It’s #WorldMentalHealthDay… so I don’t know who needs to hear this, but give yourself a break, you’re doing brilliantly.
I was beating myself up earlier because I’m reading quite slowly at the moment… I’m only managing to read about a book a month (if that). As an author, you’re constantly told you’re failing if you aren’t inhaling 752 novels a second, hoovering up every zeitgeist, everyone in your genre and every other genre to boot. If you’re not reading everyone, all the time, how can you be a good writer.
Well, I’ve barely been reading anything at all since the first lockdown began and I’m sick of beating myself up about it.
I’ve written my third novel in that time. I’m bringing up two kids, a loon of a puppy*. I’m running a business in the toughest climate since 2008. I’m about to launch another business and I’m writing my fourth novel and a screenplay based on my first three.
I’ve decided the reason I’m feeling overwhelmed is because life IS overwhelming, not because I’m deficient.
I think we all need a reality check sometimes. I’m doing okay. You probably are, too, even though it doesn’t always feel that way.
Take a breath.
*I didn’t mention Peggy the cat, because frankly, she looks after herself and is the least ‘dependent’ dependent I’ve ever known.
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