On the pressure to produce in publishing... . Recently I’ve seen a few essays about the unforgiving pace in publishing. The idea that you’ll fade from recognition if you don’t produce a book a year. I get it. I had books come out in back-to-back years, and the truth is I’m TIRED! . I’ve been in conversations with people who are freaked out that they don’t have books sold for years to come. I don’t know if it’s the Mama Bear in me, or just life experience, but I want to fold those people in my arms and tell them that creativity doesn’t have a deadline. . I’ve seen it all. Worked in high-powered ad agencies and Fortune 500 companies. The hours & pace exhausting. Your future, and your pay, all based on your output. Here’s what I got from 10 years of that: sickness, sadness, & a whole lot of regret. . The reality is that you CANNOT create in a vacuum. Craft & storytelling shouldn’t have a timeline. I understand that writing is some people’s livelihood, but creativity & art are not something you can churn out at a frantic pace & expect quality. I wish the publishing business understood that, but it is a business. Accepting & acknowledging that is important but so is setting boundaries. If you aren’t a fast writer, embrace that & understand that story comes at its own pace and time. It’s not about how many spines have your name on it, but the quality of work inside. . It’s an often repeated phrase in the writing community, but it is true - Keep your eyes on your own path. Just because someone is churning out 1, 2, or even 12 books a year (yes, I saw someone on Twitter post this) it does not mean you’re expected to do the same. . I wrote 2 books in the last year. Will they sell? I don’t know. What I do know is that I’ll keep working at my own speed. It’s the only real way I can make my writing life work without getting overwhelmed. . I think that’s the goal. Figure out what pace works for YOU. Talk about that reality with your agent & editors. In truth, I think it’s the only way to keep this business from eating you alive. . #writing #writinglife #writerlifeig #writingcommunity #writershelpingwriters #booklife #authorlife #publishing #amwriting #igauthorlife https://www.instagram.com/p/B7bM38hAnnS/?igshid=1vjcwhn1htp2x