. As an author who was first published before social media was either a thing, or as big as it is now, it feels like I was lucky enough to grow into who I wanted to be seen as by readers, and what I wanted to just not share.

Obviously that is a very personal choice. I would never sit here and tell anyone that they can't make their own decisions about things like this, but in my mind, there should be some idea out there of how that information will be received and used. Now I wanna be clear that I do not speak from any other place than my own experience, and from what I've seen, and heard about from other disabled writers. From a minority perspective, I can't speak on matters of race, and while being bi, I don't feel like I have enough lived experience when it comes to that either, but I have seen it online too. So I'm gonna focus solely on disability.

#1 YOU DO NOT HAVE TO DISCLOSE ANYTHING
While it's true that there is nothing wrong with talking about your disabilities, there is also no rule that states you have to. If you don't feel safe doing so, that's completely okay and valid. While the opposite is also true, if you want to talk about your disabilities, and the impact they have on your writing and author life, you are still allowed to not share everything. I have been quite open about my disabilities both online, and with my author life content. I do it because that's what I want, and feel comfortable doing. But you don't owe anyone your medical history. It is, and should always be, your personal choice, no matter where you are in your author journey.

#2 YOU DO NOT OWE ANYONE POSITIVITY
Toxic positivity is something that is rampant around ALL online spaces, for ALL groups, but you will usually see it highlighted especially in minority groups, and especially within the disability and chronically ill sphere. Now, the majority of the time in this group, it's coming from those observing from outside of the group itself. They want to see everyone stay positive despite what they're going through as if somehow that is going to cure or help. I'll cover those more in a moment. But as a disabled author, you do not have to always be positive about anything in your life, even if that's about the things going on disability wise. Having a bad day or period of your life, that's normal, and I feel like being real with readers, and other authors, allows people to really see that we are human, and doing what we can to survive and thrive in our work, and in our lives. That's not a bad thing.

#3 YOU DON'T HAVE TO BE AN INSPIRATION
Like I said above, some people want to view disabled people, author not, as an inspiration, because, look at them, managing to string words together and make a whole book! This is so freaking dismissive and I hate every part of it. But there's a second part to this too which I feel like isn't talked about enough. We're not supposed to write fiction. we're supposed to write books which detail every medical visit, every symptom, and how hard and depressing our lives were/are, and if we don't do that, we get looks that kinda imply that the only thing non disabled people want to read from us is about our personal disability experience. We have nothing else worthy of publishing, and how wrong that is!

So while I have made it through enough recovery to be allowed back at work, I am also very aware that the way I worked before is not going to be the way I will, probably, ever work again. Disability is always changing, and when you are in those trenches, you have to roll with it and keep going.  

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Finding Your Pace - The Creative Process

FINDING YOUR PACE

I've been writing for many many years. I think if I did the maths it would work out to be more of my life than I spent not writing. I recently celebrated twenty years as an author, which still blows my mind to be honest. In all that time I have found many different ways to write, and many different routines to follow. I've been doing my current routine for about five years now and it works for me. I know what I need to get done every day and I also find that it's easier to sit down and work.

People know that I'm organised, so I won't sit here and tell you otherwise, or go on about it too much, but my point is that even organised people have to start with a lot of trial and error. I dove into writing seriously at nineteen, and while there are some aspects of my writing routine that have stayed the same (my planning levels, writing a chapter a day, etc), others have changed many times over the years (time of day to write, how I write, working on multiple projects etc).

The big thing for a lot of newbies, and even those who've been doing this a while is that life has a way of getting in your way. I know that I will wake up between 1-3am and be ready to work. I know that I will sit with my tablet/computer, and do the work, but I don't know if my conditions will allow me to do the work scheduled. They sometimes do, they sometimes don't. 

My point is that finding your pace is something that takes time, effort, and a whole lot of trusting your gut, as well as reading pieces like this and trying to work out how to apply it to your own life. Back in 2001 when I started writing I didn't have things like social media, or blogs (yes I realise I sound like an old person with my 'we walked to school barefoot uphill both ways' but I promise I have a point), so a lot of my finding out was just sitting at my desk and trying this and that, and hoping that something along the way worked for me.

I will say that when social media and everything else finally came along, it gave me some of that knowledge that every writer struggles with this kind of thing. It wasn't that I was inept or doing things wrong, just that being creative is overly personal and linked to the person, as well as the stage they are in life. I say that last part because over the years, with things changing here and there, like college and uni, and having a kidlet to parent, my writing routine and my pace rapidly switched from my tried and true method to something else and I'd be left scrambling as I tried to find out what the new way was.

