I might have written this virtually precisely, heh, besides with out the agent search (however my editor simply left midcontract…) and I’m presently instructing full-time (and have children and people children have actions!). I’ve been right here for some time within the “doing each” house (I’ve printed 5, quickly to be six books historically with an enormous 5 writer), so I’ll write up some recommendation but additionally simply commiseration–it is vitally laborious, and it’s pushed me near burnout a pair occasions, together with proper right here, proper now. (The tip of this semester can’t come quickly sufficient.)
1) In terms of social media and “doing all of the issues” to push your guide: That is each miserable and liberating on the identical time, however it’s very, very uncommon that something we as authors can do will transfer the needle very a lot when it comes to gross sales (and when it occurs, it appears to be largely luck). My recommendation…simply do what you wish to do and don’t fear about the remaining. Wish to set up a launch occasion? Cool, do it–however it received’t generate gross sales. Wish to be on Insta or TikTok? Cool, however do it as a result of it’s a enjoyable further, not since you assume you must. Going to cons? Provided that it’s pleasant for you and you might be high quality with it being a sunk value. Take a step again and consider–IMO strip all of it out and deliberately add in solely what you WANT to do.
2) By way of schedule–do what works for you. I see you’ve already bought a “write an hour daily” individual and a “early morning author” individual, so I shall be opposite and say–neither of those work for me! Each semester I work up a brand new writing schedule (and admittedly, some work higher than others!) and I hit writing laborious over semester breaks when my schedule is extra open. For instance, for me, an hour is just not adequate to get into deep work, so an hour a day is definitely far much less helpful to me than, say two-three hours twice per week. In order that’s what I, personally, purpose to do–two or three blocks per week the place I’m not instructing are designated and scheduled as writing time. I get my instructing schedule after which schedule my writing blocks, and nothing else will get scheduled over these.
A part of that is know thyself–how do you write finest? A few of my buddies write in 20 minute sprints and knock out complete books that manner. A few of my buddies put aside day-long blocks a number of occasions a month and knock out complete books that manner. Perhaps you actually do work finest intensely and unexpectedly–so possibly chopping again on that summer time facet gig so you’ll be able to dedicate a pair months to day by day, intense writing could possibly be your key (although possibly that was a one-off, and hey, enjoyable reality, some books simply demand to be written in another way!). Figuring out how your inventive thoughts works and what’s conducive to your finest work is the important thing–after which schedule for it to the very best of your capacity. (This implies saying no to different stuff generally, and that’s the actually laborious half.)
3) Writing time is for writing. Sure, checking socials, studying up on the business, studying books in your style are all acceptable to wonderful makes use of of your time in knowledgeable sense, however they aren’t writing. Studying PW is not going to write your subsequent guide. Updating TikTok is not going to write your subsequent guide. Writing your subsequent guide writes your subsequent guide. So give your self grace on different stuff and prioritize writing time if it’s what you need.
4) I’ve a number of buddies who’ve modified brokers after publication and each certainly one of them mentioned–it’s a lot simpler this time, with a publication beneath your belt. Attempt to breath simpler on that, however actually, if refreshing your e-mail each 5 minutes is what this season means, hey, it’s only a season 🙂 Once we’re on sub, after we’re awaiting replies from agent, after we know an edit letter is coming–some occasions simply run on larger nerves than different occasions!
5) Talking of buddies–search out some fellow writers to commiserate with. Perhaps company siblings (former siblings even!), fellow authors together with your press, folks you had good rapport with on Blsky, no matter. (The one actually helpful factor about social media as a author, IMO, is utilizing it as a cocktail occasion the place you casually meet folks, then develop that connection additional in e-mail or no matter). When you’ve got a small group, contemplate beginning a Discord or a gaggle chat or one thing so you’ve got someplace to dump the frustrations that non-writers don’t get, and to ask questions, and usually get assist. It doesn’t remedy the “not sufficient time within the day” downside, however it does enable you to see that you simply’re not the odd one out and everyone seems to be struggling, and provide you with a spot to get some assist.
