The Book Deal
Motivation and inspiration for emerging writers, helping them pave their own pathway to publishing success.
The Book Deal
Natasha, Tina and Madeleine on strategies to identify and manage author burnout, anchoring your writing in time and intention setting
Natasha, Tina and Madeleine on strategies to identify and manage author burnout and intention setting
In this episode of the Book Deal podcast, hosts Tina Strachan, Madeleine Cleary, and Natasha Rai discuss various aspects of the writing life, including burnout, the importance of nature, the benefits of cold showers, and practical tips for managing time and self-care. They also share personal updates and emphasise the need for thorough editing before submitting work to competitions. The episode concludes with an update on the podcast's growth plans and a call for Patreon support.
PATREON: After a year of The Book Deal Podcast and 51 episodes, we're looking to grow our community. If you've been enjoying the show and want to help keep us bring you conversations about the writing life, we'd love for you to join our Patreon for the less than the cost of a coffee per month.
Your contribution will be going directly to cover the costs of our podcast, and it also means we'll be able to keep paying our sound producer, Brogan. We've got lots of exciting things planned for our patrons, and we can't wait to share more as it all unfolds. So if you'd like to come along for the ride, head to our Patreon page.
And we'd love to have you on board. Thanks so much for listening and for being part of the Book Deal Podcast family.
This week's Debut in the Spotlight is DJ Taylor with her YA novel Anna's War (July 2025, Riveted Press).
00:00 Welcome to the Book Deal Podcast
00:56 Catching Up After a Long Time
01:27 Tina's Exciting Book Launch
03:06 Melbourne Weather Woes
05:01 Natasha's Event at the Emerging Writers Festival
07:18 Discussing Burnout for Writers
17:22 Recognizing Burnout Symptoms
20:03 Introducing Anna's War
21:35 Managing Digital Distractions
26:40 Intention Setting and Time Management
32:29 Top Tips for Authors
36:34 Podcast Updates and Conclusion
Join our Patreon community for less than the cost of a coffee per month and support the pod! Your contribution will go to directly paying our sound producer, Brogan, and to help us bring you the conversations with industry professionals you love.
Follow The Book Deal podcast on Instagram The Book Deal podcast (@the_book_deal_podcast) • Instagram photos and videos
You can find out more about Tina, Madeleine and Natasha and follow their journeys here:
Tina Strachan (@td_strachan) • Instagram photos and videos
Tina Strachan children's book author
Madeleine Cleary (@madeleineclearywrites) • Instagram photos and videos
Madeleine Cleary | Author
Natasha Rai (@raiwriting) • Instagram photos and videos
Natasha Rai | Author | Mentor
If you want to stay in the know, sign up to Madeleine, Tina and Natasha's newsletters for the latest news first.
Madeleine: Subscribe here...
This is the Book Deal podcast where you will discover the inspiring stories behind your favorite books.
Natasha Rai:We interview seasoned and debut authors, as well as publishing industry professionals to bring you the best tips and advice on how to get that elusive
Tina Strachan:book deal. So no matter what's. Stage of writing your at. We've got you covered. I'm Tina Strachan. I'm Madeleine Cleary. And I'm Natasha Rai. And join us as we pull back the curtain of published authors one deal at a
Madeleine Cleary:time. The book Deal podcast acknowledges the traditional owners, the land and waters, which it's recorded on. And pays respect to their elders past, present, and emerging. Hello, ladies. Why Hello there. Hi. It's been a long time since we've caught up. We were just saying it's probably been a couple of months and I reckon we've got lots of things to update each other on. I really, I think so. There's been a lot happening. So much happening. And I see you both in Melbourne as well, which has been so exciting. So. Mm-hmm. Tash and I, we had a, a lunch yesterday that started at 1230 and ended at 7:30 PM
x:Love it.
Madeleine Cleary:Which is awesome. Um, but Tina, tell us about your updates.'cause you've literally launched a book in this time.