So don't be alarmed if it does take you time to get there. It's not just you, it's part and parcel of being creative. No one works exactly the same way as anyone else, we all have our quirks and our ways of doing things, and that's normal. If it takes you a while, that's okay too. You will get there, and all this trial and error you're going through is going to help you narrow things down the next time life changes on you.

So keep going, and good luck!

Any questions? Lemme know in the comments! 

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Learning How You Write - The Creative Process

LEARNING HOW YOU WRITE

Last week I touched a little on writing routines (found here), and this week I thought I would go into learning how you personally write. I am someone who mostly pants through my drafts. I have a minimal outline, but it's really me telling myself the story as I write it. Now I know that a lot of people will outline a lot more extensively, and if that works for you, great, but it's never been something I find helps.

When I talk about learning how you personally write, I'm not talking about what software or method you use, but more about finding that routine that works for you. I know that I'm a morning writer in that I wake up naturally between 1-3am and will sit down and do my work then. It's not for everyone, and over the years I've also been an afternoon writer, a night writer, and an evening writer. It can chop and change as your life chops and changes, and that's completely normal and valid.

So what can you do to find out the best way for you to approach writing? Here are some of my tips.

#1 TRY AND OUTLINE
I say this because most of the time, it actually turns out that putting some goal posts on where you want to be with each chapter can make sure that the story is completed. You don't have to go into massive detail, even if it's just a couple of words, if you feel like that will help you bring about a completed story, then do it. If it doesn't work, you don't have to follow it to the letter.

#2 WORK OUT TIME
For this I simply mean try and work out when you'll have a decent chunk of time to work, and then attempt to write during that time for at least a week. I say more than a day because sometimes it takes us a while to know whether something is actually working for us. If you, after that week, find you got next to nothing done, or would like to try other times, then do that, and follow through with keeping it that way for the week. When you have enough data to be sure, that's when you'll know what works best for you as a writer.

#3 DISTRACTIONS MIGHT WORK
I am someone who can't write with music. I've tried, I don't have playlists or the like for my books because I just can't concentrate on writing while I'm hearing other noise. That might be down to me, but I do know other writers who have the same issue. That doesn't mean it won't work for you. If you have a playlist to write to and it helps you, then by all means add it to the routine and you're golden. But if you find that it means you don't actually get into the writing because of the distraction, then don't be afraid to go without it.

#4 CHANGE THINGS UP WHERE POSSIBLE
I write, mostly, at my desk. I have also written in bed, and written in coffee shops and the like. I find the first is the best one for me to feel like I'm really honed in on what I need to do. So if you have a desk and that works, great, but don't be afraid to try new things, to try different areas, and to work out what actually works for you. You might find something or somewhere that increases the ease with which you write.

So there we go, those are my tips when it comes to learning how you write. As I said, sometimes it can take a whole lot of trial and error and that's completely normal. Just keep moving forward, keep trying new things, and when you find a routine, you're golden.

Good luck!

Any questions? Lemme know in the comments! 

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Learning When To Push - The Creative Process

LEARNING WHEN TO PUSH

Given that last week I talk about learning how to rest (piece found here), it might seem counter-intuitive that this week I'm talking about pushing yourself. I promise you that the two are linked yes, and they do not cancel each other out. Rest is still so very important to the author life, but so is finding those limits and trying to stretch and move past them when the need arises.

When I first started writing, I didn't push myself because at the time I didn't see it as a career. At the time it was something to do for fun, and it was really only the last decade that I've had some kind of writing routine, and been able to find a way that works for me. That's what I'm talking about today, how to hone in on that writing routine, and pushing yourself a little is part of that.

I don't think any writer tries one routine and instantly finds the thing and way that works best for them. We are all unique in the way we work, and while there may be similarities between the way I do things and the way someone else does things, it's never exactly the same. Finding a writing routine is all about trial and error, taking this thing from someone else and added, and adapting, it to your toolbox. Too much of the time the focus is on productivity, that we should be working above all else, and that's just not true.

Your worth is not tied to how many words you wrote this week, month, or year. Sure if you're someone like me who lots the data and stats, then it can be fun to work out, but you are not defined by them. When you're first starting out it can be easy to get caught up in comparing yourself to other, established, writers and authors, and that's a trap I don't want anyone else to fall into.

It's basically the same as comparing your first draft to someone's extremely polished book. There's no comparison because one has just been written and the other has been worked on for a long while. So when it comes to writing routines, and when it comes to working out how much to push yourself, keep in mind that while you know you best, so do the people who post their routines, they know how they personally work. So, of course they're going to seem like they have it all sorted when sometimes a lot of that knowledge comes from a lot of experimenting and the like.  

The truth is that pushing yourself does have its place. If you've been trying to work out if you're able to manage more on your plate, then pushing a little can help you really fathom whether this is something that's sustainable, or something that's going to push you over the edge. Like I know, from pushing myself, that I can usually manage at least one thing a day. I also know that so long as it's not constant, I can sometimes manage two or three things a day working wise.

