As children’s authors, we take on lots of responsibilities. In addition to everyday necessities like caring for children, grandchildren, and other communities, we’ve also taken it upon ourselves to share a message with young readers everywhere. Among all the responsibilities involved in publishing your own children’s book, you might start to feel the pressure. In this blog, you’ll discover why you need to give yourself grace as an author so you can enjoy writing, publishing and launching a successful picture book.
Why You Need to Give Yourself Grace
If we don’t give ourselves grace, we risk becoming overwhelmed, and maybe even resentful, of publishing. If we let these feelings fester, we might even stop our publishing efforts altogether. The antidote: give yourself grace.
It Takes the Weight Off. A lot of the fears and pressures of being the “perfect author” will disappear, making the whole process so much more enjoyable.
Everything Becomes More Manageable. The responsibilities you do have become so much more achievable if you give yourself the space to make mistakes, slow down, and work at your own pace.
You Learn to Love the Process. With the pressures of publishing gone, you’ll find that you actually enjoy the process and start to see just how much you’ve grown as a writer and individual through it all.
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How to Give Yourself Grace
Of course, if it was easy to give yourself grace, everyone would do it by default. Unfortunately, it’s not always easy. Here are some ways you can show yourself kindness as you work on your picture book.
Celebrate Every Win. Whether it’s finishing your first draft or thinking of a new marketing idea, make sure to appreciate the work you’re putting in.
Schedule Leisure Time. Give yourself a rest day so you can set all the book stuff aside for a night. Use this time to make memories and take care of yourself.
Set Realistic Goals. Try not to set daily goals that are too big. Remember that there’s only so much you can do in 24 hours. Don’t bite off more than you can chew for a day.
Stick to this routine and the writing, publishing, and marketing processes will be all the more enjoyable. I promise you: giving yourself grace is absolutely worth it!