In February 2023, a friend and I sat down with a Hollywood producer at a cozy little bistro in Los Angeles. We had co-written a TV show, and to our absolute joy, the producer wanted to work with us. That single meeting changed the next two years of my life.
Since then, I’ve been writing and editing scripts for producers and directors in Los Angeles and New York, juggling exciting opportunities that were graciously handed to me by incredible creatives. But as the screenwriting projects kept coming, I had to make a choice.
I needed to push pause on my publishing career.
I didn’t expect that pause to last so long. But finally, in January, I felt confident that I could manage both careers simultaneously. So, February became the month of picking up the pieces—but in the best way possible. And wow, did I hit the ground running. In a single month, I...
✔ Reclaimed the rights to my audiobooks
✔ Redesigned lost cover art files
✔ Wrote a brand-new prologue for Shattered Snow
✔ Produced the audiobook for Sculpting Fables, Book 3 in The Mirror Chronicles
Whew.
So, what did I learn while basically resurrecting my publishing career? Let’s talk about it.
Reconnecting is Key
Just like in fairy tales, true friendships withstand time and distance. If you’ve been away from publishing for a while, it’s easy to feel like you’re starting over—but you’re not. The connections you made with fellow creatives, readers, and industry professionals don’t disappear just because you stepped away.
Reconnecting with the people who were part of the major milestones of my publishing career was one of the best things I did when stepping back in. But I didn’t just wait for people to notice I was back—I took intentional action to rebuild those relationships.
Get Visible on Social Media / Newsletters (and Be Proactive About It!)
The moment I hit “post” on that first Instagram picture, messages flooded in: "Welcome back!" "So excited to see you here again!" It reminded me that I was never truly alone on this journey. Whatever medium you were using to connect with your audience in the beginning, start showing up for them again.
But here’s the thing: algorithms don't always show your posts to everyone—only a small portion of your followers will see them. So instead of waiting for a computer to reconnect me with my audience, I took control.
✔ I used Gary Vee's Dollar-Eighty method—leaving meaningful comments on recent posts from my audience and fellow creatives.
✔ I scrolled through my followers list and left comments on their latest posts—an easy way to re-enter conversations.
✔ I started privately messaging friends, and within days, my feed was filled with familiar faces again, and I was having genuine conversations with bookish friends like we had never stopped chatting
💡 Action Step: Pick 10-15 people per day—readers, authors, industry friends—and engage meaningfully. Comment, share, reply to stories. Let people know you’re back!
Reach Out Personally—Yes, People Want to Hear from You!
At first, imposter syndrome whispered that reaching out to old contacts would feel like a burden—like I was showing up after two years saying, "Hey, remember me?"
That fear? Completely unfounded.
✔ I went through tagged photos from other accounts and prioritized reconnecting with my old besties. These people got personal messages, more than just comments and replies.
✔ I checked in with past critique partners and fellow authors in my email contacts, just to catch up.
✔ I quickly realized I wasn’t a burden—people were excited to reconnect! Many responded with, "I always meant to read the next book!" or "So excited to hear from you!"
💡 Action Steps: Make a short list of 10-20 people—past readers, reviewers, fellow authors, or industry contacts—and send them a message. Keep it simple and personal!
"Hey [name], I was thinking about you today! It’s been a while, but I wanted to check in and see how you’re doing."
Hire Other Creatives—Let People Help You Build Momentum
One of the best decisions I made? Hiring other creatives to work on new projects.
✔ I hired my audiobook narrator to start recording my next book.
✔ I had my illustrator update my cover art—instantly making my books feel fresh and exciting again. (Check out the subtle changes she made below)
✔ I joined an Instagram Reel monthly challenge that gave me daily prompts about what to post.
While I was picking up the pieces, other people were working behind the scenes—moving things forward even when I wasn’t actively doing the work myself.
💡 Action Steps: Even if you’re not fully ready to dive back in, commission one creative project related to your books. It could be:
✔ Hiring a cover designer for a refresh
✔ Booking an editor for your next manuscript
✔ Ordering new book promo graphics
Your Story Isn’t Over—It’s Just Beginning Again
If you’ve been away from publishing—whether for months or years—you are not starting from scratch. You’re starting from experience.
Rebuilding a creative career isn’t about doing everything at once. It’s about reconnecting with your support system, taking small steps forward, and letting go of the idea that everything has to be perfect before you begin.
Fairy tales remind us that heroes don’t always feel ready when they start their journey. They take one step, then another, and suddenly, they’re no longer the person who started.
And you? You can do this.
So whether it’s hitting publish, reaching out to a reader, hiring a designer, or simply writing one new sentence today—take the step. Even if it feels small. Even if it feels like you’re just picking up broken pieces. Because before you know it, those pieces will come together into something whole, something powerful—something only you can create.
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