I've taken that knowledge and applied it across the month so that yes, I have days when I do two things, but it's not every single day, and it's also not several days in a row, because doing that will cause me to end up in a flare, and the work to suffer for it. I don't want to have to miss a whole week because I pushed myself way too much and ended up flat on my back and laid up with pain and such. 

So learning when to push is a great tool to help you manage and work out what works for you, what doesn't, and the circumstances for both. Take it slow, don't be afraid to stop, don't forgo rests, and make sure you look after yourself in the process. You will thank yourself later.

Good luck!

Any questions? Lemme know in the comments! 

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Learning To Rest - The Creative Process

LEARNING TO REST

One thing I am pretty well known for is advocating for time off, for rest, for breaks. I've always been clear that you shouldn't have to earn these, that you shouldn't have to have met all your targets before you're allowed to take breaks and rest, and I stand by that. The issue is that when you're indie, and sometimes when you're not, a lot of the decisions have to be made by you. I have to make sure that all my socials happen, I don't have a team behind me, and while I may have things like scheduling posts, a lot of the input for my author platform comes from work behind the scenes by me. 

Saying that, it's not that I don't rest, or don't take time when needed. I do it frequently because as someone who's chronically ill and disabled, if I don't rest and take that time, my body will pay me back in new and very not interesting ways. So I try to make sure that I listen to my body and work out what I can do, when I can do it, and if it's possible for me to stay on target, and if not, remind myself to not feel guilty about needing that time to just not work.

It didn't happen overnight. It wasn't fast. It didn't come without a lot of talking to myself, and others, and being clear that I had to take care of myself first before I could put blog posts and the like out about doing so. It took me a long while to lose the guilt that came when I had those days off. I would feel like, because I was chronically ill and disabled, I should be making the most of time when I can work. But here's the thing, pacing works for a reason, pushing yourself to breaking point is not going to hep you on the days when you have literally done too much and your body is waving that little white flag.

So how did I stop feeling guilty? I don't want to be glib, but it came down to experience. I have a very full plate when it comes to working as an indie author. I have projects on the go, I have an authortube channel, I have videos to record and script, I have blog posts to write, I have books to read and authors to interview, all to keep myself on target so that I can allow my website to stay up to date, and allow myself to stay on track. That's a lot for anyone, but when you take into account the energy limiting conditions, it's even more so an issue.

A lot of what I do is about finding that balance which I've talked about before. It's about working out what I can and can't do in a day or work session, and making sure that when I've done that thing, I don't then take on more things to get done. Sometimes it can feel like being selfish, but also, your body needs that break, and as a creative, you need that downtime because otherwise you will burn out and no one wants that for you. 

Rest is conducive to longevity in the creative fields. You'll see and hear about writers or authors or the like who will push and push and put out multiple books a year, and then suddenly, after a period, they go dark, and they might come back, but they also might not. Rest, knowing how to switch off and take that time, can save your long term career. Because sometimes, the truth is, you don't come back from burnout able to continue and pick up where you left off. Which can be terrifying.

I've not been someone who had a childhood dream of being an author. I was sure in what I wanted to be when I grew up, and while writing and publishing was there as a side dream, it wasn't the main event. Now though, now that my life has thrown me the curveballs that have defined the path I take, I could not imagine not being able to write any more. It feels like a core part of who I am, and I don't want anyone, friend or not, to end up pushing themselves into a place where writing is no longer something they can do.

So take those breaks, lean into that rest, and remember to breathe, remember that the work will be there when you get back, and it is better for you in the long run.

Good luck!

Any questions? Lemme know in the comments!  

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Being An Anxious Writer/Author

BEING AN ANXIOUS WRITER/AUTHOR

I have always struggled with anxiety. I find it hits at the weirdest times, and sometimes it overwhelms me to the point where I have to stop what I'm doing, take a break and come back to it later. I know I'm not the only one who has times like these, but I do feel like mental health issues aren't talked about by writers as much as the physical ones. Some of that might be the stigma, or just people not realising that their experience while unique, is also felt by others in the writing and author space.

There have been a lot of tools in my toolbox for anxiety. Whether that's reaching out to writer friends, or just my friends who I can go to with anything, or whether that's talking it through with my awesome editor, or even talking about it more openly on socials. There are ways to deal with it, and ways to allow yourself to breathe a little along the way.

Drafting has, not really, ever been something that heightens my anxiety. I feel at home drafting and creating. I feel like even if there's something that's not working, I have time to fix it later. This mindset might be just the reason that revision causes me more anxiety and editing even more so. I have reached the later, and now I have to fix it otherwise things are not going to go well.