Tina Strachan:I have, I think since I spoke to you last. Yes. Uh, I have I, Nika and The Storm. So I booked two of the Wilder Zoo series and. Uh, yeah, so that came out in July, but it was a bit of a, I had a, a longer sort of launch period, um, which culminated in a couple of weeks ago in Melbourne at Melbourne Zoo, launching it there with lions at the window and yeah, snakes all my favorite and, and snakes and, and, um, yeah, someone, someone did a post and it was like, oh, coffee and biscotti and snakes. I was like, I haven't had that at a launch before. Um, but it's. Super fun and, um, hanging out with all my favorite author, friends, and favorite. Family and um, and, uh, Catherine Collette also very, um, lovingly came and, and helped me be my book launch buddy and, uh, my beautiful publisher, Lisa Berryman. So it was so nice'cause just to hang with that crew down there.'cause I always see everybody in Melbourne and in Sydney have these awesome get togethers. So it's so nice to come down and, and, and meet them for a little bit too. So that was really good.
Madeleine Cleary:It was a packed event too. It was, it had such a good vibe on the day. Like you really pulled a crowd, Tina, and there was so much love and support for you in the room. Um, and we were just reflecting earlier, like it was wonderful that your publisher, Lisa Berryman. Also came to that. Yeah. And I think just seeing her support of you was really fantastic as well.
Tina Strachan:Yeah, yeah. No, it was lovely to see her because yeah, she does live so far away. Um, and everyone, you know, the weather was terrible that weekend. It was so bad. It's Melbourne. It was so, I think I know, but it was worse than normal. There was like. Sheep grazes warnings. Like people were legit getting warnings that their sheep could die. And I was like leaving the Gold Coast with the blue sky and the 24 degrees. And
Madeleine Cleary:you kept sending me, uh, like both of us saying photos of, um, the Melbourne weather, like just a snip of the Melbourne weather. And I think I was in, I was in Noosa. I was like, you are like, I don't care.
Tina Strachan:I was like, sort this Madeleine, I'm coming to Melbourne. Sort this please.
Natasha Rai:I still had intense FOMO that I couldn't make it for that. It looks so good. Can you do one in Sydney please at Targa Zoo? I'd love to. Oh, I have
Tina Strachan:plans. Natasha
Natasha Rai:plans. Yeah, you could do it like with the giraffes in the back. Oh,
Tina Strachan:I know, I know. We'll have giraffes on the cover of all the WA Zoo books, so it'll be only be fitting. So Yes. Um, it was busy and it culminated in that, which was just a lovely, beautiful weekend. And um, yeah, so it was, it was long launch period, but it was lots of fun.
Madeleine Cleary:There was a baby giraffe too. Speaking of giraffes, this, did you see baby giraffe
Tina Strachan:noodle?
Madeleine Cleary:Is that noodle?
Tina Strachan:Mm-hmm. Yeah. The cutest thing ever. I know. So sweet. Cute. Oh, but Madeleine tell me, you, you had to have gone to the butterfly house, right?
Madeleine Cleary:Oh my gosh. So yes. Did you? Yes, of course. And I was there with my nieces and they, that was their favorite part. The butterfly house. It's one of my favorites too. So gorgeous. We had so many beautiful butterflies landing on us. It was very special. And I don't suppose you had a copy of the butterfly women there. I did not. I should. I should. I've just like, I should have done some book promo. Like I should have thought about, you know, Jessica Box's advice in the last episode, which is the piece to camera piece, you know? Yeah. Done some promos, scheduled some content, time boxed. Yeah. All that kind of stuff. But I did it, so I love the time box. I know, I know. Um, and Natasha, I went to your event yesterday at the Merging Writers Festival in Melbourne. I just love that both of you're just coming to me like I don't have to go. It's handy. And that was a fabulous event. So many people, that would've been like over a hundred people in the room. I know, I was,
Natasha Rai:I'm glad I didn't know that going in. Um, because I was,'cause we were just in this little green room, Tina, and they took us through, like the building. So I didn't actually get to see the space at all. I had no concept of what it Oh, wow. And I was asking one of them, I'm like, so what? Like what is it? Is it like just a room? Is it like a theater style? And they were like, oh, it's kind of long and skinny. And I'm like, oh, okay. Um, so when we actually came on stage, I was a bit taken aback. I was like, oh, oh my God. Okay. Yeah. But it was good because they had proper spotlight. So, which means I couldn't really see lots and lots of people. Mm. I could just kind of see the first few rows handy. And then I did get side of, of, of Mads in the crowd and I was like, yes, there she is. Okay, good. I'll feel better.
