Coping With Anxiety – 3 Tips That Keep Me Somewhat Calm

Yours truly, one of my recent selfies because I was feeling cute the other day 😉

Life happens – there’s just no getting around it. And lately, I’ve been so off-beat that I haven’t been able to work on my latest book (the time-travel coming-of-age sequel to this bad boy right HERE). And in my case, there have been some specific things that just threw me off my game in the past few weeks. Coping is key, and so I thought I’d share below some things I’m learning in my writerly journey that have really helped me as I cope with the curveballs that life has been throwing at me:

#1: Find your faith

For me, my faith in Jesus has really grounded me substantially while I’m trying to cope with the uncertainty of life (i.e., relationships, looking for writing jobs, finding a good work/life balance, etc.). Just knowing that God already has everything all mapped out for me, and that there’s nothing I can possibly do to derail that, is really comforting. I was literally crying out to Jesus last week and I opened up to Psalm 46: 5 in my Bible which says “God is in the midst of her, she will not be moved…” and it was basically the most amazing thing ever because I just got through asking God for a sign that I’m really going to be okay – if not today, then someday very soon.

Anyway, all I’m saying is, if you have any questions about what I’m talking about here, I would be more than happy to share my faith with you. Just drop a comment below or reach out to me via my author Instagram HERE.

I’ve also been chatting with trusted friends that I know will lead me on the right path closer to Jesus, even when life feels stormy and scary around me. Leaning on others when you feel weak is a massive help, because if you’re anything like me, you just want to feel heard and validated. People you trust can do that for you from a very holistic point of view – and I bet they’ll appreciate you even wanting their help in the first place. See? Everyone wins.

#2: Find creative outlets that make you feel good

In my case, I channeled my conflicted feelings and frustrations into a song (and no, I’m not sharing it anytime soon, if at all. It exists, and that’s enough for me right now). This was especially impactful to me because I’ve been studying music and playing guitar for twelve years now, but I’ve never been able to write a coherent piece of music until the other night, when I was literally just getting ready for bed, and this incessant melody just started repeating in my head. SO I did the only rational thing and saved it into a super embarrassing voice memo in my phone so I could play around with it more the next day.

Oh, and I wrote out a bunch of lyrics too. It was a wild feeling – having my thoughts presented so emotionally on paper and in a sonic medium made me feel so much physically lighter. Just overall, really surreal and it felt so healthy. So I might keep writing songs, now that I’ve gotten the hang of it (and it also really helps to have sort of a stylized role model. For me, musically, that’s Taylor Swift, because her music has resonated with me deeply since I was a kid).

But if you’re not musically inclined like me, why not take up something totally new and different? Paint a picture. Try out origami. Or maybe even crochet or knit (I’m a big fan of amigurumi crochet myself, with even a digital shop on Instagram HERE).

#3: Amp up your self-care habits

If you’re feeling overworked and exhausted, this is CRUCIAL. Do some yoga, take a long walk, eat less sugary carbs and more fruits, veggies, and healthy fats. I know a lot of that is common sense, but when you’re feeling bogged down and unable to function as usual, this is such an easy fix to get you back on track to being your very best self.

In my case, I’m anxious to get my mojo back because I really want to make serious headway on my next novel before the end of the year, so that I can maybe swing a mid-2021 release (and hopefully, in-person events will be back by then too). Overall, an author is only as good as their health habits and body allows them to be, so fuel your creativity with the right foods and habits, and you’ll be feeling better before you know it!

If any of these tips helped you, feel free to sound off in the comments below! I’d love to compare notes and hear about how you’re doing, and if there’s something you’ve discovered that helps you, I’d probably be game to try it too!

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Want a Sneak Peek of My Newest Book?

Forgetting What I Couldn’t Remember (Book 1 of The Rewind Duology) has been available to purchase since February, but since I haven’t been able to schedule any in-person events in all that time due to the ongoing concerns surrounding the virus, I figured I’d pitch it to you on here. As you may know, I very rarely do this – I’ve found that my followers place a greater value on tips and tricks I’ve learned in the writing biz over promos of my work.

One of my amazing friends holding her copy of my newest book – and she even matched her makeup to the colorful cover designed by Gracie Knight!

But desperate times call for desperate measures. So, perhaps you’ll consider humoring me and taking a peek? Here’s an excerpt from one of my favorite scenes:

“Wait, you mean you haven’t kissed anyone besides me, ever?” His eyes were a bit bloodshot at this point, but they pierced mine with the same intensity as they might’ve if they were well rested.

I lifted my head off of his shoulder just enough to be able to shake my head. It wasn’t something I felt comfortable verbally admitting, almost as if the act of saying the words would make them all the more true.

