Stop Juggling Flaming Chainsaws
Writing requires focus. So why is it so hard to do this one thing?
More times than not, in the midst of a book project, one of our clients will need to stop in for a pitstop. They are tired and overwhelmed by everything that needs to be done. They are juggling flaming chainsaws. And typically we are too far out from the release of the book to just say, “Keep pushing - you are almost there!”
We call this moment in the publishing journey “a time for encouragement.” The publishing process is long and arduous. It requires a lot of you. That’s why we try to remind our clients to focus on what you can control.
You don’t get to control the New York Times Bestsellers List.
You don’t get to control changes at your publishing house.
You don’t get to control the size of that other author’s platform (even though you’ve worked twice as hard as they have!).
But you do get to control and prioritize time to write and edit.
You do get to control the things you say “Yes” to and the things you say “No” to.
You do get to control the effort you are putting into growing your platform.
Telling yourself you have a choice helps to fight against the strain of all the juggling. Suddenly those flaming chainsaws don’t feel as dangerous because you’ve decided to stop juggling them. You’ve made a commitment to control what YOU can control.
During that time of encouragement with our clients, it’s like an aid station at mile 16 of the marathon. We take a moment to assess where we are and how we are going to get to the finish line. The most crucial part of these moments is when we help our clients align their focus. We help them prioritize the journey ahead. (By the way, you can also do this with us!)
And the thing about flaming chainsaws is (and this is the most important part about today’s message), we are the ones that choose to pick up the flaming chainsaws. Oftentimes we don’t even realize we are juggling them until someone asks us why we are doing that.
“Why are you juggling those flaming chainsaws?”
Did you know you can hire someone to help you with platform building so it’s not one more thing to do?
Did you know you can get help with building a writing schedule?
Did you know...You don’t have to juggle all the things anymore?
Take Action
If you feel like you need a time of encouragement with us, you can schedule one-on-one consultations with our agents. We can help you focus on what you can control and offer the type of feedback and inspiration that will get you to your publishing finish line. We teach and coach first-time and veteran authors interested in advancing their careers, using our unparalleled experience, hard-won wisdom, and industry-leading strengths to help them reach their full potential.