Of course, having worked with editors who haven't been all that patient, and a bit aggressive in the way they phrase their feedback hasn't helped the editing process become something I can look forward to. After all, a learned response is hard to break, and for a while I worked with an editor where I felt like one step wrong would unleash a barrage of anger and I never do well with confrontation, especially like that. Thankfully I've not worked with this editor in a long long while, and because of that have had a couple of good experiences with other editors since. This has, somewhat, allowed me to unlearn that anxiety spike and start to lean into and enjoy the editing process more.

My point is that there are many pitfalls for those of us who are already prone to anxiety, and there are ways to deal with them. Whether that's finding someone who can, and does, support you, or finding a way of working that allows you to breathe, relax, and also somewhat enjoy the work you're doing. I had that with my last editor, and I have that with my current editor, and they've both really helped with working through that lingering anxiety tied to the editing process.

But it's not always easy to just unlearn something, and it's definitely not easy to cope with the constant thrum of anxiety when you're trying to do the one thing that you need to do before you can publish your next book. I've done breathing exercises, I've done down time. I've spent time listening to music, spent time reading through good things in my good stuff folder. I've talked to other writers about what is and isn't normal when it comes to what an editor should or shouldn't do, but my brain's natural response is to panic, is to get anxious, and while I hope that one day that will change, for now it's my reality.

So even if you're someone who gets anxious, try and find those ways to cope, to move through the anxiety and come out the other side. You will be a better writer for it. You've got this, and we believe in you!

Any questions? Lemme know in the comments! 

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5 Facts On My Current Working Projects

5 FACTS ON MY CURRENT WORKING PROJECTS

I did one of these back in June (found here) but since there's been some changes to projects, I thought that I would do another one. I am currently working on five projects. I have three in revision and rewrite status, one in revision status and another in the final stages of the editing process. I thought that I'd give you one fact about each other them.

REVISING & REWRITING

FACT #1: PENNEY IS MEANT FOR GREAT THINGS
The first project is a YA paranormal trilogy dealing with psychics and danger and intrigue. Penney is a born psychic and she has a death vision, one that would see her best friend, and long time crush, die on their first date. While I don't want to go into spoilers, I will say that Penney has no clue about the truth and motive behind the things happening in her life. She's sure she's on the right path, but what she doesn't realise is everything happens for a reason, even if there doesn't seem to be one, there's always a reason behind other people's actions.

This book is coming to the end of the revising and rewriting stage, but for now it's still there as I have more tweaks to add.

FACT #2: NOT EVERYONE WANTS THE SAME THINGS FOR ABBY
This project is the first in a YA urban fantasy trilogy dealing with pandemics, witches, and the hunt for a diagnosis. Abby is a witch and suffering with some, as of yet, unknown conditions, and she's trying to both find herself, and also save other witches from the worst thing there is: a witch hunt. Newly induced into a coven, she's desperate to save everyone she can, solve the mystery, and stay healthy, only there are people in Abby's life who do not want the same as she does, and they will do everything they can to make sure that she never finds out their truth.

This book is also coming to the end of the revising and rewriting stage, but there's still some bits and pieces that I want to explore more.

FACT #3: SOMEONE NEEDS TO SAVE JESSIE THIS TIME
This book is the fifth and final book in the Cramping Chronicles series. It's a YA urban fantasy series dealing with empaths, and mysteries all wrapped up in one. Jessie is an empath, but after what happened in the last book (pre-order here) she's finding that she's the one that needs to be saved, she needs someone to stand up for her, and without it, she might be lost to the world as we know it.

This book is in the revising and rewriting stage as there are lots of things that need to be changed before it moves onto the plain ole revision.

REVISION

FACT #4: NO MATTER HOW IT MAY SEEM, THERE'S BAD ON ALL SIDES
This project is the third book in the Invisible quartet, a YA dystopian series dealing with disability, a virus, adaption, and bringing an end to the cruelty of a Leader dead set against anything outside of his vision for their world. Jonah and Zya are doing the best they can to make sure they, and as many as their friends, survive but there are no good guys here, and they have a battle ahead of them that may end them all.

This book has been to the sensitivity readers, and right now I'm doing the changes suggested and reshaping the story before it goes to the editor in November.

EDITING CYCLE

FACT #5: JESSIE HAS NO CLUE WHAT SHE'S BEING TOLD TO DO
This book is the fourth Cramping Chronicles book, (pre-order here) which is a YA urban fantasy series dealing with empaths, and a threat to our world. Jessie is an empath, but she's been isolated from her peers and she doesn't really know what she's being asked to do. If she follows through, and even if she doesn't, there are going to be catastrophic results for everyone.

