SWEETBITTER: ON CARVING SPACE FOR WRITING

Or, Putting Passion First

April couldn’t have been any busier—or more exciting. With a string of events and occasions, it went by in a marvelous blur. So what happened?

V.E. Schwab
I saw V.E. Schwab on their Decatur, GA stop of the Addie LaRue tour! Thanks to Charis Books for hosting and to (THE) Mark Oshiro for being an excellent conversationalist.

V.E. Schwab was a marvelous inspiration. So much of what they said about their writing journey—the self-doubt, the thought processes, the perfectionism—was personally relatable. I’m so grateful for V.E. and the charm and inspiration they brought with them. One particular thing they said about wanting to be an author (or wanting any big dream) stuck with me: “Your hunger must outpour your fear…you have to want it more than anyone else wants it for you.”

They’re right and it was a much needed reminder. That dream—that book I want to hold in my hands one day—I need to want it more than anyone else. All the encouragement in the world can’t get me as far as I could go if I wanted it most of all for myself. And that goes for all of you reading this, too! That dream you can’t get go of is waiting for you to believe in it more than you believe in your fear or self-doubt.

The Conyers Book Festival
V.E. Schwab isn’t the only author I had the privilege of seeing this month! I also met Rebecca Ross, Kaylie Smith, and Melissa Mitchell. They graced my local indie bookstore with their presence as part of the Conyers Book Festival. Rebecca, Kaylie, and Melissa were part of a Fantasy Panel in which they discussed their writing journeys and books!

Rebecca, Kaylie, and Melissa were all phenomenal and wicked smart! P.S.: If you haven’t read their books yet, please do so! They all write fantasy. I’ve read Kaylie’s YA fantasy A RUINOUS FATE and I’m still thinking about that ending. Rebecca’s adult A RIVER ENCHANTED was one of my April reads and possibly my favorite! I’m reading the sequel A FIRE ENDLESS now. Melissa’s LADY WITCH series is on my summer TBR!

Taylor Swift & The Eras Tour

Okay, do I need to even say anything about this one? I’ve been a fan of Taylor and her music since I was little—so, basically forever. When she announced her Eras tour, I knew I wanted to be there as I’ve never gotten the chance to attend any of her previous tours. My friend and I were lucky enough to snag tickets during the Great Ticketmaster Fiasco of 2022. Let me tell you, there’s something cathartic about screaming along to a crowd of 60,000 all the songs that have gotten you through love, heartache, grief, self-discovery and more.

Plus, my concert’s surprise songs were The Other Side of the Door and coney island. If you’ve heard me talk about #RobinWIP for long enough, then you know that evermore is the *perfect* soundtrack for it. To hear coney island live was all I needed. I’m still reliving this concert in my head!

Graduation & What’s Next
And…I graduated! Last fall I earned my BA in English. Yesterday, I earned my BIS in Classics. I’ve been working toward these two degrees since 2020 and I cannot begin to express how elated and grateful I am to finally be done. It’s been quite the experience!

So what’s next? My MA in English (literary studies). I hope to continue my research on romantic tragedies and Greek anthropology with a literary focus. I’m endlessly grateful to everyone who’s supported me this far and I hope I continue to make those I love proud as I pursue my MA.

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Okay, so what’s all this got to do with writing? Well, each of these events, while significant to me in some way, kept me so busy I worried before the month even started that I wouldn’t have time to write. Surprise! That wasn’t true at all. And I want to talk about it.

So let’s get down to it: How to Carve Space for Writing During a Busy Life.

Like V.E. Schwab said, you have to want it more than anyone else wants it for you. But just wanting it isn’t enough—you need to turn that want into action. Of course, all common sense and reason applies (most of us don’t have the privilege to do what we love 24/7), but hold on to this: putting your passion first means making it a priority. It means making sure you schedule time into your day to write.

It means showing up even on the days you don’t believe you can do it and putting something to the page that gets you even 0.001% further than you were the day before.

It means believing that all the hard work you’re putting into your craft is a manifestation of love, determination, and creativity brought to life.

None of this is easy to do. The easy path is letting go of a hard dream. But we as writers know what we’re doing is hard work—and who would we be if we gave that up? I know, too, that getting started can feel overwhelming. But once you learn what putting your passion first means for you, all the rest falls into place. Here’s some tips:

1. Build a routine.
This can be writing for twenty minutes a day or an hour; writing in the mornings or in the evenings; or whatever combination works for you! Build one routine and stick with it for 90 days. You’ll be impressed by the progress you make! If it something in the routine doesn’t work for you, don’t be afraid to switch it up. It might take a few trial and error runs before you figure out what works best for you and your life.

2. Make time for friends.
I cannot stress more how important community is! Whether in person or virtual, making friends with those who understand your work and respect it is so crucial. It’s nice to talk to people who get it—and likewise whose work you can support as well.
But I also recommend making time for friends who *aren’t* writers. Give yourself time to make friends with people who don’t share the same passion as you! These friends can be your biggest supporter as well, but they can also hold a space for you that isn’t all about writing.
And lastly, life isn’t all about work. No one needs to tell you (or me) that it’s just nice to spend time with people who care about and whose company you enjoy.

3. Go to things and events that inspire you.
As I’m sure you can tell by now, I love getting the opportunity to go to author talks. These sort of events remind me that I’m not alone in my passion, that my work is important, and that there is a whole world of readers out there who love literature just as much as I do. I also appreciate the opportunity to learn from authors who are further in their journeys than I am. It’s a great way to learn and hear advice from the authors of books you love. In this industry, the more advice, the better!
If author talks aren’t your thing, then go to what does inspire you. Personally, I enjoy going to coffee shops, antiquing trips with my friends, and getting outside with my camera. When I reconnect to things I enjoy, I feel more energized creatively. It doesn’t need to be something writing-related to inspire you. Sometimes it’s enough to simply connect to your life.

But above all, remember to take care of yourself. Take breaks, do other things that are important to you as well, and don’t push yourself so far as to end up burned out.
Writing will always come back to you when you’re ready.

Hold on to your passion in the meantime.

Love,
Kaitlin