That may sound strange, coming from someone about to launch a book into the world, who will have to promote that book, sign hundreds of copies of that book, speak and write about said book to (hopefully) hundreds of people.
But my hope for this year is to stay disconnected—from my ego, which is eager to read reviews of THE ONES WE CHOOSE, comparing them to others, being on LISTS! AWARDS! INTERVIEWS! It’s easy to lose sight of the path I want to be on…and it’s not that one.
I want to disconnect from the characters on the page so I can better connect with the characters in my life—my kids. My friends. My family. I spend entirely too much time with people who aren’t real.
I want to disconnect from online drama. When I turn off my phone and iPad, it’s amazing how still I am. How quiet my life is, empty and waiting for me to fill it—with people. Books. Healthy food. Movement and travel. Experiences.
I want to disconnect from the hype of being a debut author—all the mania and anxiety. People will love it. Others will hate it. And still others will be so indifferent they might not read it at all. So many writers fall down the rabbit hole of reading their reviews, setting a Google alert for their name and book title, and checking their amazon sales stats daily. I don’t want to play that game. Writing that book was really hard. Maybe the hardest thing I’ve ever done. But it’s not mine anymore and I need to move on. How my book is received by the world is completely out of my control.
And so, in the months leading up to my May 8 release, I’m going to hang onto the wise words of Sue Grafton, who was smart and spunky and who will be greatly missed:
“Writing is an internal process. Success is external and not something we can control in any event. I foster that disconnect because it keeps me grounded. Also, humble, lovable, and grateful. I am blessed.”
Foster that disconnect, and re-engage with what matters. Happy New Year, readers. Blessings and good health to you all.
What a lovely post, and a good reminder to step back and look at the general picture.
Thank you! It’s not always easy to do. Or maybe, not EVER easy to do.