What does that even mean? Simply put, this is the time of year I take stock of how things are going—professionally and personally. What has gone well for me, and what do I need to improve upon? How are the new processes I implemented working for me? Do I need to make any adjustments there? How can I grow as a writer and a person? What makes me happiest?

It’s very similar to an annual or semi-annual review you’d have with your employer. You’ll see in my Frequently Asked Question section why I take this approach, but first, I want to tell you a story about the last job I worked before writing full time.

I worked for a small insurance agency owned and operated by a husband and wife duo. They hired me in 2001, and I loved them like family. Part of their annual review process was to have me complete a questionnaire about my job performance—weakness and strengths. They filled out the same questionnaire as my employers, and then we compared answers. That only lasted for two years because they felt I was much too hard on myself, and they hated reading my answers. I was shocked by this. I wasn’t calling myself names, nor was I putting myself down. I was honestly answering how I felt about my performance. I knew exactly where I excelled and the areas I needed the most improvement.

I spent a lot of time by myself at this job during the latter part of my career when the agency downsized as the couple grew closer to retirement. There were other reasons for their decision, mostly the local economy at the time, but they realized I could efficiently do the work of three people and compensated me handsomely for my extra duties. The best benefit of working alone was learning how to manage my time and knowing I could work within tight deadlines. There was no one to delegate my workload to, which sounds awful, but I learned how to block out unnecessary temptations. I read articles about working smart and taking a five-minute break every half hour, which is the same practice as my writing sprints now. It’s amazing how things came full circle. It felt like my time at the agency prepared me for my writing career.

So, yes, I do a semi-annual evaluation to see how things are going. I don’t have a formal questionnaire, but I’m just as tough on myself now as I was back then. Why? It makes me mentally stronger to take outside criticism, and it honestly prompts me to look for ways to fix things that bug me about myself. I started reading craft books to see why I hit certain walls during certain phases in a book. I’m currently reading Story Genius by Lisa Cron, and it’s been a real eye-opener. I highly suggest this book to anyone who publishes books, regardless of where you are in your career. I think the worst thing a person can do is grow stagnant and believe there is no growth left for them.

Over the weekend, I was feeling overwhelmed by the extra writing projects I’d committed to writing for fall. This process helps me reel that in and prioritize. The simple act of writing down the deadlines and the plot ideas I have for each project makes me breathe so much easier. This leads me to…

Most Frequently Asked Question

How do I juggle multiple projects without suffering from severe burnout? I get this question from both authors and readers a lot.

The first thing I want to establish is no two writers are the same. Even though we end up with complete books, our brains do not comprehend, process, or focus identically. Also, the amount of time we can dedicate to our craft varies greatly. The majority of authors only write part-time, so cut them some slack. There are only so many hours in the day, and self-care is critical for everyone, but especially for a creative person. Writing full time is a privilege I don’t take for granted. The way we process stress in our lives impacts our ability to create too. Some authors shut down and cannot focus on writing if there is turmoil in their lives, while others use it as fuel to write or they view their word-slinging time as the ultimate escape from the problems in their lives. I fall into the fuel and escape categories. Also, depression and anxiety wreak havoc on a writer, so please don’t discount an author who battles them. When they open themselves up and share their struggles, they’re not making excuses, and they’re certainly not lazy or uncaring about their work.

Hard work and hustle. It’s my motto. Writing isn’t just about talent; it’s about hard work and hustle.. You might have the greatest story of all time flitting about in your head, but no one is going to know if you don’t tell it. I’m a person who thrives under pressure and likes the challenge of deadlines. Even if you’re not that type of person, there might be some helpful nuggets tucked in here.

Here’s my secret: I approach writing like I would any other job. (Hence my review process.) If I were working in corporate America again, I wouldn’t be able to call in sick if I had a headache or just wasn’t feeling it. I would have to fake my enthusiasm. Sound familiar ladies? Sometimes as a writer, you must fake it. You put words on the page with the understanding that a rough draft is a…rough draft. It’s not supposed to be perfect. There’s nothing wrong with doing your best to move the plot forward while understanding the words you’re sweating out might not make the final cut. Yes, it could mean more work later when you finish the book, but the keyword to focus on is finish. I know. I know. Writing is art, and it can’t be forced. I wholeheartedly agreed, but sometimes all artists need a nudge. That’s just the truth. You can’t rush perfection because no such thing exists. Accept that and trudge on. You never know when you’ll stumble across the spark that ignites the story. The point to all this rambling is you cannot achieve your dreams if you don’t work for them. Wishing, hoping, and planning can only take you so far. My message when talking to authors who just aren’t feeling the words: try. Even if you only get a few hundred words, it’s still progress.

Organization. Write down deadlines, digitally or by hand, so you can see what your timeline looks like. It doesn’t have to be an artsy bullet journal, nor does it need to be a complicated digital spreadsheet with tabs and graphs. Those things are great, but utilizing a wall calendar is just as helpful sometimes. Once you have the schedule laid out, you can determine if you’ve bitten off more than you can chew? There’s no shame in admitting it if you have. The key to successfully juggling projects is to be frank with yourself. There’s no sense in being miserable when you can avoid it. Make the adjustments you need or you risk the quality of your work, and at the end of the day, that’s what really counts.

Variety. It’s truly is the spice of life. Do you like to read the same books over and over and over? While we have comfort reads and genre preferences, most of us want to change things up. I cannot and will not read the same types of books, which means I cannot and will not write the same types of books. I’m slowly but surely venturing out into other areas, and I’m committed to writing projects that make me happiest, even if it means I establish a separate brand and pen name. Sometimes you truly need to hit the reset button, and you can’t always do that when you already have a brand with expectations. I can speak from experience when I say there’s something exhilarating about writing a book where there are zero expectations. I access the word document with glee in my heart and an understanding that I can’t give these guys one hundred percent of my focus because of prior commitments. It means doubling down on some writing days, but it’s worth it because they make me happy. Happy authors write books that readers love.

Growth. I mentioned this above but always look for ways to grow as an author. Read craft books with an open mind. All the tips and suggestions might not work for you, but you will glean ways to improve how you approach, plan, and execute writing your books.

Time management. I’ve said this plenty of times. Social media can be the greatest ally for your career or your worst enemy. If I’m deep into my feels, I avoid social media like the plague. I see a sad post, and it can wreck my writing mojo. I pop into my reading group to visit with readers and fellow authors, check my notifications to make sure I’m not ignoring anyone, then I focus on my day. There are apps you can download to help you improve your focus. I don’t use my desktop computer for anything other than writing, blogging, and sending out newsletters, so I’m not tempted to minimize my word doc and browse the net. My phone is my crutch when I’m stressed or anxious. Busy fingers help settle my mind, but Facebook is the last place I need to be when I’m feeling anxious. I lock that phone down with the Forest Focus app and redirect my energy.

These are just some of the things I zero in on when I’m assessing the state of the Aimee nation. If you’ve made it this far… Thank you! I haven’t decided what I’m going to write next month, but I’m leaning toward: To Post or Not to Post, that is the Question. I’ve also been asked to write a mini boot camp for authors. I’m open to suggestions if you want to comment below.

Until next time, happy reading and writing!