by Elizabeth S. Craig, @elizabethscraig
As I mentioned Monday in the first part of this post, I hadn’t really considered how stressful a book launch could be until I read a blog post on the subject. It made me start thinking about how I feel on book release days.
There are a few things that I do to help launches go more smoothly. Monday, I explained how doing tasks in advance of release day and keeping a checklist help me to make launches less-stressful.
There are a few other ways I try to make launch day easier for me. Some tips:
Don’t allow social media to run in the background. Appoint times to check in on social media platforms or email. I’ve found that when I have a tab open to Facebook or Instagram, the notifications really give me an underlying anxious or frantic feeling and they pull me away from what I’m doing. Even nice messages and congratulations have that effect. Instead, I’ll make a point of checking in at appointed times during the day and then close those tabs.
Set times to check sales numbers on Amazon. Checking book ranking on Amazon can be stressful. Again, setting times to take a look at sales is better than trying to track them during the day.
Work on the next project. This may seem counterintuitive, and it’s not to say that we don’t deserve a break. But I am always working on the next project on release day and the days to follow. I think it helps not only keep me on track but helps me to have a sense of perspective about the launched book and its importance. Probably not an approach for everyone, but one to consider.
Celebrate your success. This is something I have to practically force myself to do, but I always feel better afterward. This could be any small reward…anything to mark the occasion and acknowledge your hard work.
Most importantly, take care of yourself. Exercise the morning of the release. Be sure to stretch, eat well, and drink plenty of water. I’ve found that it’s surprisingly easy to end up extremely run-down by simply sitting all day.
Further reading on reducing writing-related stress:
Desk Fitness: a Series of 11 Simple Stretches by Melanie Brooks
Social Media is Eating Your Brain by James Scott Bell
Do you have any tips that I’ve left out? How do you feel on launch day?
More Tips for Reducing Release Day Stress: Share on X
Constantly checking online would just make me crazy. You have to have some down time from that, especially on release day.
Down time is really key, I think. Turning off notifications helps with that, too.
I have so many other things to do on a release day for a book, I’m too busy to check social media outside of announcements posted.
Thanks a good thing! And you have lots of releases.
I probably should have followed these tips yesterday during my release. :-)
Having Facebook open all day was very distracting and I felt like I had to constantly respond to messages, notifications etc. which did get a little stressful at one point. But I did make a point of getting out and going to sit someplace without my computer in the afternoon for a while which helped a bit.
Isn’t it? There’s something about being pinged that makes me very frenetic, even when they’re good notifications.
Congratulations on the release!
Hi Elizabeth – another excellent post … just getting away from the screen is an essential and helps our eyes; fresh air and exercise … all help to combat stress. Cheers Hilary
Very true about cutting back on screen time!
Hope you have a great week!
I think you’ve nailed it here, Elizabeth. It is important to be aware and alert on launch day. Making sure the book’s easily available, arranging for the news to get out, a blog tour if there’s going to be one, that sort of thing, are all important. But it’s also important to put it all in perspective. Celebrate the success, look to the future, and focus on the larger picture – well, at least, that’s what I’ve found.
You have a very healthy attitude toward releases! Yes, so important to keep looking at the big picture.