Why I Created a Self-Care Guide for Writers

Introducing my Self-Care Guide for Writers!

Hi there! If you haven't met me before, I’m Hannah, a freelance editor, proofreader, and sensitivity reader. I’m also a wife, cat mom, voracious reader, poet (book coming 2025!), chai enthusiast, childcare worker, and disability advocate.

I’ve struggled to cope with rejection my whole life. When I was 10, I was finally diagnosed with an anxiety disorder and the diagnoses multiplied from there! I found out that I’m autistic when I was 17, and I also have ARFID, PTSD, OCD, idiopathic hypersomnia (chronic fatigue), and some other stuff. These conditions have impacted my tolerance to emotional distress.

Why am I telling you this? Because I want you to know that I get it. I’ve struggled with Rejection Sensitivity Dysphoria, imposter syndrome, and executive dysfunction for what feels like forever. I’ve been in therapy for more than a decade.

Through my (admittedly quite short) life, I've learned a lot about how to deal with rejection sensitivity, executive dysfunction, and imposter syndrome. Keeping that information to myself just feels wrong!

Some of the things I've struggled with the most on my publishing journey include:

~What to do on writing breaks

~How to ask a bookstore or library to stock my book

~How to book an event space

~Finding a community that gets it

~Making my space enjoyable to write in

~Having motivation to write

~And more

I want to share what I’ve learned to tackle these things, how I practice self care, and what accommodations I make for myself to survive in the publishing space. I genuinely hope this self-care guide helps your writing journey to be a kinder, more enjoyable experience.

Being a writer is tough. Being a human is hard enough, but writers also have to deal with things such as editor feedback, book reviews, marketing, planning events, and trying to sell books. All of these things can involve rejection, and even if it's a kind rejection, it still hurts.

This self-care guide includes 31 pages stuffed full with: 

~Tips to take care of your physical and mental wellbeing (but from a neurodivergent perspective)

~Communication templates (email signatures, communicating with your editor, asking a space to host your event, requesting a store or library to carry your book, etc.)

~Accommodations you can make for yourself

~Affirmations from writers and editors who Get It

~and LOTS of cat pictures! 

Important note: Clients that book with me get this guide for free. If you've booked with me in the past and would like a copy, just send me an email!

If you're interested in purchasing this guide, click here.

If you're part of a marginalized community and can't afford this guide, please feel free to email me at hannahgbartlett23@gmail.com.

Wanting to sponsor a marginalized person receiving this guide? You can also send me an email :)

Thank you so much for reading! Take care of yourselves.