As a literary agent in major trade publishing at the Trident Media Group literary agency, I often have to explain many of these key book publishing terms and phrases to new clients.
Here are some book publishing terms you should know
This serves as a light glossary of key book publishing terms for new authors unfamiliar with the phrases and abbreviations casually tossed around in the book-publishing world.
1. “It’s all about the comps”
When a literary agent or editor speaks about comps, they are not referring to computers, nor anything that may be complementary.
In book publishing, comps generally stands for competitive or comparative titles/authors.
A literary agent will often request two to three of these from an author to work into the literary agent’s pitch to publishers. None of this is ever to merely compare an author’s manuscript to similar works, but rather to hold an author’s manuscript in high esteem.
A good comp is usually a similar book genre/age group, published within the last three to five years, that was an award-winner or bestseller. Best to compare to success.
In the eyes of an editor, comps help to place the manuscript under consideration in its proper place on a publishing list and answers any questions for a publisher on where a book would fit in at a bookstore. This might also be a way of selling the book to readers.
However, you write a fantasy, don’t go and compare yourself to classics and masters such as J.R.R. Tolkien—that just gets eye rolls from literary agents and editors.
2. “This is a hurry-up-and-wait business”
An impatient author may want to hear back on their submission quickly, but publishing is generally a slow-moving business, as it takes time to read.
Three to four months is usually a reasonable amount of time to expect to hear from editors at publishing houses, once they’ve received a manuscript submission from a literary agent.
Especially after that three- to four-month period, it’s more than reasonable to expect a literary agent to follow up with editors still considering a submission.
Of course, just like writers, literary agents wish editors could read much faster. Apart from the submission process of book publishing, other functions can sometimes be slow as a result of this “mañana” attitude among some book publishers.
3. “Book publishing is a backward business”
One of the things that makes book publishing unique is people tend to stumble into book publishing as a profession, usually from a background in the humanities. (In recent years, this is changing with more undergraduate and graduate studies in book publishing being offered at colleges and universities).
So rather than having a bunch of business majors running publishing as a business, often there are English majors trying to make sense of a business landscape in book publishing.
As you can imagine, that can make for some interesting results. Sometimes this type of precarious situation can unintentionally results in what might feel like an unprofessional business environment, and can be frustrating to a book publishing professional with more business savvy.
4. MS and MSS
No, I am not talking about that archaic notion of women in the 1950s attending colleges and universities to attain their “Mrs. Degrees.”
MS stands for manuscript and MSS is the plural of manuscript.
This abbreviation is widely used among publishers and literary agencies, often without even a second thought given to whether or not an author might know the term. It might be easy to miss MS as just two simple letters in an email, but whenever you see this, know that your manuscript is being referenced.
5. P&L
As far as book publishing terms go, you might be familiar with this term because many industries use profit and loss statements in calculating business decisions and expenditures.
P&L stands for profit & loss statement.
While you’d think book publishing was an exact science, it’s far more subjective. Publishers are sometimes surprised by books that become surprise mega-bestsellers. Or the opposite: books they thought would be mega-bestsellers that tragically underperformed.
Before a book publisher commits to acquiring a book, and therefore paying a book advance, they dogmatically run that P&L anyway. This is usually a Microsoft Excel spreadsheet, containing formulas that calculate what the profits (royalties, special sales, additional advances from licensing, etc.) on the book might be, against the publisher’s losses (book advance, cost of production, shipping, warehousing, etc.).
You might then wonder where the publisher comes up with potential profits. That brings us back to those comps. Book publishers look to the comp titles for potential success of the book. They evaluate sales of a given title on Nielsen Bookscan’s reporting (now Power BI).
Now you can see why it’s all about the comps.
6. D&A
It’s ironic that this phonetically sounds like “DNA,” because this phase makes up much of the life structure of a book publishing deal and is one of the most commonly-used book publishing terms.
D&A refers to when the manuscript is delivered & accepted.
Usually a large portion of a book advance is placed on the delivery and acceptance of the manuscript to help incentivize the author and accounting easier for the publisher.
By allocating different portions of the advance on a signing payment, D&A payment, and/or publication payment, rather than paying out all the money on signing, book publishers are able to spend their money more easily on other projects and book publishing functions that require financial resources.