This book is with the proofreader, and should be out on October 14th!

So there we go, those are five facts about my current working projects! I'm loving them all for different reasons and excited to keep going with them all.

Any questions? Lemme know in the comments! 

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20 Years As An Author

20 YEARS AS AN AUTHOR

Yesterday was my 20th Authorversary, in that it was 20 years since Blackout, my debut, was first published. I look back to that launch party and I can't quite believe it's been 20 years. I didn't ever really think, back then at least, that I would get to this point. I didn't think I would publish a second book, let alone over twenty more of them. It was a whole lot of fun coming down to my office all decorated for the occasion and I was spoilt and celebrated, as it should be with this kind of milestone. 

I usually do a post around this time every year that talks about what I've learned in the time since I first became a published author, and while I plan to touch on that a little today, I also wanted to talk about the fact that dreams may always seem way off and like you'll never get there, but you will. It takes time, sometimes a lot more time than you first realise, but you will get to that point where you look back and wonder why you thought you'd never get there. 

I wrote my first 'book' when I was 13, I refer to it that way because it wasn't, by any stretch of the imagination, a complete novel. It was 36 pages of A4 and I even sent it off to publishers in hopes of making it big. They were lovely about it, sending me back letters about their young writers programs, but I kinda assumed that was it for me, and I wouldn't ever actually be published. I never planned or dreamed of being an author from a young age, it just felt like something I could do as well as my other plans.

See, I'd always, from a very young age, wanted to be a doctor. It was probably a side effect of spending a lot of my time as a kid in and out of hospital. That didn't get any better with age, and I was so sure that was what I would be doing with my grown up life. It was only when my health got worse, and I picked up a few other conditions, and even before that, when I realised that I didn't have the smarts to do medicine, that I turned to other pursuits.

When I was retired at 19 on medical grounds from the working world, I didn't really know what to do with myself. I didn't want to do nothing, and my health limited what I could do otherwise. That's when a story idea, one that had been brewing from those school days, burst forth from my mind onto paper and I found a way to do something with my life. I could write. I could be published, and a few short years later I was, but I never imagined it going beyond that.

See, there wasn't the indie world then as there is now, and the only way I could be published, having tried the early 2000s version of querying, and not been successful, was to go with something called a vanity press. I have many regrets about doing that, but the truth is that I also wouldn't have taken that leap into publishing if I hadn't. I knew it wasn't something I could afford to do again, so I took my best work at the time, and pushed the button to send that out into the world.

I kept writing, sure, because I wanted and needed to write, but I always kind of assumed it would be my one and only published work. How wrong was I? It became my career, it became something where I don't actually know where I'd be without. Thanks to the advent of ebooks and KDP and the indie life, and I finally had a way to share the stories I'd already written, and write a whole load of new ones. So while I regret using a vanity press because of all the hassle they brought me, I do not regret publishing when I did.

I was 23 when Blackout hit the shelves, I'm 43 now, and have written just under 50 books. I would love for them all to, one day, also be out there for people to read, but I honestly don't know if I'll manage it. I know I was made to be an author, and I know that I will always celebrate getting that chance to. My stories were made to be told, just as a lot of other writers are the same.

So here's to the next 20 years of author life. I can't wait to take you along on the journey with me.

Any questions? Lemme know in the comments! 

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Planning Admin - The Creative Process

PLANNING ADMIN

I've always been someone who loves to be organised. I like to know what I'm doing and when I'm doing it. I have my planner, I have check lists on my iPad and I like to make sure that when it comes to the end of the month, the next month's stuff is all ready to go. Some of that is because I'm chronically ill and disabled, and just don't know how my health is gonna be from one moment to the next, and some of it is because I just like to ease that anxiety and having things planned helps me do that.

I've been using a paper planner for about four years now, and it's really opened things up for me. Before that I would plan on a private blog, and would just do things when I could. I did a stint of using the sticky notes app on my computer, and again, it was just about making sure that I had something visual I could look at and know things were all in their place and ready to me done. Even with my planner, I still use my iPad calendar app as a way to plan months in advance.

My point is that when it comes to writing and revising and all of the writing work, I'm pretty solid in how things go. I work on one thing a day, most days anyway, but there's other days when I have to do the admin work. Like writing these blog posts, and the vlog scripts, or doing the month's instagram images, and the reels and all of that. I like to put aside a day here and there where I can sit down at my desk, or in bed, and get these things done with little fuss.

Of course, I've found ways that work best for me. Like I know that in my planner, I will have vlog scripts and blog posts on the same day, but I actually, usually, do them on different days because they eat up my time and take way too long to bash them all out in the same day. This works for me, and it allows me to move things around if and when the need arises. Like sometimes I'll do all the scripts or posts in one sitting, and other times when there are more of them to do, I'll split them over two days just to give myself some breathing room.