Madeleine Cleary:And it was so funny because, um, I think you mentioned the book Deal podcast on stage and then Christine Newell, who was sitting with us, she did a woo woo. Oh, did she, Christine on you. And you heard that, didn't you?
Natasha Rai:I did. I heard that faintly. And I remember at the time going, I hope that was a whoop whoop, but not a boo.
x:Never, never. But,
Madeleine Cleary:but Natasha was facilitator. She was the moderator and she was amazing. So skills on show. Mm-hmm. Um, and obviously you are a very skilled interviewer. You, you interviewed the book deal, but you also do so many. So anyone who's wanting to book Natasha Rye in for future moderating gigs, you can contact her via website by the book Deal Podcast, Instagram. Thank you. I love how you promote us, Madeleine. That I know. I know. Always, always. Actually we were both pitching each other at bookshops all over Melbourne as well.
Tina Strachan:Work you gotta do, go pretending to be each other's publicist and just be like, oh, Madeleine's publicist. Here she is.
Natasha Rai:I'd love to be work publicist. I, I think I, you'd so good at it. Oh my gosh. Mm-hmm. You've just got so much drive and so much like oomph. Half the time I'm like, cowering behind the bookshelves and you are like going up big. Hello. Um, have you got, and it's just so awesome to see you in action.
Tina Strachan:What about you Madeleine? You, what's your update? You have been
Madeleine Cleary:super busy as well. Mm. I think actually this probably leads into what we wanna talk about, which is burnout for riders. Um, and, you know, we never, ever stick to theme when we have our catch ups, but I think this is an important one to talk about and to stick to theme this this week. Um, I, I don't know. I just think that, um, the last two months have been incredibly busy and tough. Um, you know, lots of things going on in my personal life and health wise and compounding with, you know. An enormous amount of still publicity and events, which I'm so grateful for and I absolutely love doing. And you don't wanna ever say no to things as well. I'm sure you both find that too. And you know, I think a lot of people outside the book world sort of said to me or just, you know, just take it a bit more easier and say no, and, and put boundaries, but you just, you don't want to because you never know. It dries up quickly, doesn't it? I don't know. Mm-hmm. Yeah. You want those opportunities. So like, for example, last week, um. I had a, a throat infection in conjunctivitis, hence why I'm wearing my glasses. Um, and lots of things going on. But, um, you know, Sydney, um, bad Crime Writers Festival was on and I was traveling and, um, I was very close to pulling out because I was so sick. But in the end decided to go and I have no regrets, but it does take a toll on your body and your mm-hmm. You know, health and, and all sorts of things. Um, particularly'cause you know, a lot of these festivals, you, you do one panel, but it's also all the energy you give. It's a lot of energy. Yeah. So I guess, yeah, I'm curious to know what your perspectives are on this.'cause I think all of us have been incredibly stretched and busy. Mm-hmm. Um, we all have our day jobs, our personal lives, and our writing lives since publication. So how do we like, yeah, how do we find a new normal? And I don't know, Natasha, you seem like a, a good person. You've a calm, authoritative voice on this.