Most book publishers will not release the delivery and acceptance portion of a book advance until the manuscript is accepted and made press-ready for final copy editing and proofreading stage, before printing. This also helps to ensure the publisher finds the manuscript in a suitable shape before publication.
7. Pub date
No, your literary agent or editor is not asking you out for drinks…
Pub date is short for “publication date” or the day that a book publishes.
For any happy author, this is your book’s most important day, its birth date.
Oddly enough, many book publishers choose to publish on Tuesdays to time their publications with certain bestseller lists and other publications entering the marketplace. The three-to-four months leading up to publication and the three-to-four months thereafter are crucial times for sales of a new book on the market.
The fall/winter season is usually when the biggest books of the year are published, since it leads into the gift-giving season of the major holidays.
This also makes for the most competitive time of year when a book can be published, so it’s usually advisable that an author trying to make their debut publish in a quieter season. Less competition might be found in the winter/spring season, when books are still bought in large numbers for gift-giving holidays like Easter, Father’s Day, etc.
The quietest time of the year is usually in the spring/summer season. That’s when a book will experience little competition, but this is also a popular beach-reading season, as many readers have free time and school’s out for summer.
This is an updated version of a story that was previously published. We update our posts as often as possible to ensure they’re useful for our readers.
Maybe your husband is in the military or maybe he travels for his job.
Maybe you are separated and you’re feeling the sting of it.
Maybe he has a job and goes to work all day and when he comes home, he’s exhausted and you are like a kid in a candy store, just wanting to hug him and hold him and be with him.
You want so desperately to spend time with him, but life.
Responsibilities. Finances. Kids. There’s so many things that pull you away from him and it hurts you. You feel alone and all you want to do is hold him for several hours until that pain of being alone goes away.
Just laying there in bed, talking to him, investing in him, getting to know him more and more each day, falling in love with him more as each day passes.
I get it!
My ex-husband used to travel for work and would be gone for weeks and weeks at a time. It really stunk and I begged him to give it all up (I never wanted him to take that job in the first place), but he cared more about money than anything and so he continued.
When he WAS home, he was never a cuddly type of guy. Our marriage was more like two ships passing in the night. Roommates at best.
It was hard to deal with. Life is so DIFFERENT being on your own than being married and having someone. Everything is different and it can get lonely BUT….it IS doable and you can get through it!
The first thing you need is God. You need God with you every second of every day. Your hope, your foundation, your anchor in life, in your soul, must absolutely be rooted FIRST in Christ (John 15:5). We need to find our identity, our hope, and our joy in GOD and God alone, not in man, because then we know we are NEVER truly alone! ❤️
God is close to the lonely and broken-hearted (Psalm 34:18). He will be your bridegroom and He will give you comfort (Isaiah 41:10).
So, let’s start there!!! Here’s what to do when your husband is never home and you feel alone.
My Husband Is Never Home, I Feel So Alone
At first, you notice the empty side of the bed. You noticed the one cup on the counter instead of two cups. His toothbrush is gone.
Those things can hit you fast and all at once. You’re not sure how to process it.
You can still smell his body wash in the shower lingering in the air. You might even use it from time to time just to feel closer to him.
Your pillow no longer helps you and you trade it for his pillow. Which, coupled with his scent, puts you right to sleep and eases just a little bit of that ache inside you. 🥰
But the more time progresses, the more that ache grows into almost a tangible thing.
Maybe you’re not completely alone at home; maybe you have kids there too. Animals. Pets.
But when your husband is never home, it’s you who would run things and makes sure life goes on now. All the sudden you have more responsibilities. Things that he used to do and take care of, now suddenly are on your plate so you start to run faster to keep up. Maybe even busying yourself so you forget that he’s gone. It can be overwhelming.
And yes, it can be tough when you’re crumbling inside as you’re washing the dishes, folding clothes, and in charge of the entire home, family, and all of life. Trying to put on this facade for your kids or anyone else living in the home that things are okay. You don’t want you kids to see you breakdown. You don’t want to upset THEM.
You might even get aggravated with yourself for feeling this way. Then that turns to anger – at yourself or even at your husband for being gone.
That pain, that heartache is something I never want to deal with again, so I’ve taken steps to prevent it, should the Lord bring me a husband one day (I pray He does!) ❤️ And there are steps you can take to take care of that feeling as well!