Doing all of that helps with my anxiety, it helps me not push through and do too much in any one day, and it allows me to know that come the first of the month, I will have a whole months worth of posts, and images and all of that ready to go. It's been a tool that's helped me a whole lot throughout my writing career, and it's been something where I've learned new things, and pivoted to others. I've also got some idea of how long these will all take, because I track my time, so I know what time to set aside.

With all that said, I wanted to try and give some tips when it comes to planning those admin tasks. Whether you, like me, are chronically ill and disabled, or not, sometimes the admin side of writing and being an author can be monumentally overwhelming and it's hard to work out what will work for you, and what will leave you stressed to the max, and rushing around to try and get everything done.

#1 DO ONE THING A DAY
This works for me because it allows me to just focus on one thing, and I'm not putting all my energy, focus, and time onto several different things. I usually have about nine admin days a month, and those work for me, and if it's something you can do, then start there.

#2 BE READY TO CHANGE
If something isn't working for you, don't keep pushing, change the way you do things, and even if it takes you time to get into a groove, that's okay. This doesn't have to be set in stone, and you just gotta do what works for you, and that may change over time.

#3 PACE YOURSELF
This was a big one for me. While I usually only work on one thing a day, I also have days scattered here and there where I will do two things, and on those days I make sure they're not all in a row because that will burn me out. So be ready to pace yourself and take it easy. Don't jump in at the deep end, start small, and work up as and when you can.

So I hope those help, and I hope you're able to find a way that works for you. The admin of the author life is never ending, and you just gotta do what works for you, and don't worry about anyone else.

Any questions? Lemme know in the comments! 

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Six Month Check In With Goals

SIX MONTH CHECK IN WITH GOALS

Every December on my Authortube channel (found here) I make a list of goals that I want to accomplish throughout the coming year. I usually then check in with them here because I want to have some idea of what I've managed, how they're going, and whether or not I'm going to manage to pull them all off.

So, today I'm gonna be reviewing the fifteen goals I set and see how I'm doing with the year so far!

1. PUBLISH TRANSLUCENT IN 2025 - Done
I managed this first one, Translucent was published on May 13th 2025 and I was really happy with how it went. I've been loving the reaction to the series, and the story and I am happy to tick this one off my list!

2. PUBLISH CRAMPING CHRONICLES: THE FOURTH TORMENT IN 2025 - In Progress
I've just started line edits for this book, so it should be done by the end of the year. I used to put months along with the year on my goals but I found too many times that things went wrong, and I would have to call the goal half done, but this is on the way to done!

3. REVISE VISIBLE FOR RELEASE IN 2026 - In Progress
I started revising Visible in January. I sent it off to the sensitivity readers in June, and will be getting that back at the end of the month, and hopefully from there, it's a case of doing their changes and getting to the point where it goes to the editor in November.

4. REVISE CRAMPING CHRONICLES: THE FIFTH AGONY FOR RELEASE IN 2026 - In Progress
I started revising this one earlier than planned. Normally I'd have waited until November, but with the way Fourth Torment went, I know it needs more rewrites as the big bad has changed from when I first wrote it. I'm still very much in the beginning stages as I started revising in July.

5. FINISH REWRITES OF I'LL SEE YOU THRU & THIS IS HOW IT ENDS - Done
I finished both of these at the end of March. I'm really happy with how they both turned out, and can't wait for the chance to revise them more, send them off to betas and get them ready for the editor in the coming years. But this is very much done!

6. REVISE AND REWRITE I WISH I COULD SAVE YOU & PROJECT: WITCH HUNT - In Progress
I started the revision and rewrites for both of these in April and have been steadily working my way through them both. They'll need a lot more time, but it's happening.

7. KEEP UP WITH AUTHORTUBE CHANNEL - On Track To Be Done
I've been able to keep up with this, posting on Thursdays with videos and Sundays with shorts, so I'm hopeful that this will be something I can check off at the end of the year. 

8. KEEP UP WITH MONDAY AND FRIDAY POSTS ON BLOG - On Track To Be Done
I've also kept up with this too, as evidenced by this being a Monday post. I'm hopeful that I'll be able to keep doing the advice pieces and the reviews and interviews on Fridays too.

9. POST TO INSTAGRAM DAILY & A REEL EVERY SUNDAY - On Track To Be Done
So far I've done this. I've had a few hospital stays, but scheduled posts have allowed me to keep posting on Instagram, and my reels always go up on a Sunday!

10. READ 350 BOOKS - In Progress
I started the year with a bit of a reading slump, and because of that I ended up dropping my goal to 300 books. I don't know if I will catch up with myself before the end of the year, but even if I don't, 300 books is a win.

