In my last post, I wrote about some loose ends to tie up now that the promo stack for my latest novel Core Haven: Hope Amid the Ruins has run its course.

I wish I could report that I’ve made significant progress working my way through that mound of to-dos…or a decent amount of progress even…or enough to get by…or anything that makes me feel like I’m moving forward. The truth of the matter is I’ve only managed to check off one or two things, update a few items, & make a brand-new list.

But instead of reacting to that realization by careening down an icy road of self-judgement as I have in the past, I’ve decided to let up on the gas, do some sightseeing, & even stop for a stroll now & then. That way I can give myself the benefit of the doubt, chalk up my slower response to simple burnout, & take a damn break.

Even though rest is a basic need, I struggle with actually embracing it. What I’m finally coming to terms with is that I’ve historically treated unwinding from such an intense period as if it required one of three things: exercise (as in, “Relax, 2-3-4, relax, 2-3-4”), scheduling (as in, “OK, Tuesday afternoons will be for downtime”), or grace (as in, “And now, I shall calm the wild beast within me, accept the background noise for what it truly is, and be mindful of the moment”).

I mean, I’ve been busting it for months to keep some momentum going, maximizing every possible minute, staying up too late, rising too early, drinking too much coffee, letting exercise go by the wayside, losing my focus, falling asleep at my desk, pushing, pushing, pushing.

An old friend commented that considering my circumstances, I’ve done a decent job balancing my writing life with my real-world life.

I wanted desperately to agree but knew full well the underlying irritant catching in my craw, as my grandma used to say, has to do with a lack of what I consider pure writing time. Pure as in, writing whatever I want during a designated block of time. Not developing graphics, making reels, learning new things, scheduling, deciding budgetary aspects. Most troubling is how much that pure writing time has suffered from the constant barrage of promotional issues clamoring for resolution.

That’s why tinkering with my new novel has been so helpful. In fact, now that I’m finishing another post which, by the way, is almost as satisfying as writing fiction, I can devote the last hour of my morning session to a deep dive back into my next novel.

Trust me, I can get a satisfying writing recharge in that amount of time—so long as I don’t check my emails or social media platforms, that is.

Till next time.

Drew

P.S. I’m happy to report that at the time of my writing this post, Core Haven: Hope Amid the Ruins has maintained its 4.8 out of 5 with 54 global ratings & 52 customer reviews on Amazon. Not too shabby, right?

P.S.S. If by chance you’re interested in reading and thoughtfully reviewing either of my two companion novels, please see the Amazon links below. (And thanks so much in advance!)

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Lee Hall’s Review of Core Haven: Hope Amid the Ruins

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I invite you to check out Lee Hall’s excellent video review, especially the first book he includes on his short list of memorable indie reads—uh-huh, that would be Pearl Fields and the Oregon Meltdown.

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