What to do when you get stuck… Plus how to make writing the best part of your day ✨
October is my birthday month and safe to say, I’ve started celebrating already. I’ve already seen Beetlejuice 1 & 2 (you can’t beat the first, though Michael Keaton holds strong, and Monica Bellucci is, as always, mesmerizing).
I’ve been pampering myself as much as I can, in the small windows of me-time that I have, including an extra-long run this morning to some of my favourite moody artists (Nick Cave, Kurt Vile, PJ Harvey—don’t they just ooze fall?).
And as much as I have a tower of manuscripts to edit, and the list of books in my TBR pile keeps growing, I couldn’t help but indulge my inner Winona Ryder last night by cracking open Grady Hendrix’s My Best Friend’s Exorcism, because to be honest, everything I’ve read since The Southern Book Club's Guide to Slaying Vampires last fall has paled in comparison.
I guess I’m sharing this glimpse into my own private world because there are seasons for living out loud, chasing goals and going hard. And there are seasons for quieter reflection, to do things just for the fun of it, to honour and stoke those creative fires.
And also because, as much as us humans like to master and be the master of things, not least of all ourselves, Muse is a tricksy, fickle, slippery thing. Creative sparks don’t always happen when we expect or command, but rather when we stop, listen and follow.
I guess where I’m going with this is sometimes you know where you’re going, but sometimes—like this message—you don’t until you get there. Sometimes writing, creating, looks like stepping off a cliff into the great unknown, when you’re open to what you might discover there.
Cat xo
PS: I’m hosting a FREE book publishing workshop in a couple of weeks. If you want to know more about how to write, finish, publish and marketing a book before you take that leap of faith, sign up here.
Writing tip of the week: Are you having any fun?
I was chatting with a client recently who was struggling to meet her commitment to her book. Digging underneath it we discovered that she had made her book a have to, versus a get to.
There are so many things we HAVE to do—laundry, cooking, cleaning, homework, bookkeeping, going to the gym. I don’t want writing to be a have to as well—for me or my writers.
For me, going on long walks/runs in nature feels like selfcare. It’s also where most of my ideas come from and where I get my best writing done.
For you, though, what would make the writing experience delicious? Could it be creating a cozy writer’s nook, one decorated with beautiful artwork to inspire you? Lighting candles with some of your favourite fragrances? Is it a weekend retreat in cottage country? Or an overnight in a fancy hotel room?
Think about what would make the writing experience fun/exciting/enticing. Then go do it. (And let me know—I’d love to hear!)
PS: If you would like someone to help you get unstuck in your writing so you can achieve your book publishing dreams, hit reply to schedule a discovery call with me and see if we can make magic together! Or sign up for my next free workshop here.
Comps that Click: The Art of Finding Your Perfect Comp Title
One of the hardest things for an author to do can be finding the perfect comp titles for your book.
Comps are books that are similar to yours, and identifying the right ones can help you position your book for success – but only if you do it right!
Whether you're querying agents and publishers, or marketing your self-published book to readers, listen to my interview with literary agent Léonicka Valcius to discover her tips for choosing the perfect comp titles to elevate your pitch and make your book stand out.