11. TAKE AT LEAST TWO DAYS OFF COMPLETELY EACH MONTH - On Track To Be Done
I've done this every month so far. I usually have been two and five days off each month, and I've been very much enjoying them!

12. SEND 12 NEWSLETTERS - On Track To Be Done
My newsletters go out on the 1st of every month, and I've not missed one yet. I like writing my newsletter and while my reach is small, I do get a lot of enjoyment out of it.

13. DO 12 MONTHLY SPREADS IN PLANNER - On Track To Be Done
My planner spreads have become a routine for me. I find it easy enough to get lost in planner, in making it look pretty and keeping track of what I managed and when.

14. HAVE AT LEAST 12 AUDIOBOOKS OUT - Done
I actually surprised myself with this and had it done by March! I didn't think that would happen, but I'm also thinking there wouldn't be many, if any, more audiobooks out this year just because the one I have in progress, and the other ready won't be done before the new year.

15. OPEN SIGNED BOOKS & VIP SWAG PACKS SHOP IN 2025 - Done
I actually cheated a little bit at this one. I set it as a goal so that if I didn't get my ducks in a row for the end of 2024, I would be able to do it in 2025. But I did manage to get it done at the very end of December last year, so I've ticked this one off. 

So how are you doing on your goals? Lemme know in the comments!

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Deciding On An Idea

DECIDING ON AN IDEA

I have always worried that I will run out of ideas. It's never happened, not once in my writing career have I not had ideas that I can work on. But that worry, the anxiety, is still there and very much present. Now normally, when I'm drafting, my focus is so much on the stories in front of me that I don't give much time or thought to other ideas. So when it comes to the end of my drafting, I find myself scrambling and worried that nothing is going to happen. I worry this time will be the first time when I fail to find something new to write about. It's never happened, but my anxious brain is sure that this is the time it will.

Part of me knows that writers are filled with ideas. It's not always fully formed ones, but a scene, or a snippet of dialogue, or even just some characters and the thought of what you'd like to do with them. Given I usually have some kind of mystery within my works, I will find myself focusing on that, what thing can happen to them that will focus on something no one knows the answer to? It's worked for me, but I also know there can be times when I have way too many ideas or snippets, and they can't all fit in the same story, so then I have to decide what to keep, what to prune, and what to store in my back pocket for the next time.

Deciding on an idea can feel like it's easy enough. Just choose the one that you want, and done, right? Nope! As most writers will tell you, we find it hard sometimes to narrow it down. We find it hard to work out which project or idea excites us the most. While I'm more methodical in my choosing, as in if I'm working on a series, I will always write the next book in that series next, others don't do that, and that's perfectly okay and valid.

After all, a lot of the time, the idea is what keeps the words coming on the page. If you don't have anything for the next book in a series, then what do you do? How do you make the most of your time? If you're not actively writing something, doesn't that mean that you're slacking off? I don't agree. I really don't buy that you always have to writing something to be valid as a writer. I know that some readers have been shocked that when it comes to series, the next book from an author is not always going to come first. Everyone works differently, and that's okay.

But if you've got a myriad of ideas, and you want to find one that works for you, then there are three questions I find help me narrow down whether or not it becomes one of the ideas that I want to work on. Just quickly, I usually work on multiple projects at once not all authors do this, and that's not a slight on them. They work in their own way and that's okay.

Onto the questions:

#1 DOES THE IDEA MAKE ME EXCITED TO WRITE?
#2 DO I HAVE THE START IN MIND?
#3 WILL THE IDEA GROW WITHOUT HELP?

I'm not going to go into detail here, just because it would be a lot of the same information. I ask the first because if this is an idea I am itching to write, then I will find it easier to get the words on the page. The second is more because for my planning phase, I need the start, without that, I'm pretty much swimming in the dark. And the final question is basically because if I can't grow the idea in my mind without constantly playing what if this and that, then for me, the story is not ready to me written.

Like I said, everyone works differently and that's okay, but this works for me. You gotta find what works for you, and keep writing.

Any questions? Lemme know in the comments! 

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Working With Revision As A Main

WORKING WITH REVISION AS A MAIN

Last April I finished off my last two drafting projects for a while. I'd wanted to take some time to go back over older projects and rewrite as needed, but also to revise them and get them into better shape. I started with two standalones that were basically the next standalones to be released. I had a way of revising so I knew some of what I'd do, but at the same time it'd been years since I last looked at both projects and I didn't know how long it would take, or what state they'd be in.

Since then I've finished with those first two projects and started on two new ones, also revising and rewriting where needed. These are both the first in trilogies, and both, I knew, needed a lot of work, and a read through by sensitivity readers. I gave myself a whole year to work on them because I had some other revision projects due for release that would cut into my dedicated time.

