Shana Danielle
Remember learning the writing process in school? Prewrite, draft, revise, edit, publish—this is a well-packaged progression meant to make writing easier. Think how horrible it would be to have to write a perfect first draft then post. The writing process gives us space to create.
But there’s one crucial step that’s left out of the traditional five steps: breathe. Take time to relax and re-energize. Allow oxygen to flow through your body and spirit, clearing all the clutter stifling your productivity. Taking care of yourself is necessary to the writing process.
Author and motivational speaker Shana Danielle shares how she practiced self-love and self-care to process her writing and publish her first book. Here are my five big takeaways from our conversation.
- Keep all your writing through the years. You never know how your stories, poetry, or journals might come in handy when you need inspiration or ideas for material.
- Remember, writing is a process. Don’t beat yourself up if finishing your story takes longer than you expected. Drafting, editing, and publishing take time. Learn to flow rather than force the process.
- Mind your business. It’s easy to obsess over what others may be thinking about you and your work. But their thoughts are their business. Mind your business and invest your energy in your creativity.
- Practice self-care. Get comfortable with being kind to yourself and enjoying your own company. When you show love and respect to yourself, and when you are at peace with your thoughts, you will attract like-minded people.
- Notice your mindset. If your thoughts mainly hinder you, take steps to gradually transform them into encouraging thoughts.
How do you practice self-care when writing?