First, you must…
1. Turn to Christ
God is ALWAYS the answer, for everything, in all of life. He’s never the wrong or inapplicable answer. It’s always Him. First in that He comforts you, puts you back together when you are completely broken (Psalm 34:18), and showers you with LOVE and adoration. Man, He REALLY loves you!!!!! 💯 He’s always there for you, in the good and in the bad.
Sometimes, when we are struggling with stuff in life, our friends will start to leave, they run for the hills, or start to back off in our friendship with them. Isn’t it great that God NEVER does that?! He never leaves us! He cares about us in such a deep, rich way. He understands what we are going through!
He felt the sting of pain as Judas, one of His one disciples, betrayed Him. Sold him for money (Matthew 26:14-16). How hurtful it must have been to our Lord, and yet He endured it, and more. Peter denied ever knowing Him (Matthew 26:69-75). The disciples scattered. He alone went to the cross.
He knows your pain. He understands. Fully and completely.
Drink Living Water.
Spend a lot more time with Him.
Invest in your relationship with Christ.
Love Him and pray (James 5:16).
Pray if God can allow your husband to be home with you. It may be that in your situation (in some cases), God can provide a job for your husband to be closer to home. If he’s not in the military or something like that, God can get your husband closer to home if that’s what He wills. Pray about it. Tell God how it’s utterly destroying you and you’re hurting so badly and you just want to be with your husband. Talk to Him, He understands your heart. ❤️
2. Set up a system so he doesn’t have to work outside the home
Maybe you can get a side job. Maybe you can make income on the side, as a Proverbs 31 wife, so that he can be home more? Pray about it. Pray for opportunities, pray for God to lead you. You may think making money from home is difficult, but it’s really not. It’s something I’ve been doing for decades now (I started making money online when I was a teenager!) There’s PLENTY of opportunity everywhere. You just have to find what you’re good at and what you enjoy!
Personally, I never want my future husband to work outside of the home. I want our relationship to be such an important part of our life. I’ve literally flipped my whole life upside down in order that I can BE with my husband when I meet him.
That meant, closing out a lot of unnecessary tasks. Getting REAL good at time management so that every second is productive and I’ll have tons of time to lavish on him.
It meant spending wisely, living beneath my means, and creating a savings account so that I can be prepared for the future. It means earning money on autopilot so that I’m not strapped to my computer and I CAN spend time with my husband.
It meant setting up strategic systems online so that he can come into the business and work it too and earn money.
Maybe he can write blog posts, such as these, maybe Bible commentaries, maybe he can help with the back end of things, answer emails, etc. Whatever HIS unique God-given skills and talents are, we can plug those into an already-created system, that makes us money so that we can spend our time together and still work peacefully in the projects (this blog) that God wants us to do.
I don’t want my future husband to have to work outside the home. I don’t want him to have to deal with that massive financial burden. I want our bills to be covered, doing exactly what God has called us to do. He can earn more Heaven rewards by serving others and not be a slave to a job BECAUSE I’ve spent so much time setting up the blog to be able to sustain us comfortably.
Right off the bat, I want to be the perfect wife to him, helping him, loving on him, treasuring him, cherishing him, and being able to spend all day with him. I’ve worked REALLY hard to prepare, in all ways, to be the standard of the Proverbs 31 woman, even while single, in order that when I DO meet someone, I can be ready to go!
If you’re married, you can prepare now as well. Figure out some ways that your husband can be home with you more. It may take some creative thinking, but if it’s truly important to you (like it is me), you’ll make it happen. You won’t stop until you do. 🥰
Here’s a couple posts that God can use to help lead you in the right direction:
You can make money online, you can sell things, start a blog, a printables shop, start a photography business (whatever your skills are, utilize them). There’s a lot you can do to make money to help him work less!
Another really great way to help him spend more time with you by working less is to learn how to be really good at saving money. And I’m not talking saving money on what you already purchase. I’m talking, never paying for anything (!!) and still having the good things in life.
There are ways to get just about everything you buy for free. I know, because I do it. I’ve worked really hard to do it.
I get all my essential oils for free, which helps with healthcare.
And most of the other things I need, I get free in free groups in my area, which you can too! In fact, when I lived in Idaho, I started my own Christian free group and it was wildly successful and I never paid for anything between that, free yard sale leftovers, and the free trash or treasure day there in my local city.
