Your book doesn't need more hustle

Hi Reader,

Two weeks ago, I found myself on a very loud, very crowded Disney cruise in the Bahamas. We booked this trip to escape the winter doldrums and to avoid being stuck at home while the kids were out of school for ski week.

We are big Disney fans, so a Disney cruise seemed like an inevitable trip for us. And it delivered on all the magic it promised. Our kids loved the Aquaduck water attraction, the pool with water slides, the unlimited soft-serve ice cream, the shows, and getting to see characters wandering around the decks.

I was excited to go for “research” for my cruise-ship set romance, and to continue on my revisions. I pictured myself on a quiet lounge chair, nothing but the shushing of waves chugging past me, as I wrote and edited.

But it didn’t quite go as I planned. As writing rarely does.

Instead, I wound up slightly overstimulated, uninspired, and with a helluva cold. Did I get some time on those lounge chairs? Yes. Did I finish a round of line edits? Yes.

However, the cruise and getting knocked on my tush by the cold I brought home taught me a much-needed lesson about the importance of rest in the writing process.

We are living in a society that lauds “productivity” and performance and output. We are constantly under pressure to deliver, to do, to act. And much of that might even be self-imposed. So many of us writers—eager to get the words down, the query letter out, the draft finished—burn ourselves out or rush in the name of doing.

But we are human beings, not human doings. And sometimes, we must let ourselves and our books rest.

I spent my convalescence (lol this word is giving me mega 18^th century vibes) mostly reading. I plowed through two books and allowed myself to sink into the stories and analyze the authors’ craft, which I always think makes us better writers. Instead of being wrapped up in my own book, my mind expanded to other possibilities and tips and tricks that I might apply to my work. None of this would have happened without time to rest.

Last year I jumped feet-first into the query trenches because I felt like my book was ready. I got feedback, I edited, pressure-tested my book, and then went for it because I was an overeager beaver. And it fell a little flat.

So this year, as I wrap up a big revision on the same book with an eye toward querying again, I am forcing myself not to rush. To rest. The cold that hit me last week reminded me how beneficial time away can be--especially after completing a draft. Good for our bodies, good for our spirits, good for our center of creativity. Last week, in the midst of chills and snot and sneezes and fever, if I had tried to move forward on my draft, I would have been blind to some of the issues. I would have been doing myself a disservice. I would have been doing my story a disservice.

Because our creative work deserves our best selves, doesn’t it? It deserves fresh eyes, energy, and a ready brain.

This week, my son is home sick (probably thanks to me). His little body wants to do nothing but lie on the couch, and I have no problem letting him. Because that’s what he needs. Can he do his best work at school when he needs rest this badly? Of course not. So why is it easier to accept this with our kids or spouse—or in the face of illness—than if we just recognize that we need to take a day off from writing?

PSA: It is okay to rest when we need it. You don’t have to be sick. In fact, sometimes it’s the unnecessary stress we put on ourselves to do, do, do that knocks us flat on our backs, sick, with no other choice but to rest. (Raising my hand here.)

We are in the last few weeks of winter, thankfully, and I invite you to use that time to rest if you need it. Winter, in and of itself, is a time of rest. Days are dark and cold, and nothing is really growing. We are all just waiting for brighter days and the new beginnings that come with spring. So take it if you need it.

This week I’m jumping back into final revisions, and I’m energized. I have new clarity. I have a plan. None of that comes without having taken a break last week so that I could come back to it fresher.

And I wish the same for you, if you need it.

So tune in, listen to your instincts, and don’t beat yourself up if you need a break. Give your book some distance, gain clarity. Read other books. Rest can be a powerful part of the writing process, if you let it.

New Free Craft Resource

Last month I promised a new free resource for you. During my rest time, I finally had a few moments to catch up and create that document.

A few weeks ago, I gave a craft talk to my seasonal small writing group about interiority. Not just about what it is and how it's absolutely essential to crafting compelling fiction, but with a focus on scene- and line-level tips and tricks to apply.

Now I've put all the good stuff into a short scene interiority audit workbook.

It's for aspiring and emerging novelists who know their scenes are technically sound but still feel flat, rushed, or emotionally thin on the page. Whether you’re revising a draft, preparing to query, or trying to deepen reader immersion, this practical, scene-level checklist helps you quickly diagnose where interiority is missing and how to strengthen it.

Offerings

Thanks so much for being here with me. I value you and I sincerely hope that I provide value for your writing journey. If you feel inclined, drop me a line and let me know what you’re working on!

Happy Writing ,

Karyn

P.S. Loving these emails? Buy me a cup of tea to say thanks. Or you can book a free 30-min story strategy chat here if you're interested in getting specific help with your book.

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Granite Bay, CA
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