I am now aware that the job of a writer involves far more than polishing that final draft of a novel or fine-tuning the rhythm of a series of poems. Between writing binges, almost daily, I come across new ideas, demands, and experts. Some are valuable, others a total waste. In-your-face media suggests, convinces, urges you to follow all manner of systems to become successful.

Don’t feel overwhelmed by all this. Tell yourself to take your time. Try not to take on everything. Find a few things that you are drawn to and work on them. As you do that, others will grab your attention. You will develop your own rhythm and pace. It is super important that you leave space for your mind to work on your main goal. This may be a novel, memoir, anthology of poetry, regular newsletter …

How do you keep from becoming overwhelmed? If you want to share, please do so in the comments below.