Writing Through Adversity
By Guest | September 15, 2013 |
photo by Jonathan Kos-Read
Today’s guest, Elena Greene, is excited to share what she’s learned about writing through adversity—and how the digital publishing revolution has helped. Elena grew up reading her mother’s Georgette Heyer novels, but it wasn’t until she went on an international assignment to the United Kingdom that she was inspired to start writing her own. Her first Regency romance was published in 2000 and was followed by five more Regencies and a novella. Her books have won the Desert Rose Golden Quill and Colorado Romance Writers’ Award of Excellence. Her Super Regency, Lady Dearing’s Masquerade, won RT Book Club’s award for Best Regency Romance of 2005. Elena lives in upstate New York with her stroke survivor husband and two daughters.
From her new novel, Fly With a Rogue…
A village schoolmistress’s life takes a turn when a Waterloo veteran turned aeronaut crashes his balloon near her cottage. Passion sweeps them along, taking them on a scandalous flight across the English countryside. They must marry, but can they make a life together?
You can find Elena on Facebook, connect with her on Twitter @ElenaGreene7, and read her posts on the Risky Regencies blog.
Writing Through Adversity
The last time I was here, I talked about Making a Comeback in the Digital Age. I talked about how I’d had some modest success writing Regency romances and how my career went on hold in 2009, due to my husband’s unexpected and disabling stroke. By the time of that earlier post, he had progressed enough that on many days, I could find an hour or two for writing and related activities. I had begun to self-publish my backlist and had also returned to work on the Regency historical romance I’d set aside for two years.
The ups and downs of stroke rehab, insurance struggles, and the needs of my two school-aged daughters continued to put demands on my time. Family came first, but I wrote whenever I could. Last month, I was delighted to finally give the protagonists in Fly with a Rogue a happy ending.
Along the way, I learned a lot about writing under difficult circumstances. I hope some of these things can help others dealing with similar challenges.
One thing I had to deal with was limited and unpredictable writing time. I tried taking it out of sleep, but I’m not creative when sleep-deprived and it wreaks havoc on my immune system. Some writers say they can trade sleep for writing, but for those dealing with a sick or injured loved one or similar life challenges, I recommend good self-care.
So I ended up having to accept that I would deal with starts and stops. I also knew that once the story was done, I’d spend extra time going through it to make sure it flowed as a whole.
I didn’t find any magic bullets for writing faster. What I did figure out was how to get out of my own way.
I used to sit down to work and just churn with resentment that I’d missed so many planned writing sessions and despairing that I’d ever finish anything again. Sometimes I felt guilty for taking time for myself. None of that was helping.
I was already practicing Buddhist meditation to help me handle the caregiving stress, so I turned those same techniques toward my writing. The goal was neither to suppress negative feelings (“It doesn’t matter if I can’t write”) nor to attach them to a storyline (“The Universe is telling me I shouldn’t be a writer”). The goal was to acknowledge those feelings (“Yes, it sucks that I can’t write more often”) and then let go (“I’ll write today and let myself enjoy it, because I deserve it”). I’m not saying this was easy. But once I started taking five minutes to meditate prior to writing, my sessions became more peaceful, healing and productive.
Along with my meditation practice, the other thing that helped my comeback was the digital revolution. My backlist books did well, hitting Kindle bestseller lists in their categories and bringing in some much-needed income. Just as importantly, they were giving me a chance to reconnect with readers.
Along the way, I decided I would self-publish this book too. The few industry professionals to whom I’d pitched it had been lukewarm, possibly because it wasn’t on trend for the genre. But it was the story I wanted to write and I knew there were readers who would buy it.
It also helped that I could set my own schedule. When I was traditionally published, I was always conscientious about deadlines, but that would be difficult now. The downside is that with self-publishing, it helps to be prolific. A lot of very successful indie authors write multiple books a year and spend more time than I do on social media and the like.
But life has taught me to take a broad view. I’m happy to be able to write part time, in a way that fits my family’s needs, and to make money doing something I love.
Have you experienced unexpected turns or adversities in life that have affected your writing? What are some ways you’ve adjusted your writing schedule and expectations to meet those challenges? Are there specific techniques, like meditation, you can recommend that have worked well for you?
Many thanks to today’s guest.
You can read more WU guest posts by visiting this link.
Wow, Elena, this is a lovely post. Its sounds like you’ve really got a grip on this challenge. I agree self-publishing options have encouraged writers to sit down and explore their talents. I think many times in the past the traditional publishing houses have discouraged so many good writers with rejection because the publisher didn’t think the books would create high enough sales for their profits. Writing is much more than sales profits. Self-publishing options have brought the value of creativity and expression back to writers, especially in fiction. Thanks for your insights!