All that to say, it's now been a year since I switched to mainly revising, and it's opened my eyes to things in a way I didn't see coming. I've always preferred drafting. I still do in a way, but I have to say there's something nice about getting to see, and make, older works shine. I've been able to work out what things I need to focus on pretty quickly, and because I know what happens, vaguely, but enough to work with, in the second books in each series, I can work out how to foreshadow things, and what to lean into and what to remove because it goes nowhere. 

It's been an eye-opener in that regard because I only remembered the bad parts of the drafts. I only remembered that things didn't flow, that the pacing wasn't brilliant. I only remembered that I didn't like this twist and didn't know if it paid off. I didn't remember the way the characters feel real, and I didn't remember the little bits and pieces I'd snuck into the work that ended up being a massive thing. 

It's easy enough when we don't have that distance, and time, away from our work, to think that what we're doing is rubbish, and that you'll never be able to get it into shape for publication, and if you do, people will hate it. It's easy to get caught up in the things that don't work, that sometimes, we forget the things that very much do work. 

While I have more time on these projects now because when drafting I would see a handful of chapters at a time over six months, now I'm reading through the projects at least once every month. That helps me get the bigger picture, it helps me work out what beats of plot I'm hitting and when, and it allows me to see things clearer and therefore enables me to make changes easier. The whole thing has been a learning experience and I'm really glad that I took the time to do it. While I don't think I'll be skipping over revisions again when it's time for the stories to start on the editing train, I do know that they are in a lot better shape than they were, and that's very much a win.

For those wondering, I do plan to go back to drafting next year. I have two ideas that are brewing in the back of my head, and while I will spend my time writing them, I do also want to go back to revision as a main focus again as well. I have a lot of stories that I feel like they could benefit from being looked at without too much of a deadline attached. It's working for me, and that's a great thing!

Any questions? Lemme know in the comments! 

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Remembering To Pace Yourself

REMEMBERING TO PACE YOURSELF

Last week I talked about life getting in the way of your plans (found here), and this week I thought I would touch on something that is usually only applied to the chronic illness community, and that's pacing yourself. I know that people who are pretty much healthy don't really think too much about pacing themselves, but I have to say it's an invaluable tool no matter your health status. 

While pacing can be used for health reasons, it can also just be good practice when you've got a full work load, or you're doing some kind of creative pursuit. Now I don't know the first thing about artistic talent in that I have none, but I do know what it's like to be facing down deadlines when you've got a few different projects on the go. Right now I'm doing revisions on three projects and edits on another. I have varying deadlines for each one, and I know what I want to achieve in any given month, but I also know that to keep moving forward, I need to make sure I don't overload myself.

And that's where pacing comes in. While it might feel like you need to pile on all the things, I promise it will only end up hurting you, and no one wants that. Goals are a way to motivate yourself sure, but they're not supposed to be at the expense of mental or physical health, and even if you're normally healthy, that doesn't mean that pushing yourself to the brink won't bring some physical or mental side effects.

While pushing yourself a little can be a good thing, when you're doing it to the point where it's a detriment to your sense of well being, that's a red flag, and all you're doing is setting yourself up to fail. I get that the urge is to cross all the things off your to-do list, but there is a better way to do this. What is it? Lemme break it down for you.

#1 MAKE A LIST OF WHAT YOU NEED TO DO
This is as simple as it sounds. If you know that you have a bunch of things that have to be done by a certain date, or different dates, then just write it down. Make that list, and put everything you can think of on there, and make sure it's as complete as it can be.

#2 ORDER IN IMPORTANCE
Obviously there are going to be some tasks and deadlines that are way more urgent than others. If you have a lot of different deadlines, then the ones due first are going to be the bigger ones to get done. The idea is to make sure you have as much time to get the things done as possible. Try not to add things that aren't really necessary to get done in the time frame. If this means moving things to a different list, then do so.

#3 SET UP A WORKING DAY
So I know that I can, mostly, only do one work thing a day. I just don't have the mental and physical energy to do more than that. I make sure that some days I have two things, like when I'm doing dev edits, I'll always have a two tasks a day but it's not sustainable constantly, so I need breaks, but on the majority of my days, I will make sure to only have the one important thing to get done. If I can do more on the day, that's something different, but the pressure is off to try and accomplish all these varying things.

#4 PARCEL OUT EVENLY & GO
Make sure you don't overload certain days, and no matter what you do, allow for days off, and allow for days when you might need to catch up from another day. I suggest both because you will need time off, everyone does, and that's not something you have to earn by using your days off as catch up days. We're all human, we all need breaks, and we all need to time to unwind.

I hope that helps, and good luck with pacing. Any questions? Lemme know in the comments! 

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