Natasha Rai:I dunno about that, but I can, I can talk about what I'm figuring out because I haven't figured it out yet. Um, so like you, Madeleine, like there's, there's been some festival stuff. There's been some intensive training I've been doing for my counseling work and then. I'm also judging, um, a prize. So I've got entries to read and what I started to realize was, like, you, I don't wanna say no, um, but one thing that helped me when I was saying yes, was to see how it looked in terms of my time commitment for each thing and really, um, getting a sense of where the overlaps were. And going right in those times of overlap, like for example, I'm gonna have to read these three books plus start reading the entries for this prize at the same time. So there was one weekend where I'm gonna be doing both. So what I did was write, okay, I can't do any social stuff that weekend and it's not a sacrifice it, I chose to do this. Um. So that helps me when I can look and see what's coming up and then plan accordingly. Um, the other thing I know is what my signs are for coming up to burnout. Mm. So as soon as that those signs come up, I do things that I know are going to be good for me. And I don't want to turn this into a full counseling session, but there's a real distinction between doing things that are self care and doing things that. Enable you to keep going at the pace that you're going'cause they're not the same. Um, self-care is about genuinely looking after yourself or finding a way to give your body and your mind a break. Um, the other, which I call management strategy is to enable you to do things at the fre frenetic pace or whatever it is that you're doing, which doesn't actually give you a break. So,
Tina Strachan:so what would be some good
Natasha Rai:examples of that? So I know, so obviously, you know, people always think about burnout or maybe they don't, I don't know. There's a common conception maybe that with burnout you can, if you only could take some time off, right? You could just take some time off to rest and then you'll feel better. And yes, that is true. And if you have the luxury or the ability because you have, um, sick leave, stress leave, whatever, you can do that. But if you don't, um, it's about finding glimmers. So it's like going. I exercise every single day. For example, I'm not talking about me. This could be a person. And so you go two days a week, I'm actually going to choose to sleep in or I don't exercise. And when I do, I feel better. So three days a week I'm gonna do a 10 minute walk. It's just little glimmers. And if you find that the thing you're trying to do for yourself is actually putting more demand on you in any way, like it's taking up your energy, it's feeling like a different chore, it's probably not going to be self-care. And it doesn't have to be a full on thing. It can literally be, as I said, glimmers. So going to bed a bit earlier if you can, or getting up a bit later if you can. All those little things that give your body just a bit of some space essentially.
Madeleine Cleary:I love this. I think this is great. Do you know I was in the car today? Um. On, on my way to a picnic, a family picnic for my dad's birthday, and I was writing my dad's card in the car, like literally on the way while my husband was driving, and I just had this feeling. Inside.'cause we just, we had, we were running late, we were racing to get all the food for the picnic and pack everything and have it all right. And I'd been doing writing in the morning and planning podcasting stuff and you know, you get pulled in so many different directions. And then I'm hurling writing this birthday card for my dad. And I had this feeling in the pit of my stomach. I'm like, what am what? How have I got to this point where, you know, your time is. So constrained and you're feeling so I, I felt really flat and, and part of me was like, oh, I just wanna, I just wanna go home and just spend the whole day. Just have our day of just writing and just so I can focus on the, on the work and get the work done. But, and so this is what I was saying to my husband. Went to the picnic, sat in the sun, played with my nieces. We went for a nice bush walk down by the river. Um, we laughed. We had a nice lunch. Beautiful. Um, three hours of that and I felt a thousand times better for it. Mm-hmm. And so it is almost like the things that you think you need to help with the burnout might actually not be.
Natasha Rai:Yeah. Because even that idea, um, Madeleine, about, I wish I could have some time to write that's. It's a double edged sword because the, that is the thing that's leading to maybe feeling of fatigue or burnout. And that is also the thing that nourishes. But sometimes you just have to take a pivot and it's not forever. Like, you know, these things don't, if you look after yourself or if you know how to look after yourself, they don't, they kind of pass.
Madeleine Cleary:Mm-hmm. What
Tina Strachan:about you, Tina? I was just thinking when you were talking about, um, Madeleine like being outside and bush walking and um, being in the sun and there's. I think there are a couple of things. Like one is just keeping it simple. Hey, sometimes, like, sometimes go, maybe I'll go and get a massage or maybe I'll go for a soak or I need to meditate. Never done it before, but surely that's what will get fix me. Um, and it's, there's that concept of nature bathing, which you've both probably heard of before. Mm-hmm. And honestly, just a, a walk in outside, even if it's just outside, even if you don't live in. Near somewhere where there's bush, but surely just fresh air and sunshine. Or if you're in Melbourne rain, um, and lots of wind. No, no, I, I know that it's lovely there. Um, but yeah, being out in the sun and just breathing in some fresh air. And making it simple. Right, and really achievable. And just what you have there right now. And maybe it is just taking a bath or, exactly. I actually have like multiple showers in a day and it's all just part of how I work. I try not to, if the day's going well, that's fine, but I just get in spaces where I need like a circuit breaker from me. For me to get to one place to the other. As in like, um, a thought process in my brain, it clears my brain because as we all know, you go in the shower, there's nothing much else you can do in there except for shower things. Um, which, which are, yeah, normally things that will, um, and I find it calming. Some people might not, but, um, yeah, so even a nice shower, some nice smelly soap. Um, keeping it simple, maybe.
