Battling My Work Lapses As An Author

It stresses me out when I don't post on Vocal for more than a few days.

To me, Medium and Vocal feel like a job, and not posting feels like I am calling out without a doctor's note. I know that's probably not what it's supposed to feel like, but thanks to my wanting to make something of myself, it does. But I am not the sanest of people, and my life is complex so posting doesn't always take priority - even if I am stressing myself out in the back of my mind over it.

The last week, I haven't been feeling mentally or physically well. And while I have lots of writing prompts in my head to write about, it's been hard to pull something out of my ears. I switch back and forth between just trying to fight my way through it to trying to figure out what's causing my lapse in desire, motivation, and creativity.

And this is me, using my own frustration at myself, as a writing prompt to help get me through this 'glass ceiling.'

Instead of lapsing completely when I have nothing to say, I focus on my other streams of income.

I know that if the white noise in my brain has stopped, I won't even be able to write badly. If my brain stops humming the things that I write about, the keyboard becomes my enemy. But Vocal and Medium at this point in my writing career, barely pay for themselves. So naturally, I have other streams of income that I am building. You have to when you rely on telling stories for money.

Not all of my streams of income are reliable, or consistent, and some of them are just barely getting off the ground. But they all require constant nurture, just like the writing platforms.

1. First up is my eBay store. I love eBay. When I had to close my thrift store, I was left with copious amounts of inventory, and I was stressed for a long time about what I was going to do with it all. Then I realized that just because I was closing down my store, it didn't mean I couldn't still sell everything.

I wrote an article about how eBay is a great start to having your own 'business.' eBay handles their fees and shipping labels, and they keep sales reports on tap for you. The only thing you need to worry about is having inventory, consistency, and shipping your items out on time. eBay relies on consistency, much like a writing platform. The more you post, the more visibility you have. So I dedicate at least one or two days a week at minimum to posting new items.

But when my brain shuts down, I can go braindead posting eBay items all day long. I don't have to think of anything - I just need to list the facts and take some pictures. To alleviate the stress of feeling unproductive when I am having writer's block, I will use the opportunity to create an influx of items for the shop which boosts my sales.

2. I also have a cute little Printify shop. It's still new and a work in progress, and I am arguing with myself over having an integrated Etsy shop, but before I have that long conversation I want to try and build up a decent amount of inventory. My little shop focuses specifically on the fantasy of everyday items. I'm a fantasy author, so I stick with that since I associate it with my books as a 'merchandising' thing. Bookmarks, journals, tapestries, jewelry, notebooks, sketchbooks, mousepads, desk covers, decks of cards, and puzzles. I am still toying around with the products, and creating the images for them is fun- as it's the only time I play around with the rage-inducing AI picture generators (sorry artists, I can't afford you yet).

Eventually, I will be setting up booths at little markets, to sell physical copies of my books and some of these items.

3. Another way I try and burst through the void of non-productivity is by editing what I already have written. Right now, I am grateful that I have huge headway into my second novel, Long Live The Queen. When I get stuck like this, sometimes going back and just rereading a chapter (or 4), and dragging it through an edit helps bring back the creativity.

4. Sometimes I just go into full insanity mode and exercise. I'll go outside and spend a few hours doing grunt labor work in my garden or just go hang out with my chickens (I love my chickens SO much). Fresh air, sunshine, and a heavy dose of endorphins being released unlocks the cage in my brain.

5. House chores don't help - but if I can't be productive in my working life, it's a great time to catch up on those house chores I probably avoided for too long because I hate them with all of my existence. However, my environment has an impact on my creativity - so if I have let the house go and there are a bunch of little things hurting my ADOhShiny sensory overload problem- it's got to get done so I can get back to work. A clean home is a productive home in this neurodivergent house.

So, while I have been quiet, I have still been hustling!

If anyone finds this useful - I'd find that pretty awesome. If you struggle with drawn-out stretches of "silence" from your muses, how do you break through it and get back to work? Leave your suggestions in the comments.

Find my fictional fantasy book "Memoirs of the In-Between" on Amazon in paperback, eBook, and hardback.

You can also find it in the Apple Store.

Use the code J3F-HK4-I0K for a 20% discount on your purchase of my book on the Campfire Reading app.

And if you like pretty things - check out the author's merch store - where all money goes right back into advertising.

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