How I protect my mental health as a writer (a wee thread):

I celebrate other writer's successes. Genuuinely. I love to see people winning. If you succeed, if you're doing the thing, then I'm happy. Writing isn't a competition, we're all on it together.

I don't compare myself to other writers. It's a waste of time. I'm me, that's enough, I'll just keep on plugging away. If it happens it happens, if not, it's not my place to compare myself to anyone else. This makes life much much simpler.

That isn't to say I don't occasionally get jealous or demoralised. Of course I do. It's a natural part of being a creative: wanting success for ourselves as well as our peers. But it's also a colossal waste of energy. So I accept that I've been a green- eyed beast, and move on.

I don't make myself available all the time. This is so important for me, as it gives me control over my own day. I don't engage with messages or emails until I'm ready.

I have routine. I go spare without routine. I know this is the worst possible time to have any sort of organised day, but I do the best I can and make a pact with myself to write every day, even if its only 10 words. It's all winning stuff.

I go for a LOT of walks. Again, I know this isn't easy for everyone, but removing myself from work and screens on a regular basis is the only way I fight off the burn.

Beta readers. I cannot express enough how beta readers cheer me up when I'm stuck in a mood slump. If I'm having doubts about a book or story, I'll reach out, and the beta reader feedback I get honestly gives me life. Special mention to @AidenMerchant89 and @Ross1982 for helping.

Same goes for editors. Editors aren't just champions of the written word, a really good one is an absolute joy to work with and the whole experience is so delightful and inspiring that it never fails to cheer me up. Looking at YOU @dan_hanks

I don't read reviews that often anymore. This had restored my anxiety levels to manageable quantities.

I also have stopped searching for myself on a certain reddit forum because they hate me and I'm cool with that

Not sure how helpful this is to anyone, but I'm always open and honest about how much of a fuckwit my brain is, and I see people I love on here struggling sometimes. I know those struggles. If I can help at all in any way, shape or form, even a silly tweet thread, its something.

I try not to get involved too much with drama on here. We're a tight-knit community, things blow up from time to time. However, social media is rife for misinterpretation. I don't feel too comfortable engaging with whatever outrage is trending at the time, in case I fuck up.

In that sense, I just tend to sit back a little and absorb without adding. Which sounds cowardly, doesn't it? If it were a matter of principle, or abuse, or a very clear cut mistreatment of a peer, I would stand up and say something. But otherwise, it is too easy to get embroiled

Again, controlling how I interact with people is key. I don't feel obligated to engage on anyone else's terms but my own. This is the only surefire way to protect my buggery wee brain, and it works, so I'll keep doing it.

I try to read as much as possible.

HOWEVER, although book twitter and bookstagram are glorious places, it can make you feel very guilty for not buying and reading your friend's books. Because I want to, so very much, but it isn't always possible. I have to prioritise, for my job

I DO however always try my best to share and promote and discuss and encourage and boost my fellow wordies wherever possible, because, it makes me happy. It's like a positive feedback loop and I'm okay with that.

I am becoming less and less enamored of snark and curmudgeon. Who has time for that? Yes it's funny and endearing but it can also be exhausting. The world is a towering pile of steaming hedgehog poo at the moment, I just want to laugh and feel like I'm making my way forward.

I consume A LOT of very bad memes and jokes. They cheer me up no bloody end. A good old stock photo meme search is just the ticket when my mood is slumping mid-mood.

Like this, because I am SUPER high brow

I try not to beat myself up over terrible sentences like 'my mood is slumping mid-mood'

I also try not to get ahead of myself. I think this is the single biggest thing in not getting overwhelmed as a creative. I'm not living for the best-seller books lists, awards, money (although it would be nice lolllzzz) or recognition. That stuff drives you mad. I just write.

I'm also not tied up in what others think about me when I'm doing my thing on social. Hubris? Humility? Ego? Rambling on? Boring? Yeah, it can be tough to find a balance. But I just keep throwing stuff at the wall to see what sticks. If it means I sell more books, hurrah!

I've also realised that as an indie/ self-pubber, you need social, you can't take it for granted, and it's okay to invest time and energy in it because its essentially free advertising and we all bloody need it. So I accept it for what it is. It's a platform and a tool, primarily

That being said, I still don't know what I'm doing most of the time. My only viral tweet thus far has been about the word 'fanny,' so what that tells you about twitter I don't know *shrugs*