By DiAnn Mills @DiAnnMills

Summer is in our rearview mirror, but the overwhelmed writer syndrome lingers like triple digits—hot, unbearable, with a longing to step into the cool breezes of overcoming the stress and doubts of managing the writerly life.

What’s a writer to do?

Acknowledge the overwhelmed emotions.

• The sensation is common among writers.
• You are not alone.
• Admit life and writing responsibilities need a balance of priorities.

Pray for God’s guidance.

• Spend time in the Bible and prayer.
• Listen for God to provide answers in the various ways he speaks.
• He will reveal His love for you, your purpose, and direct you to the right way of handling the struggle.

Establish strategies for managing time.

• Prioritize God and family first.
• Create a writing schedule and set realistic goals.
• I prefer using a spreadsheet for this process, but I encourage you to organize this section according to how your brain works.

Techniques to master the problem.

• Take your laptop on an adventure. Vary where you write to chase away the stress and pressure.
• Close your eyes and write the first thing that comes to mind. Leave grammar and punctuation behind. This is the time for you to create with no hindrances.
• Go for a walk. Explore the beauty of nature.
• Examine your health and nutrition. We can’t expect our brain to work if it’s not rested, fed properly and exercised.
• Focus on the writing journey. Take time to journal the calling.

Call out the calvary.

• Fellow writers understand your plight. They understand the challenges and can share how they overcame their struggles.
• Offer to critique a few pages for another writer. That frees your mind to return to your work with optimism.
• Seek an accountability partner or a mentor.

Embrace the writing process.

• So it’s hard work. Do you want to create the easy or the profound?
• Ignore perfectionism. We aren’t perfect so accept it.
• Celebrate all progress.
• Stay passionate about your writing. If the current project isn’t in your wheelhouse, find ways to complete it as professionally as possible.
• Learn from mistakes. That’s how we grow.
• Discover ways to motivate yourself.

Professional writing tools and resources.

• Attend writing workshops and conferences for new information and insights: online and in-person.
• Choose to participate in editor and agent appointments.
• Social network to make new friends and help other writers.

By incorporating these suggestions, the overwhelmed writer finds practical advice, emotional support, and motivational strategies to continue their writing journey and manage life more effectively.

How do you move past the overwhelmed writer mode and embrace your calling?

DiAnn Mills is a bestselling author who believes her readers should expect an adventure. She weaves memorable characters with unpredictable plots to create action-packed, suspense-filled novels. DiAnn believes every breath of life is someone’s story, so why not capture those moments and create a thrilling adventure?

Her titles have appeared on the CBA and ECPA bestseller lists; won two Christy Awards, the Golden Scroll, Inspirational Readers’ Choice, and Carol award contests.

DiAnn is a founding board member of the American Christian Fiction Writers, an active member of the Blue Ridge Mountains Christian Writers, Advanced Writers and Speakers Association, Mystery Writers of America, the Jerry Jenkins Writers Guild, Sisters in Crime, and International Thriller Writers. DiAnn continues her passion of helping other writers be successful. She speaks to various groups and teaches writing workshops around the country.

DiAnn has been termed a coffee snob and roasts her own coffee beans. She’s an avid reader, loves to cook, and believes her grandchildren are the smartest kids in the universe. She and her husband live in sunny Houston, Texas.

DiAnn is very active online and would love to connect with readers on: Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, Pinterest, Goodreads, BookBub, YouTube, LinkedIn. or her website: diannmills.com