“Writing is much more than sales profits.” I couldn’t agree more. I’ve found that for me enjoying the process is its own reward, and the results end up better than when I’m focusing too much on the end result. That having been said, money is good. Self publishing has helped me take advantage of the niche or readers who enjoy my stories, even if I don’t always shoot “down the middle” in my genre.
While I haven’t written through adversity, I certainly related to “I used to sit down to work and just churn with resentment that I’d missed so many planned writing sessions and despairing that I’d ever finish anything again. Sometimes I felt guilty for taking time for myself. None of that was helping.”
I have a lot of requirements on my time and recently I’ve found myself missing writing session after writing session, for reasons I can’t figure out. I’m starting to think it’s some sort of convoluted rebelliousness. Anyway, then I definitely get upset at myself and yell at myself about how I wasted time and I need to get serious again. Or, I’ll sit to write and my kids will come up and ask me to play with them and if I say no, I feel guilt. Acceptance and letting go, and living in the present moment really is good advice. Thanks for the reminders. :)
I know what you’re talking about re the writing and parenting. Sometimes writing really does have to take a back seat. But sometimes I consider what I’d be modeling for my daughters if I never took time to pursue my writing. So it’s a balancing act and sometimes one thing or another gets dropped. I’m getting a little better at forgiving myself and moving on. I know I’ll have more time to write once the girls go off to college, but I wouldn’t rush that process for anything.
This touched my heart, Elena, and it is such an affirmation for contentment (being chronically ill with migraines). Your husband is alive, you are raising your children, and you have a writing life. I am thankful for mine.
Vijaya, I feel for you with the chronic migraines and you are so wise to cultivate gratitude. I know stroke caregivers and cancer survivors who keep gratitude journals for just that reason. It’s so easy to fall into negativity–and I think allowing some room to cry and rant is necessary–but reflecting on the good is vital, too.
This actually reminds me of the years I wrote with little ones at home. You do what you can and it is enough.
I’ve heard people say you’re not a real writer unless you write every day. I agree that’s best, but repeatedly picking up the threads of a story between interruptions is no mean feat either.
Well done, Elena. You’re an inspiration.
I know lots of authors, including me, who get the chance to write because something happens to disrupt their normal family life.
I think it makes us stronger writers because we’ve been through the emotional upheaval.
Yes, life can make us stronger and things we learn definitely come through in the writing. I recently started looking through my first book, which I haven’t reissued yet, and I wonder who was that naive person who wrote that! Anyway, wish you all the best and thanks for stopping by.
Adversity accelerated my writing schedule.
As a working physicist with little children, writing (specifically mysteries – because I loved them so much growing up) was something I planned to do in retirement, after my ‘real work’ in the world was done.
Then along came Fate – and after 24 years of disability, the ability to write has been one of the things that keeps me sane.
Next year, when I can publish, I hope to be ready. Meanwhile, blogging – and putting up my fiction for free – gives me an outlet.
I am extremely grateful to all the writers who have put so much out there on blogs and in books on writing – there is a feeling of community I can see no precedent for.
ABE, I’m so glad you’ve found solace in writing. For the two years I couldn’t write, I felt as if I’d lost a part of myself. Returning to writing was a very healing experience. I wish you the best of luck with your journey.
This Thursday marks 17 months since my “adversity,” such as it is, began.
On April 20, 2012, an aneurysm exploded in the back of my brain. Five surgeries later (including the discovery of two unruptured sister aneurysms), I’m only now returning to the page.
Sometimes the only way through an ordeal is through it — as in live it, bumbling, stumbling, picking yourself up every time you fall or get tipped over.
Through this experience of “getting through,” the writing awaits our return with sweet patience.
We writers forget one truth: the stories never leave us, we leave them.
Melanie, so beautifully said. All I can say is..wow. And I wish you the best and thank you for sharing your story.
Beautiful post, Elena! For myself, I try to trust that in writing through adversity, the strength and knowledge of myself that I gain will inevitably infuse my writing. Not that I mean necessarily that that’s the nice neat ‘reason’ or ‘purpose’ for my own adversities or anyone else’s. But I do know that part of my life’s purpose is writing, and adversity only strengthens that, if I can find the courage to write through the hard times.
Now I’m off to track down a copy of Fly with a Rogue! :) It sounds wonderful and I wish you MUCH success with it!
Anna, I’m glad you enjoyed my post. One does learn a lot writing through adversity–hopefully gaining insight and compassion for self and others. I see we share a passion for the Regency period–I wish you the best with your writing, too!
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