I always thought the hard part of being a writer would be getting published.
And that was a challenge; I was rejected over a hundred times for my first two books, books I ended up trunking. I got my agent with my third book, Jester, and after lots more rejection in the submissions process, CamCat picked it up as my debut novel.
So naturally, I thought I was past the hard stuff. I was surprised when I went to begin my second novel, and couldn’t write.
The Publishing Industry Glamorizes the Book-a-Year Mentality
Writer’s block, impostor’s syndrome and a whole host of other mental issues completely kept me from finishing anything for longer than a year. I’m only just now starting to come out of it.
So much of writing is emotional, and I had burned out hard with my first three books. I’ve had to learn that sometimes it’s necessary to take time off, and that I can’t force myself to write when I’m burned out.
Our industry glamorizes productivity and the book-a-year mentality, so it was really hard for me to take that time away from writing. There’s a time to push through and a time to rest, and I’ve definitely been in a season of rest the last little while.
Running Gets Me Away from the Computer
For me, the biggest physical challenge of being a writer is finding the time to exercise.
There are only so many hours in a day, so I’ve had to be very intentional about balancing writing and a healthy lifestyle.
Running has been great for me the last few years, because it gets me away from the computer and outside. It has the added benefit of being a quiet place to ruminate on new book ideas and plot holes.
In the winter, we get a lot of snow, so my husband and I invested in a treadmill so we could run inside, but I still love getting outside to run the best.
I’m Still Trying to Learn Balance with Book Marketing
I’m actually awful at marketing.
I was very active on social media while querying and had some success at viral posts, but found I didn’t like how invested I had to be in social media in order to be good at it.
I’m still trying to learn balance with that and I’ve taken some time away from it for the time being.
To help with my marketing inadequacies, I’m taking an amazing copywriting course by Christa Nichols, copywriter extraordinaire, right now. I highly recommend it for marketing-challenged writers, or writers looking to expand from publishing!
Time to Write: Small Steps Over Time Lead to Big Results
I do copywrite on the side for my husband, and I’m hoping to grow that into a freelance business. But fiction is and always will be my first love, and I plan to always make time for it.
I also have three boys and a small hobby farm with chickens, goats, and turkeys, so things can get pretty hectic! I’ve found that prioritizing writing, and making sure I get words in every day—even if it’s only a page or two—gets books written.
I wrote my debut in the hour or two my youngest would nap, so I am a big believer in small steps over time leading to big results.
Right now, we [also] have one small field of lavender. Our goal is to eventually have enough lavender to press our own oil and create a line of skin/hair products. Currently we dry the lavender we do harvest every year to create bundles that smell great and look beautiful.
Lavender has a very calming effect, so sometimes just smelling it around our house is all I need to reset.
Too Many Writers Think They Know Enough and They Limit Themselves
The biggest advice I can give [for landing a traditional publisher] is to never stop learning and never stop reading.
Too many writers think they know enough, they’re already good enough, and they limit themselves as artists. We live in a wonderful time where information is constantly being disseminated and is more available than ever. You can learn at the feet of the greats with podcasts, YouTube, blogs and more.
Also, make friends in the writing community! Find friends at all stages of the journey, from experienced writers who can serve as mentors and inspirations, to beginning writers who can share the journey with you and learn with you. When writers help each other, it helps everyone grow.
Advice for a Young Writer: Write for Fun!
Write for fun! Now is the time to explore writing and to write the things you enjoy.
Start a writer’s group with some friends and make it your safe place to share your words. There is no pressure to sell or make a career out of writing, and no better time to figure out why and what you love to write. All that writing for yourself will make you a stronger writer for the time you’re ready to start writing for others.
Sometimes I get so caught up in market and trends, that I forget to write for myself. The best writing I’ve done has always been the stories I’ve written for me.
* * *
Brielle Porter decided to become a writer after a well-meaning (but misguided) elementary school teacher told her she was good at writing. Stolen moments under bedsheets reading anything from Harry Potter to William Goldman solidified the desire to tell stories herself one day.
She lives with her husband and three sons on a lavender farm in Northern Idaho. Other than writing, she loves running and beekeeping. Only ask her about her hobbies if you have plenty of time to spare.
Find more about Brielle and her work on her website and connect with her on Instagram and Twitter.
Jester: What happens in Oasis, stays in Oasis.
Lisette’s father killed the King. His execution leaves Lisette alone, disgraced, and without the magic he intended to pass on to her. In Oasis, that’s a problem. Glutted with enchanted performers, Oasis is a sin city where courtiers pay in gold to drink, gamble, and above all, be entertained. To survive on its competitive streets, Lisette peddles paltry illusions in place of magic.
Desperate to prove herself, Lisette enters into a deadly competition to be chosen as the highest-ranked magician in the world, the Queen’s Jester. But her rival, the irritatingly handsome Luc, possesses the one thing Lisette does not—real magic. Lisette will do anything to win, but when evidence implicating the Queen in her husband’s murder surfaces, Lisette must choose between redeeming her family name, or seizing the fame she’s hungered for her entire life.
Available at Amazon and wherever books are sold.