Smell the Roses

Day two's blog doesn't have as much of an expectation to wow you with my personality as day one, but it's still there.

I feel like I'm giving you a bad impression of me. This blog is supposed to be about the stresses, trials, and tribulations of trying to get published. So on day 2, when I type I have done absolutely nothing to forward my publishing aspirations, you may think I'm already going back on my word.

But on the contrary, this is my mental health day. It's my "returning to me" day. Every single day for the past month, I have been either trying to write new queries, pitches, or scenes. I've dedicated almost every single quiet moment I've had to improving my novel, creating a new novel, or thinking about the next one. Even running, I'm listening to my character's playlist on my Nano. (Yes, I give my character's playlist to match their personality or to match the tone of a scene.) But everone needs a break. I realized I needed mine when I woke up at 3 am in a cold sweat and feel the I'm-going-to-jump-out-of-my-skin anxiety all because I haven't heard back from a literary agent.. It's not healthy.

So today is a go back to what first turned me into writing. I'm reading books I love. I'm enjoying my baby girl's company. I'm smiling at my husband.

Don't get me wrong. There's still plenty to do. There's still anxiety swirling all around me, but when the quest to be published consumes all my energies and makes me OCD about my book or literary agents, it's time to take a step back. Take a deep breath, and smell the roses. In invite you to do the same.