Madeleine Cleary:Yeah, it doesn't have to be complicated at all.
Tina Strachan:Mm.
Madeleine Cleary:And you know what? You've actually, I think, connected something here, Tina, which is like the shower and the bath is a way of doing nothing and almost like hanging out with my family. It's not like it's doing nothing, but it actually, it's easy. Makes you focus on something which is not all those other thoughts that are going around in your head. And all those other hats that we wear, like when you are talking with a 3-year-old, um, your focus is very much on the ducks and the water and the lake and all those types of things. She actually said to me on the swings today, she turned to me on,'cause we're both on the swings. She's only at two and a half. And she says to me, I saw your book in the bookshop like this. That's so cool. And so just, you know, I think part of me wants to withdraw, but I think actually part of my self-care is not to withdraw, it's to, to hang around with people that nourish and I think that's really important. Mm,
Tina Strachan:connection. Totally.
x:Mm-hmm.
Tina Strachan:Yeah. I love that idea.
Madeleine Cleary:So you are all feeling well and, okay. Are you at all close to burnout or you're feeling good? I'm gonna check, check in with you both. Oh.
Tina Strachan:I think I'm doing, um, okay now, I think that as soon after I got back from Melbourne after the book launch and like we're kind of settled from that, I really felt just all of a sudden one day I just kind of stood there and I just looked at my husband and I was like. I don't feel like I have to have to do something right now. Like I've, I mean, I do always have stuff to do, but I don't feel like this massive weight on me. I almost just feel like I've got a bit of time. It's so not time, but mental space.
x:Mm.
Tina Strachan:Um, I think just everything just lifted and I. Feel like there's a little bit of downtime now, which is, which is nice. Um, really nice. But I think sometimes you don't realize how close you're getting to burnout or how overwhelmed you are until it, until afterwards and you go, wow, that was what a. What a change in brain space, so. Mm-hmm. I think that's the other thing, right? Is that some people don't realize when you're getting close to that because it just creeps up on you. And, um, yeah. What are some of the signs, Tash, that they just, you're taking on too much?
Natasha Rai:Um, so some of the signs are things, well, the obvious ones being really tired, um, not being able to focus on things that you all always found easy to do, or finding things really onerous, like the thought of. Dinner or the thought of doing a shop or the thought of going to work, whatever it feels like they're huge, huge tasks that suggests that you are just, your body is just using up too much energy to keep you alive, to do all of that other work. Um, a sense of depression. So not like depression is different, but that idea of that feeling depressive, like, this is really hard. I can't really do anything. A lot of self-loathing or criticism that's really common. Like, you know, I can't do this. Why am I so hopeless? Why? And especially if that's not a familiar thing or that's creeping in a lot. Mm-hmm. And the, this is a catch 22 as well. The more you doubt yourself, the more mistakes you make. That's another sign that burnout's on the way or that you are in burnout because you do make more mistakes. And the more mistakes you make is again, the self-fulfilling, um, kind of prophecy and, um. Lack of like different changes in appetite and sleep. The big ones too, if you're eating too much, you're not eating at, you know, at all. Or, and of course the body will show you like infections getting sick. Like if you get sick frequently in a short space of time. Especially looking at you, especially things like colds and sore throats, they're, they're quite common in burnout. Um. Random aches and pains. Mm. It's just because when we're starting to stress, we hold our bodies differently, and then we start carrying stress in different parts of the body. So it it, if you don't know your signs, that's okay. Um, what you can do is if you do get into burnout, you can start to do a reverse map of when did I start feeling something? If you, if you don't even know what the something is, just figure out when did things change.
x:Yeah.
