Writing is such a personal and intimate thing.
I always liken writing with the intent to publish to be like singing in front of a crowd. It’s a very vulnerable thing and so you can be very susceptible to the little whispers of self doubt.
You really can be your own worst enemy and if you listen to the voice that says, “that’s a silly idea,” or “you’re not good enough” you’re doing yourself and anyone who would be influenced by your writing a disservice.
Expect That 20 Percent of Your Readers Won’t Like Your Work
It’s important to remember that you will never please everyone—and if you do, it’s likely you won’t be making many waves.
A dear friend of mine told me once to expect that 20% of your readers won’t like your work. So if you reframe your thinking to expect some degree of rejection, then when it comes (and trust me, as a writer you will get plenty of rejection), you stare rejection straight in the face and say, “Oh, there you are! I was waiting for you. Now move along.”
Self-doubt rears its ugly little head in so many ways and so it makes sense that, at least for me, there are so many different ways I can overcome it. A multifaceted beast can be vanquished with different swords, so to speak.
It’s actually more of a blessing than a curse. Reaching out to others always seems to minimize the weight of any problem. I’m lucky to have such a supportive network of friends and family and they help so much. As a wise fictional character once said, “While it is always best to believe in oneself, a little help from others can be a great blessing.”
Yoga and Nature Walks Help Re-Align My Priorities
I would also add that Yoga and walks in nature are my other major go-tos when my mind goes a bit wonky.
While music is nice to walk with sometimes, I also like walking without headphones and completely unplugging. For me, music can sometimes just numb the problem so that it comes back tenfold later, but if I force myself to unplug, often it allows my mind to process what’s bothering it and move on.
Yoga is similar except that, by forcing my mind to focus on the breath and the postures, I find I pull myself out of whatever hole I was falling into. It seems to give my mind something else to do other than dwell and I come out the better for it. Yoga and nature walks have a marvelous way of re-aligning my priorities and “de-wonkifying” my headspace.
While Writing My First Novel, I Got Really Bad Back Pain
Hours spent hunched over a computer is never a good thing.
I love writing while reclined on the couch but my posture definitely suffers because of it.
While writing my first novel, I ended up getting really bad back pain. It got so bad that at one point I had to take a break from writing for a few months.
Since then I’ve realized that I benefit so much from making sure I do yoga multiple times a week. I’ve really found yoga to be the best bang for your buck as it helps with the physical and mental tolls of writing.
It’s also important that I’m sitting in proper chairs (not crumpled on my sofa!) Keeping myself accountable definitely helps me in the long run as I’m able to write for longer and more often (which makes sure the books get written!)
I Look for the Magic In My World
I purposefully look for the magic in my world.
It can be so tempting to move throughout my day on autopilot, or to get drawn into negative spirals of thinking.
I find it a little more effort, but so much more rewarding to stop and smell the roses. To pause and see the wonder. Even if it’s something small like making myself a cup of tea, or watching the hummingbirds flit past my window, these moments of magic don’t just happen. We need to look for them, we need to keep our eyes open, and we need to make them happen.
That above all else keeps me creative.
On the flipside, the biggest drain on my creativity is probably getting sucked into my phone and social media. That’s just information that is being fed to you, there’s no reason to think for yourself or to even do anything with that information.
It’s a very passive way to be, and I know I feel it really shut off my creativity.
It’s the Little Details That Give Your World Depth
I’ve studied language in very different ways and still can’t get enough.
I have a degree in English literature which is all about the content and message of language, and I have a Masters in Speech Language Pathology, which is all about how we understand and use language.
I think the biggest influence these areas of study have had on my writing is in the naming of people, places, and things in my world. Rarely is a name just something I liked, there always has to be some level of meaning behind it.
Language and words have such a rich history that, for my world to feel real, the places had to be named intentionally.
I don’t know if anyone by me notices but on the map of Frea we have the Queendom of Nysa (Latin root) in the West and the Kingdom of Auster (Germanic root) in the East and the Queendom of Frea in between the two.
Then within the Queendom of Frea the place names shift from Latin to Germanic as we move from West to East.
I think it’s little details like that that give your world depth (and if you can’t nerd out about your own world, who will??).
I Honestly Don’t Know Where I Found the Time to Write
When I was writing my first novel, I worked as a Speech Language Pathologist five days a week, 8:30 to 5, and had a private practice on the side.
I honestly don’t know where I found the time, but it was important to me so I made it work. It was a priority.
It can be really challenging fitting writing in on top of just the day-to-day life jobs as well. I have found what works best for me is to wake up an hour earlier than I need to and to get a big chunk of writing done in the morning before work. That way you’ve done it right off the bat and if you have more time later in the day to write some more, that is even better.
I’ve also found a word limit keeps me on track too. If I know how many words I need to write in a day, I stick at it until it’s done (or I exceed it).
Advice for a Young Writer: Welcome Rejection!
Rejection is your friend and you should welcome it!
Honestly, you will get so many rejections before someone decides to take a chance on you, and that’s okay.
It’s a wonderful opportunity to grow or to recognize that not all advice is good, and at the end of the day, if you know in your heart your work is good—someone else will see it too (eventually).
* * *
Jordan H. Bartlett is a New Zealand-born Canadian with a love for children’s literature and female empowerment. She grew up reading books about boys for boys and found it hard to find a strong female heroine she could relate to.
Bartlett wrote Contest of Queens to give young readers that character she so longed for in a world where gender norms are reversed. Bartlett currently resides in Banff, Alberta where she works as a Speech Language Pathologist and is a certified yoga instructor.
For more information on Jordan and her work, please see her website and connect with her on Facebook, Instagram, and YouTube.
The Rose Petal Princess and other fairy tales: This is a fairy tale treasury to fit a modern reader’s bookshelf.
With the tone of a Grimm’s tale, the magic of a Disney story, and the morality and representation of 2021, this little book promises to capture your heart.
Inside you will find tales about about magic, bravery, integrity, loyalty and love. Whether it be a story about doors that lead everywhere and nowhere, dancers who battle an undead army, a man who cannot place his feet on the ground, or a daughter trapped within her mother’s cruel spell, there’s something for everyone.
Available at Amazon.
Contest of Queens: Jacs, an inventor’s apprentice from the Lower Realm, has only ever dreamed of what the land among the clouds holds. That is until she finds a letter from Connor, an Upperite boy hoping to learn more about the land below. Little does Jacs know, Connor is actually Prince Cornelius of the Queendom of Frea. With wooden boats and hot air balloons, the two begin a secret correspondence. But their friendship is divided by a heavily-guarded bridge and an inescapable prejudice.
The strength of their bond was thought to transcend distance and time, but when the royal family visits the Lower Realm, the Queendom’s feud is reignited.
To save her people, Jacs must infiltrate the Upper Realm and earn her place to compete in the Contest of Queens. In a story about friendship, love, bravery, and defying gravity, Jacs will strive to prove that a Queendom is strongest when united.
Available at Amazon and wherever books are sold.