Overwhelmed Writer Rescue

 To read reviews, please visit Colleen M. Story’s page on iRead Book Tours.

Colleen M. Story has worked in the creative writing industry for over twenty years. Her novels include “Loreena’s Gift,” an Idaho Author Awards first place winner, New Apple Solo Medalist winner, Foreword Reviews INDIES Book of the Year Awards winner, Reader Views award finalist, and Best Book Awards finalist; and “Rise of the Sidenah,” a North American Book Awards winner and New Apple Book Awards Official Selection.

As a health writer, she’s authored thousands of articles for publications like “Healthline” and “Women’s Health;” worked with high-profile clients like Gerber Baby Products and Kellogg’s; and ghostwritten books on back pain, nutrition, and cancer recovery. She finds most rewarding her work as a motivational speaker and workshop leader, where she helps writers remove mental and emotional blocks and tap into their unique creative powers.

Colleen is the founder of Writing and Wellness , a motivational site helping writers and other creative artists maintain their physical, mental, and emotional health and well-being throughout their careers. Sign up for your free weekly email containing tips for living your best creative life at: www.writingandwellness/newsletter.

To find more information on Colleen and her work, please see her website or follow her on Twitter. She loves to hear from readers—feel free to use the “contact” form on either her website or Writing and Wellness to get in touch with her.

Connect with the author: Website ~ Twitter

Interview with Colleen Story

How did you do research for your book?
I’ve been a health writer for about 20 years now, so really, I’ve been researching some of the topics in this book for a couple decades! I also started Writing and Wellness (a motivational site for creative artists) in 2014, and have researched and written hundreds of posts there that focus more intensely on topics that affect writers and creative individuals, in particular.

In essence, I read a lot. I review scientific studies, examine official government reports, and receive a lot of health-oriented publications that I’m constantly perusing. After years in the industry I’ve seen fads come and go, but some principles hold true over time, and those are the ones that I try to share, and that I work to live by, myself.

What made you write a book about productivity and time management?
There were a few factors that influenced me to write Overwhelmed Writer Rescue. I feature regular guest posts from writers and other artists on Writing and Wellness, and one complaint that came up again and again, no matter the individual’s level of experience was, “I don’t have time enough to devote to my writing (or my painting or composing or other creative endeavor).”

I recognized that complaint, as it’s one I’d often had myself. We are all so busy these days, it can be super challenging to find time to work on the projects that are closest to our hearts.

Then I was invited to speak at a writer’s conference in Colorado. One of the classes I taught was on productivity, and it was really well received. While I was on vacation a few months later, all my ideas on the topic came bubbling to the surface, and I knew it was time to get to work.

There are many books out there about time management and productivity. What makes yours different?
Overwhelmed Writer Rescue is written specifically for creative individuals. The mindset of this type of person is different from say, a business executive who’s trying to accomplish more during the workday.

Creative people are plagued by things like self-doubt, perfectionism, and guilt—all of which can derail a writer’s progress, or leave a painter with a blank canvas after thirty minutes of devoted effort. I help creative people not only improve their ability to manage the time they have, but to breakthrough mental barriers and overcome their own self-sabotaging tendencies.

Overwhelmed Writer Rescue also helps readers determine their own personal styles when it comes to motivation and time perspective, so they can work within their own unique natures to accomplish their goals. Having knowledge of these traits can help a person not only understand herself, but use that understanding to create a more creative life.

What advice would you give budding writers?
Now that I’ve written the book, I think the one thing that really shines out for me as the main message is to “know yourself.” We have to understand ourselves as creative beings, and gain insight into what that means in terms of how we set up our daily lives.

Most of us don’t have very keen insight into our own creative natures and what they need to thrive. We go about life the way we always have, but we know something’s not quite right, especially if we’re not getting time to do our creative work.

I help writers and other creative artists to better understand themselves, and to put into place elements that they need to create a life that honors their creativity.

What is your next project?
I’m working on my next literary novel, The Beached Ones, and I’m also thinking about a second non-fiction book. I’m conducting a workshop on self-doubt this fall—something a lot of creative artists struggle with—and if I sense enough interest, I may work on a new project around that topic.

My review:

For someone who blogs so much, I do feel that I don’t get enough time to write! Yes, there’s the whole other aspect of blogging and networking that takes up so much time. This book was insightful and practical and Colleen’s suggestions are really something I would like to take on board.

For me, one of the important affirmations of what I’m trying to do to organize myself came from the chapter ‘Learning to Say ‘No”.  Learning to understand why we struggle with saying ‘no’ and how to say it politely are lessons that will stand writers in good stead. Most creative people need our ‘me’ time more than others and it’s important that we claim it.

Reading about how to outwit the productivity saboteurs that most writers face, made me name and own some of my own time wasters.

Most of all, I like how Colleen challenges us to answer our call to be writers.

As one reviewer mentioned, I’d like to get a hard copy of the book for myself and would recommend it to other writers too.

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