DJ Taylor:Hi, I'm Di Taylor, author of the YA historical fiction novel, Anna's War. My pen name is DJ Taylor. The story of Anna's war began a long time before I wrote a single word. It began in southern Holland in the final brutal years of World War ii. I was inspired by the real life memories of my parents-in-law and a friend of theirs. They're childhood recollections of Nazi occupation resistance, and the courage just to survive. My mother-in-law's father hid in a secret cellar beneath the family home while soldiers patrol the streets above arresting able-bodied men and transporting them to work in German factories. These German factories were frequently bombed by the allies. The emotional heart of Anna's war rests in the true stories of silence, fear, and defiance. As the Nazis tighten their grip, Anna's world becomes smaller, darker, and infinitely more dangerous. Though Anna's journey is fictional, the world she lives in and the choices she makes are rooted in real life acts of bravery and sacrifice. Anna's War was released on 2nd of July and is published by Riveted Press. Riveted Press has the tagline where unforgettable stories are forged, and I hope if you read Anna's War, it'll be a story that will stay with you long after you have read it.
Madeleine Cleary:The focus thing I think really resonated with me, um, because I'm pretty good at focusing on tasks generally, but I definitely found, because I went to Noosa recently for a week and I don't think I quite realized how close I was to burn out until I went away and stopped. As well. Sometimes when you do have that and every single morning I was exercising, I was going for a swim, I was reading books and being able to focus for hours on books. And that is something I don't think I can do in a normal like day to day at the moment because there is just so much going on. Um, so what I have done, I've actually deleted a lot of my like social media apps again from my phone, but I've gone more than just Instagram. I've got. You know, deleted Messenger on my emails as well from my phone. So now I can only check emails on my laptop. Mm, that's a good idea. Yeah, so I schedule like certain things.'cause I just found, I don't know if you both find this, I just get a lot of writer based, author based emails now. A lot of admin.
x:Mm-hmm.
Madeleine Cleary:Um, and I'm not sure where it comes from or why, but you know, it's just it. The admin has increased since becoming a published writer.
Tina Strachan:Yeah. Yeah. And it makes sense not to have it on your phone.'cause unless you're sitting down ready to address an email, why are we checking it like Exactly. And same as Instagram messages and even text messages. Honestly, I, the amount of times I don't respond back and I feel horrible about it was because. I've looked at it like when I'm walking from my car to the office or something like, why? I don't know. And as a habit, and then I forget that it's even happened'cause I can't give it the brain space. And then like three weeks later I go, oh, that's right. That person messaged me. And so why did I even look? Yeah, it's, it makes complete sense. And just to take them all off and, um. Uh, time block as, um, time block, um, Jessica suggested and, um, just look at it then when you've got the brain space.'cause
Madeleine Cleary:otherwise you are thinking about how you're gonna respond to it, uh, because you see it pop up and Yeah. You, you start already thinking about it. Whereas if you just. Schedule and I've got, now I scheduled time, I timebox it. Mm. Um, after work, I have like in my calendar now, like an hour after work to just go through my author emails.
x:Mm-hmm. Mm-hmm. Mm-hmm.
Madeleine Cleary:And Instagram messages and that type of stuff. Mm-hmm. And I've found that has been helpful for the focus. Mm-hmm. Mm-hmm.
Tina Strachan:And the mental load, Hey, because even sometimes you can open one of the many messaging services and get something that's not great news or just confusing news or just news that you just don't want to. Know about right now when you're about to walk into work or sit down and write or something like that. And that just totally distracts you. So unless you're ready to be prepared for whatever's, um, coming at you in one of those messaging services, then maybe it's best not to look. Mm, I'm trying to tell, I'm talking to myself here too, like, so I think I'm gonna get off like, um, because I've even noticed with Instagram lately, because that's pretty much the only one that I use, I. Actually pick up my phone. And I, I'm, I'm, I kind of don't wanna open it. Like, I think I just, when you go, when you're going through that sort of launch period and stuff, and I didn't do heaps of stuff on there, but I just wanted to be around for, um, whenever there's mentions or reviews and acknowledge that, because I know that it's, it's time for people to do, to write these reviews and posts things about your book or your launch and stuff. So I wanted to be around to, um, you know, acknowledge that. Uh, yeah. But so when that's all sort of dying down, I, I. Yeah, I'm really looking at it now. I just, because I don't, I actually don't want to, I just, I'm kind, sometimes I'm sick of just picking up my phone. Mm. So I'm going to leave this, uh, interview, interview catch up and, um, yeah, I'm, I'm gonna do the same and just, and just take them all off and. Time block them.