“Oh man, Vera, I’m sorry I’m such a pathetic loser who can’t respect his friends better than this.” His head landed in his hands, which rested on his propped-up knees. “Dammit. I just, man. I wanted better than this for myself. And for you.”

Alex quietly sobbed while I just sat there with my arms around him, my heart breaking where it was nearly going to explode mere minutes ago. I’m a firm believer that some people are in your life for different reasons. Even if those reasons seem similar sometimes, they really might not be. And I was working on being okay with that.

“Shh, it’s okay. You’re okay, I’m okay. Don’t worry about me. I’m sorry you’ve been carrying this for so long.” I felt myself calming down a bit as the realization that this reaction he was having wasn’t because of anything I did – but rather, it was a flashback to our shared and very complicated past. Maybe he was starting to realize how much our awful school experience had affected him even now. To be honest, I was starting to notice the same thing in myself. The poison pumped into our young veins seemed to linger in our bloodstreams long after we moved onto high school and college. And there might be parts of us that will always resent those very frustrating things that happened to us.

If this caught your attention, I’ll attach the link to the full book HERE available in ebook, paperback, and audiobook forms.But no pressure of course! I just think it’s fun to share things that get me feeling enthusiastic about my work. After all, it’s hard to keep your confidence up without feedback (in this drought of in-person events and interactions). So thank you for being here, and for taking an interest in my work ❤

#fiction #comingofage #thrillers #timetravel #highschool #middleschooldrama #growingup #romance #friendships #indieauthors #buylocalbooks #supportindieauthors #audiobooks #writing #storytelling #antibullying #friendship #college #collegestudents #love

Battling Writer’s Block Amidst Crisis Fatigue: Three of My Best Tips to Stay Motivated

I’m tired of it all. Being at home, feeling bored (even though I always seem to have a million things to do somehow), and watching the world freak out perpetually without an end in sight. Regardless, it’s really freaking hard to keep working on my book (my current WIP in a sequel to my last release, which is extra challenging for me since I have to carry the cadence and themes from book one while still introducing new twists and ideas). My previous release was a time travel coming of age romance which you can find on Amazon HERE if that might interest you.

Regardless, the sequel has been tough for me to sit down and write, so here’s some stuff I’ve been trying in order to get myself back on  track (and I’m literally doing these now because ya girl be struggling).

#1: Write something that’s not your WIP

A random journal entry, a song, or in my case, lots of music articles. I’ve been interning and freelancing for a few years now, writing music and concert reviews for Boston Sports Desk and more recently, Rhode-Island based Motif Magazine. Since I’m a musician as much as I am a writer, I genuinely enjoy writing about music in a professional setting. And lately, my articles have been getting literally thousands of views, which is pretty awesome even if I have no real idea how it happened, LOL. But regardless, using your brain for something besides your story is a great way to get the wheels turning in a new way that should free up the ideas again (hopefully).

If you’re a music nerd like me, you can read my Boston Sports Desk Articles and my Motif Magazine debut online with these embedded hyperlinks 🙂

#2: Write something that IS your WIP

What I mean by this is, don’t be afraid to skip ahead to that scene you’ve been so excited to write but couldn’t get to yet. Indulge that passion and let your mind roam free. After all, no one said you had to write your scenes chronologically! Besides, I’ve found that by getting that exciting scene out of your head and onto your computer (or notebook, if that’s your vibe) lets your brain recharge itself and refocus on the sightly more taxing scenes. Overall, just be nice to yourself! It’s a tall order building a story and a world out of nothing. Don’t force it, just let it flow.

#3: Watch / Read something you like

Easiest trick in the book – step away and hang out with Netflix for a bit. It could also be helpful to pick shows that fit the genre you’re hoping to write in – that way you can visualize your ideas better while observing how the pros build characters and plot lines that keep even the pickiest viewers engaged and eating out of the palm of their hands. I’m about to dive into the second season of Umbrella Academy, and even though it’s not super relevant to my YA/NA contemporary romance style, it does have the time travel going for it, so at least I can use it for that. In reality, I’d say Outer Banks was maybe closer to my writing style (which I absolutely recommend, by the way).

Outer Banks is an awesome show but, I mean, the eye candy’s not bad either haha 😉

Regardless, just roll with wherever your mind takes you. You can’t build something new until you let your mind rest, and this usually helps me a lot (I say “usually” because nothing is guaranteed of course, but these tips certainly can’t hurt to try). 

Thank you for being here, and supporting this little blog. I hope these thoughts are helpful! Leave comments below and tell me what you’ve been working on – let’s support each other as writers from wherever we are 🙂

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