I got REAL good at getting the things I wanted to buy for free, so that the money I DO earn, can go to bills and my savings account (helping my future husband stay home with me).
In fact, I got SO good at it, that I started saving things aside for my future husband. I saved 12 storage totes full of good brand men’s clothing (think: Hurley brand) in all sizes (because I don’t know what size he will wear), to prepare for marriage. I scored an amazing deal on a wedding dress to prepare and a lot of the wedding items we’d need (ring bearer pillow, cards box, etc). I got an entire wardrobe for myself when I lost some weight last year for free, so my future husband wouldn’t have to pay for me to have clothes to wear, I’m fully stocked.
But when I moved from Idaho to Oregon (where I’m at currently), I had to leave a lot of that stuff behind (I brought my clothes!) 😆 I used vacuum space-saving bags to fit all my clothes! And right now, I have to live “light” because I’m praying about moving over to Ohio this summer (2025), where Alistair Begg’s church is (Lord willing). Be sure to watch their live stream every Sunday (it’s only available for 24 hours each week). It’s so good; I never miss it (here’s today’s). ❤️
That whole area over on that side of the USA has a lot of great churches in many states over there and where I’m at, there’s not a whole lot of options, if any. So I’m hoping to move over in that area of the USA somewhere, wherever God wants me. 🙏 I’m so desperate to be a part of a godly church. 🥰 Definitely pray for me that if it’s God’s will, He help me to find a nice, safe place to rent over there.
And while I had to leave a lot of those things behind that I had prepared for a future husband, it’s okay, because I know I can just gather them up again! No problem! And you can too! Those links above will teach you how to live on so little!
My biggest advice is just to start on one thing at a time. Look at what you spend the most money on each month and figure out how you can get it free. When you do, start working on the next thing, and the next. Pretty soon, everything you currently pay for, you won’t have to!!!
The more you’re able to save money and then make money on autopilot, the more time you’ll be able to spend with your husband and the more freedom you’ll have in your life! ❤️
It doesn’t happen overnight. It can take years of planning and working on it, but if you start now, things will be better later on and you can spend your days free and happy with your soulmate!
2. Get more involved with others
While you’re working on ways to get your husband home, go to church more, get your kids more involved in church, join a Bible study, go on Wednesday night services, serve in VBS, nursery, or in Sunday School at church. Get more involved!
Some church groups can be for women or for moms, but then there are other church groups for things like sewing classes or painting class. You might also find groups or committees in charge of certain things, like the upcoming donations auction, putting on the spring play, or hosting a church yard sale (those are SUPER fun to be involved in!)
Maybe you can start up a food pantry at your church or maybe you can collect things to help those in need. Things like food, pantry staples, clothing, furniture, etc.
There’s so many ways to serve and be involved and as you serve, it lights up your heart and brings you joy!! 🎉
And, of course, there are more groups around you than in your church. Look for things in your local area. Check out Facebook and see what groups they have for your subdivision too. More recently, more subdivisions are doing that and you can get more involved with your neighbors and they have a lot of outings and fun stuff going on!
Call up a friend or family member and ask them if there are any groups they know of or are a part of that you can check out too (and invest in those friendships more!)
Check your local chamber of commerce or conventions and visitor’s bureau to see some of the happenings going on in your town. Facebook Events usually show tons of things going on locally, so check those out as well and see if you can join any groups that peak your interest.
Maybe you like to sew, so you find a sewing club. Or you like to read, so you join a book club. Whatever it may be, join a group that have people with similar passions as you and are Christ-like.
Another great option if you homeschool is to join a local co-op. You can usually find Facebook groups that are for local homeschooling moms too that have monthly meetings and get-togethers for your kids.
3. Pick up a new hobby or learn a new skill
I have a long list of things I want to learn, whether it be a new skill or just simply knowledge. You can always find me learning something because I LOVE to learn! I’m obsessed with learning!!! I encourage you to do the same!
Dust off your long-lost piano and start playing it again. Get a piano teacher to start teaching you the harder chords. Or, if you’ve never played before but always wanted to, this is the perfect opportunity.
I mentioned sewing or reading. If sewing or crocheting is something you always wanted to do but never did, you can pick these up. And you don’t have to go out to meet them, there are online courses and videos you can do to learn how to do these things.
