The time leading to a book launch is stressful, hectic, and exhilarating! Hopefully, the launch goes well and lots of friends and readers show up for your talk at a library or bookstore.

And sometimes not. (Though even that can work out well in the end.)

Then, there’s the time after the launch. The manuscript you were working on before the book launch needs more work or maybe you’re looking for a shiny new idea to dive into. But in the letdown after a book launch, it can be hard to dive back into writing with your whole heart.

And you have to, right? The best way to sell your book is to write and launch the next one.

I thought we should close our series on launching 6 new Winged Pen books into the world with some thoughts on getting our butts back in our chairs and our hands back on our keyboards. I asked the Pennies and found we had 3 different experiences from having no never stopped writing, to having jumped back in with no problem, to being stuck in a funk.

Richelle: Since I was just one of 52 authors featured in The Haunted States of America, I didn’t have to expend the same amount of energy to launch it as I would if mine was the only name on the cover. So I have continued to write through the entire process. (I’m deep into drafting something new at the moment!)

Also, because I write to deadlines in my day job, I tend to be able to find little pockets of time to work on fiction, even when I’m focused on something like promotion or taking classes or querying. Even if I’m only getting down a few words a day, each of those words is one I didn’t have on the page yesterday. I have been a bit slower lately, but I’m still moving forward, word by word.

Halli: Finishing a manuscript and sending it off is extremely rewarding. Not only did I complete a story, but it was one that people enjoyed and wanted to publish. Honestly, writing a story from beginning to end is something to celebrate whether it gets published or not. I always tell myself I’m going to take a week off and relax, recharge my brain, watch a movie or two, but I never end up doing that. There are so many stories swirling around inside my head and I can’t wait to get started on the next. I know it’s a wonderful place to be in and I am incredibly fortunate I have the ability to tell stories. All I need is a thirty-hour day.

Rebecca: So since it wasn’t Halli or Richelle who was stuck in a funk, you already know it must have been me. There were a couple of reasons for it. First, giving my book babies the love they deserved took a lot more time than I thought it would. Blog posts and social media posts, ordering cupcakes and planning book talks all took time and it added up faster than I’d anticipated.

Second, my book events were spread out. A library event was scheduled right after the launch, but it was an author fest, not focused on just my books. The indie bookstore launch wasn’t until 3 weeks later because of scheduling issues. Third, in between the 2 events I helped my son move into college and my Mom with some health issues. Life pulled me to Washington, D.C. and Virginia, taking time that would normally have gone to writing.

But I can’t deny that wasn’t trying as hard as Richelle to write in small pockets of time. My WIP (a young adult novel), is not moving ahead at the rate I want it to be.

On top of that, I’m dealing with “shiny new project” syndrome. Picture book and chapter book ideas are popping into my head and promising that they can “almost write themselves.” Short projects feel so much easier to work on at the moment, so they’re appealing. I’m at once feeling the guilt of not finishing a project that I’ve spent over a year on and I feel strongly about finishing and getting into readers’ hands, and trying to be gentle with myself and recognize that I am writing and it’s okay if it takes a little while to get back into my YA project.

Fridays are my big kidlit writing days. Hopefully, I’ll be able to turn my focus to my YA story tomorrow. Wish me luck!

What’s your experience getting back into writing after a book launch?

We’d love your tips on how you got unstuck and focused on your kidlit writing. Leave your suggestions in the comments below!