Featured Writer on Wellness: Jen Storer

The biggest emotional challenge:
trying to keep the dream alive when all signs point to NO.

Even once you’re published/have an agent/have an audience, there’s no guarantee you’ll be able to keep going/keep publishing/create a viable career. You’re only ever as good as your next book.

Financially the odds are always against the creators, too. We’re the last to be paid and we get the smallest percentage. This can be demoralizing.

Writers Must Give Themselves Permission to Quit

I haven’t always coped. I’ve spat the dummy many times. I’ve even gone so far as to apply for a “normal” job. (I didn’t get it. I was overqualified. But the interviewing panel were fans of Tensy Farlow so that was cool. LOL!).

It’s really important to give yourself permission to quit; to feel confident you could let all this go and still be happy.

Big picture stuff is vital. To cultivate of spiritual perspective. I’m never far from some kind of spiritual musings or teachings.

The Average Muggle Has No Idea How Demanding This Industry Is

Aside from that, friendship is crucial. It’s important to surround yourself with motivated, creative people you admire and who understand the ups and downs.

It’s also important never to seek validation where you know you won’t get it. For example, many creators get angry with their families for not fully supporting them or celebrating their little wins. But, to be frank, the average muggle has no idea how demanding this industry is. Or how hard we work. You have to forgive them. You have to “get teflon” about their ignorance.

I’m also a walker. I walk out all the resentment. I also make a lot of art. Art saves me. As does digging in the dirt. I’m mad about gardening.

As you can see it’s not one coping strategy, but many.

In the Middle of a Big Project, Eat Protein!

I’m really big on protecting myself physically. I have my ergonomics sorted and continually upgrade.

I MOVE. I’m always moving. I’m like those kids who do dancing. You know, the ones who are constantly practicing steps or spinning on the spot? That’s me. I incorporate movement into my entire day.

I do bench presses while the kettle boils. I’m constantly doing yoga poses, standing on one leg, dancing, stretching. I rarely drive, I walk nearly everywhere. I get off the train three stations early, etc.

I eat a lot of protein. Especially when I’m in the middle of a big project. It gives me stamina and keeps my blood sugars stable. Wonky blood sugars mess with my concentration and stuff up the creative flow.

I drink lots of water and have a square of quality dark chocolate every evening. I’ve found it helps keep headaches at bay. I drink coffee occasionally but never more than one a day. I have occasional visits to an osteopath (neck work usually), and when I’m really under the pump, I have weekly massages and Reiki.

I also have a couple of spiky massage balls. They’re a godsend and give instant relief to cramped, tight muscles.

The Only Way to Deal—Keep Moving Forward

My darkest moment occurred when Penguin axed the Truly Tan series. I’d written book two (without a contract), but they changed their minds about the series and said it wasn’t earning enough. So I was stuck with book two in a series that had been axed.

I got busy on a new novel and shelved Truly Tan. That was the only way to deal with it—keep moving forward. You have to develop resilience in this field.

Four years after I shelved Truly Tan, HarperCollins picked it up, repackaged it and made it an eight-book, bestselling series.

Anything can happen in publishing!

Writers Need Grit and a Sense of Humor

Triumphs in writing? There are so many! Seeing it through, “mastering” the craft (ahem), collaborating with so many astonishing people. But beyond that it’s all about community. Meeting my readers is my greatest joy. Receiving their mail (and writing back) never gets old.

My other major achievement is girl & duck, my online business. It’s taken loads of energy and creativity to pull that together. I love the community. It’s so inspiring, supportive and vibrant. I also LOVE teaching adults, so girl & duck is the ultimate creative and intellectual outlet for me.

What’s kept me on my path? Grit and a sense of humour. I’ve needed both in equal measure. Lots of Echkart Tolle, too!

Advice for a Young Writer: It’s About Community, Not Competition

Do all you can to stay grounded. Understand the creative life is about community not competition. When you truly get that, you’ll flourish.

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Jen Storer has written many books for children, including the best-selling Truly Tan series. Jen is also Chief Inspirationalist at girl & duck.com where she teaches the art of writing for children. She lives with her partner in Melbourne, Australia.

For more information on Jen and her work, please see her website, visit Girl & Duck, or connect with her on Facebook, Twitter, Google+, YouTube, or Instagram.

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Truly Tanned Trapped!: Way out in the country, Mrs Topple is Tan’s closest neighbour. But Mrs Topple has gone on a cruise and Tan is in charge of security at the Topple cottage. Tan is also looking after the garden and watering the plants. But mostly she’s in charge of security. Which is just as well because something suspicious is going on.

Danny Best: Me First!: For fans of Weirdo, Diary of a Wimpy Kid, and Funny Kid for President comes the third book in a hilarious series about a legend named Danny Best. Best by name, Best by reputation …

Danny Best is always first.
First to wrestle a wild pig.
First to swim with crocodiles.
First to eat the eyeballs of a dead yak.

If the challenge is EPIC, Danny will be first.

Read this book. It’s filled with four AWESOME stories, each one about Danny Best. So you’ll be impressed.

Ages: 7+

Available at Booktopia.