In fact, you can learn just about anything online these days!
One of my ALL-TIME FAVORITE hobbies is to create printables! I love to listen to sermons while I create them (killing three birds with one stone: filling my soul with Living Water, serving others, and creating an income stream). You can learn how to create them yourself, which is what I did. 😊
4. Give to the needy
It is always a good thing to give to the needy. A benefit of giving to the needy is not only that you’ll be helping someone that needs it, but it’s also because it’s just simply a good thing to do if we are doing it with the right servant’s heart and love for Christ.
God calls us to help the less fortunate than we are. He wants us to serve others and spread the gospel.
Whoever is generous to the poor lends to the Lord, and he will repay him for his deed. – Proverbs 19:17
I’m sure you can discover different organizations, either locally or online, that you can join to help the needy around you. For example, there are Meals On Wheels, Habitat for Humanity, local homeless shelters, local soup kitchens, organizations for the youth nearby, and I’m sure they’ll find plenty of others like these in your area.
There are opportunities online too.
I have an open call for a volunteer position and the application is here (it’s always open). This blog is a ministry and I need help serving the world for Christ. I’d love to have your help in whatever way you can serve. Maybe you’re a great writer. Maybe you’re a proofer. Just lemme know what kind of gifts you have and where you want to serve in the application.
When you serve or help the less fortunate, it gives you a sort of uplifting pat on the back because you know what you’re doing is good and you know that God is proud of you for it. This simply helps you feel good inside, like you are needed, like what you do matters. What you do will matters so much to them, in ways you’ll never know!
To add to this, you can get your kids involved in it as well. Teach them the values and morals of going out of your way to help the needy. Teach them these special types of characteristics that will only serve to help instill values that they can carry with them all the days of their life. There’s something about giving to the needy that can teach you valuable lessons that you can’t get anywhere else.
When you give to those less fortunate, God blesses you from it. You will start to feel less alone and do more positive things with your time.
Whoever has a bountiful eye will be blessed, for he shares his bread with the poor. – Proverbs 22:9
All this is great, but it is all useless if you aren’t praying as you go. Whether your husband has to be away from home for work or whether he simply leaves all the time, you must pray about your situation and give it to God. You feel lonely right now, yes, but know that you are not alone and you can spend useful time doing things that matter (in life and to get him home).
One more thing to consider…when your husband IS home, do you treasure those moments? Are you serving him, loving on him, showing him that you WANT him around, that you respect and adore him, lavishing your love on him? Or are you so angry at him, you’re treating him like trash as a way of “punishing him” for not being around?
We must be very careful as to the clues we are sending our husbands because they can oftentimes, read us like a book.
They know when we’re mad or holding onto bitterness, anger, or hurt. They know when we don’t want them around or are just going through the motions. So be sure we all are always treating our husbands well when they are home because they don’t have to be!
A husband doesn’t HAVE TO stay. He’s not forced. He can leave at any time he decides to. Make him feel treasured when he’s there. Love on him and make him feel special. Go out of your way to really treat him well and be kind to him. Don’t hold in any resentment, but forgive him for anything he’s done, through the power of Christ. Life’s way too short to hold onto any unforgiveness in your heart! 💯
If you operate a website for your business, you’ll know that UX isn’t just about clean layouts and fast-loading pages. It’s about how a website feels to use as well. A lot of this comes down to micro-interactions because although they might seem minor, small things like button animations and hover effects can be very impactful, especially if you are targeting a large desktop user base.
Subtle Responses and User Feedback
Micro-interactions serve a lot of different purposes. It may be that they display a status, encourage someone to click, or prevent errors. When done right, they help an interface to feel responsive and fluid, irrespective of the industry you work in. For example, when designing a graphic through Canva, hover effects offer immediate feedback to enlarge the template, which encourages exploration.
Movie trailer creation websites like Trainrobber use hover effects to enlarge team photos and trending topics within the industry. If you play roulette online, you’ll notice the hover effect being used often too. In instances like this, hover effects are used to help users navigate many different choices, including Pinball Roulette and Speed Roulette, with a “play now” button that appears when the cursor is moved over each image. Not only does this simplify the interface, it also provides a more streamlined experience, helping users navigate.
Micro-interactions like this help to make the interface feel alive, and with choices like shadow effects, color shifts, or triggered animations to choose from, it’s a great way for you to increase your user experience. As you can see, it works across numerous verticals.
