Slumps and Dry Spells

It happens to all of us. What do we do?

So… it’s hard to talk about slumps and dry spells. But they happen to everybody. How often do we fall into them? What triggers them? And how do we get out of them?

Why and when do you fall into a slump?

Vicky: Honestly, I probably fall into a mini-slump every few weeks. It’s more a kind of listlessness… where I don’t feel like I’m THE FLOW. (I love THE FLOW.) It’s when I don’t have a new project that I’m really excited about or I don’t feel the inspiration to attack my existing projects in the right way. By now, I know it’s normal and I just wait for it to pass. But it still feels uncomfortable and it makes me a little blue. Drinking mochas tends to help.

For bigger slumps… this happens when I’ve put a lot of things out on sub and have either gotten rejections or, somehow worse, heard nothing at all. I know I’ve been lucky because I think my longest stretch for no book deals has probably been a little over a year, when I know others have gone many years before their next deal. But it can definitely start to feel like you’re just throwing things into a black hole, which can be frustrating and demoralizing.

Christine: I have had the same slumpy feelings as Vicky, especially after a long stretch without a new book deal or when we hear crickets on a manuscript that’s on submission. It’s hard to ignore the nagging critic in my brain saying I’m not good enough.

So what do you do?

Vicky: I try to just keep writing. When I find a new, shiny project, I get back into THE FLOW and it makes me all happy and excited again. Editing is a slower build for me, but getting into revisions can get me there too. That helps me cope with the mini-slumps.

For the bigger slumps… I just keep throwing things into the black hole. By now, I know it’s more like a very, very long tunnel and not actually a black hole. So I just keep throwing things in. To motivate me, it’s helpful for me to consume media to inspire me. Craft/writing books are helpful (Bird by Bird by Ann Lamott, On Writing by Stephen King, Save the Cat by Blake Snyder), as well and reading or watching things I enjoy/admire. I remember in my acting days, they used to say you needed to get six callbacks to book a part. So maybe I have to throw six more things into the black hole. Maybe ten. But the thing about writing is that you get to make your own chances. So write another thing, make it better than the last, and it’s another chance.

Christine: I agree about keeping writing, if I can. I’m currently working through Write for Life by Julia Cameron with a group of writers and it’s really inspiring. I love planning artist dates for myself which so far have involved browsing the new nonfiction section in my library and thrift-shop browsing. I’m planning an art museum trip soon and maybe a movie matinee. I also walk every day which can help my brain process my WIPs in the background and maybe figure out some knotty problems.

But what if it’s really the end and not just a slump??

Vicky: There have been several times when I thought, what if I never get another book deal ever?? What if I never have another idea I love EVER?? And sometimes, I succumb to it and decide that’s it, I’m probably done as a writer. But honestly, the ideas needle in by themselves, and there I am, writing again. So try to take it easy on yourself. Give yourself permission to NOT write. Take as much time you need, because you will write when you are ready. I also take comfort in knowing people who have experienced long dry spells and seeing them on fire now! Things always have the potential to change and turn around.

Christine: A little over a year ago I had a big setback and I remember telling my husband that I was never going to sell another book again…

Almost exactly a year later I signed a new four-book chapter book deal! In the meantime I went on a retreat, wrote lots of words that didn’t turn into anything (yet), played with Procreate, submitted a revise and resubmit (the project that ultimately sold), did school visits, and built my kidlit community.

I tell kids my most important advice whenever I visit schools and I repeat it to myself often too:

KEEP GOING!

Keep moving forward one step at a time. The world needs your words.