From Burnout to Breakthrough: The Real Journey After Publishing Your First Book with Mary Woods
Published your first book? Struggling with the sequel? You’re not alone. Mary Woods shares her top 4 tips from dealing with the post-publishing aftermath! She found that she's now managing a small business, threading burnout, and her imposter syndrome feels worse, not better. Mary encourages authors to get ready for a mindset shift: writing is a marathon, not a sprint. Allow yourself the grace to take breaks, engage in other passions, and ease back into writing with manageable goals. Connect with a supportive community and cherish reader feedback to reignite your passion.
Register: legendhaven.com | Website: maryjessicawoods.com
Publishing Perseverance: How to Get Back in the Saddle After Your First Book Release
There are lots of resources and conversation about how to get your first book published. But what about after your first book is out? I feel like we don’t talk enough about the unique challenges of this stage.
You now run a small business
Involves marketing, website maintenance, keeping track of income/expenses, taxes, paperwork, etc.
Can be overwhelming if you’re not prepared for mindset shift
Burnout/getting back into writing
You will be TIRED after your first book release—let yourself take a break
You may not be in a space to start drafting a new story for several months—and that’s okay
After months/years in editing and marketing mode, getting back into drafting mode can be difficult—you’ll be rusty
Let yourself write what brings you excitement/joy, even if it isn’t the story you think you “should” be writing
Imposter syndrome can actually get worse after publishing your first book
You now have expectations from both readers and yourself
You may wonder if first book was a fluke—“Can I really do this again?”
“Are you writing a sequel?” will become your least favorite question (but try to respond graciously; people mean well!)
Tips for perseverance
Create systems/habits that allow you to maintain business tasks easily
Be gentle with yourself. Feelings of burnout/overwhelm/imposter syndrome are normal.
Take as long a break as you need. Do other things you enjoy besides writing. Let yourself be supported by family and friends.
When you do start writing again, start small, and don’t be surprised if it feels difficult. There’s nothing wrong with you; you’re just reacquiring the habit.
Find a writing community that will cheer you on. Talk to other authors about your struggles—they have probably experienced the same thing!
Enjoy the interactions you have with readers and fans—hold onto those moments
Don’t be afraid to step back from active marketing/social media if that’s what you need to start writing again. The best marketing for Book 1 is Book 2, as they say.