Micro-interactions are one of the best ways for you to reinforce brand personality. It’s easy to cater to interactions like this so they align with your tone. Luxury brands may opt for bright highlights or smooth fades, but a website design service may opt for something more creative. Websites like FullBundle are a great example here, as this takes the concept of micro-interactions and takes them to a whole new level. With the website offering blue and red shapes that bounce around the page as the cursor moves, this not only showcases the brand’s creativity but also keeps users on the homepage for longer, encouraging interaction while greatly reducing the site’s bounce rate.
Micro-interactions don’t always have to be visual either. It can be a sound that triggers when a button is tapped. You can also incorporate useful features, like swipe to refresh, which cater more to mobile users. When you break them down, it’s easy to see how these tiny ensign elements can have a huge impact. They can bring an interface to life, and when you are operating a business within a competitive landscape, it is a good way for you to set your website apart.
After all, when creating a site, you’re not just trying to make a sale. You’re also trying to connect with your user, and micro-interactions are one of the best ways to do that. They’re also a good way to improve UX, which can have a huge impact on your bottom line.
Are you wondering how to stay grounded when much of life is uncertain? Keep reading. Brad Stulberg suggests six crucial practices for writers.
“I’m dying for a break,” said my client Tim, the chief physician of adult and family medicine at a large health care system. “But even when I try to take a single weekend off, I can’t seem to go more than a few hours without opening my work email. Logically I know I don’t have to — and I don’t really want to — but I feel compelled to check. To be honest, I become restless and insecure if I don’t.”
“I thought that when I finally secured funding and launched this business I’d be content,” said Samantha, an entrepreneur at a fast-growing technology company. “But I was wrong. And I’m a bit worried that if this isn’t enough, I’m not sure what will be.”
“I’ve long felt the pull of distraction and I’ve long had a tendency to overthink things,” explained Ben, the CEO of a large software company. “Yet it feels intensified now. Like hyper-distraction. It’s harder than ever to be present. I can deal with it; but I don’t like it.”
“I cannot stop obsessing about getting my book published by a major house,” bemoans my friend Ben. “I wish I could, but it’s become this nagging force pulling on my self-esteem.”
Here’s my other friend, Sarah: “I thought that once I got published by a major house I’d be satisfied. But it turns out, now I spend all that time thinking about hitting a major bestseller list. And on social media. And on all these other sources of stimulation that are not writing.”
How to stay grounded in the face of heroic individualism
Everyone wants to be successful. But few people take the time and energy to define the success they want. As a result, they spend most, if not all, of their lives chasing what society superimposes on them as success. Examples include a bigger house, a faster car, a more prestigious position, greater relevance on the internet, and so on. Yet, even if someone finally attains these so-called successes, they are often left wanting.
Many men describe an ever-present pressure, a cumbersome need to be bulletproof, invincible. Many women report feeling like they must be everything always, continually falling short of impossible expectations. I’ve come to call this heroic individualism: an ongoing game of one-upmanship, against both self and others, paired with the limiting belief that measurable achievement is the only arbiter of success. Even if you do a good job hiding it on the outside, with heroic individualism you chronically feel like you never quite reach the finish line that is lasting fulfillment.
Long before heroic individualism, in ancient eastern psychology there was a concept known as the hungry ghost. The hungry ghost has an endless stomach. He keeps on eating, stuffing himself sick, but he never feels full. It’s a severe disorder. And it is one that too many people are still suffering from, as evidenced by skyrocketing rates of anxiety, loneliness, depression, burnout, and substance abuse.
It’s none of our faults, per se. After all, the survival of a consumerist economy, like the one most of us live in, depends on the creation of hungry ghosts and heroic individuals: people who feel like they never have enough, always on the lookout for more, trying to fill emptiness with stuff and outward achievement, on a treadmill that keeps spinning round and round. But you, me — all of us — can choose to opt out of this game. You just have to know how.
Enter: groundedness, a transformative path to success that feeds — not crushes — your soul
Groundedness is internal strength and self-confidence that sustains you through ups and downs. It is a deep reservoir of integrity and fortitude, of wholeness, out of which lasting performance, well-being, and fulfillment emerge.
