The Post Book Slump
You've finished your latest book. It's suited and booted on the website of your choice, the triumphant result of years of toil. Come on, you've scaled Everest! There should be ticker tape, singing ewoks and the rest!
So why do you feel like a burst crisp packet?
Welcome to the phenomenon known as the Post Book Slump. You're delighted that your book is out, you enjoy promoting it ... but.
You've spent so long polishing this plot, hanging out with these characters, that you can't help but feel a void. It sounds precious but the nearest analogy I can think of is an amicable breakup. Although you knew it was time for the relationship to end, you're still wistful and recalling the highlights. You should be moving on but part of you wants to wallow and eat chocolate by the kilo.
Some writers charge headlong into a new project. Though everyone's different, this approach didn't work for me. After finishing Rose Grubb I launched straight into another story, convinced I was on a winning streak. Four chapters later I was forced to admit that it wasn't inspiration but a need to write something, anything. I was writing on the rebound!
Your best bet is to take a few months off to recover. If a new story occurs to you, great, but don't go further than planning just yet. If it's a genuinely good idea it'll still be waiting after your sabbatical. Lose yourself in other media - read and watch with your inner critic switched off. Of course you'll be expected to market and discuss your book, but don't prolong it as an excuse to cling on. One of the undeniable perks of being an indie author is you can set your own deadlines; if you want to spend the next few months lindy hopping or taking photos of post boxes, that's your business.
Though the Post Book Slump can be a drag, it serves two valuable purposes. Not only does it act as a kind of exorcism, clearing the way for your next book, but it reminds you how much you love writing in the first place. You can't miss something you've never experienced, after all.
So why do you feel like a burst crisp packet?
Welcome to the phenomenon known as the Post Book Slump. You're delighted that your book is out, you enjoy promoting it ... but.
You've spent so long polishing this plot, hanging out with these characters, that you can't help but feel a void. It sounds precious but the nearest analogy I can think of is an amicable breakup. Although you knew it was time for the relationship to end, you're still wistful and recalling the highlights. You should be moving on but part of you wants to wallow and eat chocolate by the kilo.
Some writers charge headlong into a new project. Though everyone's different, this approach didn't work for me. After finishing Rose Grubb I launched straight into another story, convinced I was on a winning streak. Four chapters later I was forced to admit that it wasn't inspiration but a need to write something, anything. I was writing on the rebound!
Your best bet is to take a few months off to recover. If a new story occurs to you, great, but don't go further than planning just yet. If it's a genuinely good idea it'll still be waiting after your sabbatical. Lose yourself in other media - read and watch with your inner critic switched off. Of course you'll be expected to market and discuss your book, but don't prolong it as an excuse to cling on. One of the undeniable perks of being an indie author is you can set your own deadlines; if you want to spend the next few months lindy hopping or taking photos of post boxes, that's your business.
Though the Post Book Slump can be a drag, it serves two valuable purposes. Not only does it act as a kind of exorcism, clearing the way for your next book, but it reminds you how much you love writing in the first place. You can't miss something you've never experienced, after all.
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