WHEN YOU ARE WRITING A BESTSELLER, IT TAKES A LITTLE TIME

Adeline Olmer
May 13, 2021
2 min read

I’m almost at the end and all I seem to do is stare into space.

I’m going through the last, the very last part of editing—this is by far the hardest part of writing a book for me. I want to take a break, do something else for a few days.

I’ve come so far and it’s only a few steps to the end—but it feels like I’m moving in s l o w motion. Does this sound familiar?

Time for VACATION? As much as that sounds tempting, the problem is that wherever I go, I bring myself and my brain. So no matter where I go, it won’t be a vacation.

A quick glance around my desk, reveals piles of papers stacked high every which way—it’s a mess. While I was writing, I took time to clean and organize my desk. The space was clear, but now . . . Is it a reflection of the blahs I’m feeling?

Like it or not, if I want to have a focused mind, I have to have a clear space to work.

Task: 1. Clear and organize my desk.

The next question that comes to mind is: does it really matter if the book is finished a week or two later than I had hoped? In the scheme of things, no.

But my inner voice chatters, “Oh, get off your butt and just do it and stop whining.”

Do I need to listen to this constant quibble and dribble? What’s important is finding the right balance between productivity and taking care of myself.

Task: 2. Only concern myself with what’s really important.

I’m not sure if this is burnout or just a lull as I approach the end of an eighteen-month project, but why does it matter? What's important is that I do what I need to finish the book and not make myself crazy.

So I’m off to clean my desk and make some mental space to finish Le Kitchen Cookbook: A Workbook.

Wish me luck!