Groundedness does not eliminate passion, productivity, or all forms of striving and ambition. Instead, it is about ditching an omnipresent and frantic anxiety to begin living in alignment with your innermost values, pursuing your interests, and expressing your authentic self in the here and now.
When you are grounded there is no need to look up or down. You are where you are, and you hold true strength and power from that position. Your success, and the way in which you pursue it, becomes more enduring and robust. You gain the confidence to opt out of the consumer-driven rat-race that leaves you feeling like you are never enough. And, you get much better as a writer—because you can focus on the craft itself, not all the stuff surrounding it.
How to stay grounded: 6 principles of groundedness for writers
The concept of groundedness is the result of the last five years I’ve spent coaching, researching, and reporting for my own book, The Practice of Groundedness: A Transformative Path to Success That Feeds — Not Crushes — Your Soul.It is drawn from both the latest research in psychology, neuroscience, and sociology, as well as age-old teachings from Buddhism, Taoism, and Stoicism. It offers six principles as a roadmap to a different kind and better kind of success.
As you’ll see below, each of these principles is especially important for writers.
Accept where you are to get you where you want to go
Seeing clearly, accepting, and starting where you are. Not where you want to be. Not where you think you should be. Not where others think you should be. But where you are. You can’t work on something in a meaningful way if you refuse to accept that the thing is happening to begin with. You don’t have to like what is happening, but you have to accept it.
Many writers fall into the trap of wishing they had this deal or that deal, that they got their work accepted by this publication or that one. As a result, we tend to engage in a lot of wishful thinking. This wishful thinking often gets in the way of the writing itself. Acceptance means focusing on the work, even if you don’t already have publishing glory lined up. After all, there is no publishing glory without doing the butt-in-the-chair work. If you are struggling to get started, remember: you don’t need to feel good to get going, you need to get going to give yourself a chance at feeling good.
Be present so you can own your attention and energy
Being present, both physically and mentally, for what is in front of you. Spending more time fully in this life, not in thoughts about the past or future. Distraction is tempting — perhaps for some, even addicting — but the research is clear: happiness, well-being, and peak performance emerge from full engagement in what you are doing.
Writers, take note: do not rely on your willpower to overcome distraction.Schedule time to write, and during that time, keep your phone in another room, close your Internet browser, turn off your email client. If that’s not enough, consider buying a cheap computer with no internet connection, and use it only for writing (something I’ve done before when struggling with distraction).
Be patient and you’ll get there faster
Giving things time and space to unfold. Not trying to escape life by moving at warp speed. Not expecting instant results and then quitting when they don’t occur. Realizing that we often do things quickly — not better, but quickly — to gain time. But what is the point if in the time we gain we just do more things quickly? I have yet to meet someone who wants their headstone to read, “They rushed.”
Let the process unfold. This often means stopping a bit short today so you can pick up in a good rhythm tomorrow. Ernest Hemingway was known for forcing—that’s right, forcing—himself to stop working when he was still in a groove so he could resume from that place the next morning. There is nothing wrong with a marathon session; but don’t make it a habit. Consistency compounds. Small steps—or in this case, sentences—taken every day compound into something big.
Embrace vulnerability to develop genuine strength and confidence
Being real with yourself and with others, at work and in life. Eliminating cognitive dissonance, the inner turmoil and distress that arises when too much of your outward life is performative, when there is too wide a gap between what the sociologist Erving Goffman called your “front stage” and “back stage” selves.
Don’t be scared to take big swings and to put your heart on the page. Writing that feels the most vulnerable is also writing that resonates the most with other people. Why? Because everyone is going through something always. What feels unique to you rarely is. Research shows the more vulnerable we are, the more connected to other people we become. This is every bit as true on the page as it is off of it. This is how to stay grounded.
Nurturing genuine connection and belonging. Building supportive spaces in which individuals can hold each other through ups and downs. Prioritizing not just productivity, but people too. Remembering that on our deathbed we are less likely to harp on the gold-medal, promotion to regional vice president, bestseller, or any other outward achievement, and more likely to savor the bonds and relationships we forged along the way.
The best way to get better at any craft, including writing, is to surround yourself wisely. Connect with other writers. Share you work. Brainstorm together. The title and the sub-title of The Practice of Groundedness both came from conversations with other writer friends.
Move your body to ground your mind
Regularly moving your body so that you fully inhabit it, connect it to your mind, and as a result become more situated wherever you are. This doesn’t mean you have to be an athlete. It just means to make movement a part of your life, even if only in some small way.
Study after study shows that the single best way to enhance creativity is to move your body. I consider exercise a part of my job as a professional writer. At least 60 percent of my best ideas have come while on the trail. Even though it can feel like you are sacrificing precious writing time to exercise, it’s actually the opposite that is true. By moving your body, you are bolstering what you bring to the table during your precious writing time.
Brad Stulberg’s book, upon which this story is based, The Practice of Groundedness: A Transformative Path to Success that Feeds — Not Crushes — Your Soul, is available on Amazon.
As remote work becomes increasingly prevalent, many of us find ourselves spending more time at home and less time being physically active. The convenience of working from home can often lead to a sedentary lifestyle, which can negatively impact our health and well-being.
However, staying physically active while working from home is not only possible but also essential for maintaining energy levels, productivity, and overall health. In this blog, we’ll explore practical and effective tips to help you incorporate physical activity into your daily routine, ensuring that you stay fit and active even while working from the comfort of your home.
10 Tips to Stay Physically Active While Working from Home
Working from home offers many conveniences, but it can also lead to a more sedentary lifestyle. Here are ten tips to help you stay physically active while working from home:
Set a Routine:
Consistent Schedule: Establish a daily routine that includes specific times for exercise. Treat these times as non-negotiable appointments.
Morning Workouts: Consider starting your day with a workout to boost your energy and set a positive tone for the day.
Take Regular Breaks:
Pomodoro Technique: Use techniques like the Pomodoro Technique to take short breaks every 25-30 minutes. Use these breaks to stand up, stretch, or walk around.
Stretching: Incorporate stretching exercises to relieve muscle tension and improve circulation.
Create a Dedicated Workout Space:
Home Gym: If possible, set up a small home gym or a dedicated space for physical activity. This can include basic equipment like dumbbells, resistance bands, or a yoga mat.
Minimal Equipment: Even without equipment, you can perform bodyweight exercises like push-ups, squats, and planks.
Incorporate Movement into Your Workday:
Standing Desk: Use a standing desk or a convertible desk to alternate between sitting and standing throughout the day.
Walking Meetings: Take phone calls or virtual meetings while walking around your home or yard.
Use Fitness Apps and Online Classes:
Workout Apps: Download fitness apps that offer guided workouts, challenges, and tracking features.
Online Classes: Participate in online fitness classes, such as yoga, Pilates, or HIIT, to stay motivated and engaged.
Set Reminders to Move:
Alarms: Set alarms or reminders on your phone or computer to prompt you to move every hour.
Smartwatches: Use a smartwatch or fitness tracker with activity reminders to encourage regular movement.
Incorporate Household Activities:
Chores: Turn household chores into mini-workouts. Activities like vacuuming, gardening, or cleaning can help you stay active.
Active Breaks: Use breaks to do quick tasks like tidying up, which also gets you moving.
Engage in Short Workouts:
Micro Workouts: Incorporate short, high-intensity workouts throughout the day, such as 5-10 minute bursts of activity.
Exercise Snacks: Perform quick exercises like jumping jacks, lunges, or burpees during short breaks.
Stay Hydrated and Eat Healthily:
Water Intake: Keep a water bottle nearby and stay hydrated, as dehydration can lead to fatigue and reduced physical activity.
Healthy Snacks: Choose nutritious snacks that provide sustained energy and avoid sugary or processed foods.
Stay Accountable:
Workout Buddy: Partner with a friend or family member to stay accountable and motivated. Share your workout plans and progress.
Track Progress: Keep a fitness journal or use an app to track your workouts, steps, and overall activity levels.
Conclusion
Staying physically active while working from home requires intentional effort and planning. By incorporating these ten tips into your daily routine, you can combat the sedentary nature of remote work and maintain a healthy, active lifestyle.
From setting a consistent exercise schedule and taking regular breaks to using fitness apps and staying accountable, these strategies will help you stay fit, energized, and productive while working from home. Prioritize your physical well-being to enhance your overall health and work performance.
If you are looking for remote jobs, there’s no better place to start than DailyRemote. So, what are you waiting for? Get started today, find the remote job of your dreams, start applying today. Join like-minded people in our