Natasha Rai:Yeah. Well, I mean, the thing is the, the impact of all of that is creating space. Mm-hmm. And then you have more time for connection, which is, you know, a lot of pe a lot of us love connection with others or nature.
x:Mm-hmm.
Natasha Rai:So the irony always is the more you slow down, the more time and space you do create.
x:Mm-hmm. Because
Natasha Rai:you're, you're able to just. Really distill down to what is it I need to do? Because the more you try and do, the more you reinforce, there's more to be done. So it just leads you into this other whole place that's not helpful.
Tina Strachan:Mm-hmm. It's like when I was talking meditation with, um, uh, Jane, Tara,
Jane
Tina Strachan:about, uh, manifesting and, uh, she meditates and yeah, that's saying that if. If you don't have time or you think you're too busy to meditate for an hour, then meditate for two. And it's, it really, and I get it, and I know it's practical to sit down. And even if you clear your mind for just like 10, 15 minutes, it's like, I think to myself, I don't even have 10, 15 minutes. Literally my every second of my day is mapped out. Um, but if you have 15 minutes, it's like, well, maybe I will save time elsewhere during the day because my brain will be functioning better and I can focus better. So again, time block meditation into my daily calendar.
Madeleine Cleary:Well, th this actually goes very, it segues really nicely into Tash, your intention setting, um, episode. Um, and do you wanna talk a little bit, I suppose, about intention setting and what your plan is around your episodes in future? Yes. So I've
Natasha Rai:always set that intention. Partly for personal selfish reasons.'cause I was struggling with time and Sally, in that Sally, good episode. She just kept mentioning time and I'm really latched onto it. Um, and I just thought that it would be a really lovely way to add a bit of, I dunno, to like, to distill or take something outta the episode that really touched me. Um, so that's, that was what I was thinking in terms of the setting that intention and, and how. You can look at a different aspect of your manuscript or your writing craft or practice. Um, especially because at the time I was flirting on the edge of burnout. So, um, I, uh, found that very useful even for myself to be like, okay, what am I doing with my time? And I also loved, um, Sally's when she talks about her anchoring her, her story or her narrative or her plot in time, because that's just another layer of attention you can bring to your work. That was my thinking. Yeah.
Madeleine Cleary:Mm. I'm interested to know about anchoring manuscripts and time. How, how would you go about doing that? Good question. Uh,
Natasha Rai:so I guess I was, I'm thinking about, um, onslaught, um, and because that's set across different time periods and each scene I wrote set in different times. I immersed myself fully into that. So what was happening then? What might have been in the environment around these people then? Um, and really tried not to compare, like tried really not to think about what Arch might be experiencing. That's one of my characters. And in say, 1997 compared to what you might be experiencing in 2024, because it's a huge amount of time and as soon as you start comparing, you start writing it with a different mindset. Because you're writing it from here back there. I'm doing things with my hands that no one can see, so that's really helpful. Um, but yeah, I think that the ability, I think to get into the time that you're writing and Madeleine, you must, this must be something. You think about, have to think about, right, because you're, yeah.
Madeleine Cleary:And I think you can almost go too far because, um, I spend a lot of time t trawling through old newspapers. Um, generally mostly on trove because it's just so interesting to anchor yourself in that. Yeah. The time period. Um. Uh, more recently I was looking up, for example, I did a deep dive into mediums who practice medical diagnosis in, in the time period of 1870 to 1880 in Melbourne. So I want a very specific time period and a very specific thing, and I just uncovered all this really interesting stuff and, you know, but I, I spent probably like two hours just on that. Little topic and that little nugget, um, because I just find it really intriguing. So you can, yeah. But surely
Natasha Rai:it gets your mind thinking in a very. Different specific way that your characters would've thought, or that's their whole world? Yes. That's, and also the
Madeleine Cleary:writing, I mean, even writing in the nineties is different. The way we spoke in the nineties, the language we used in the nineties is different to even now. And of course, 1870s is very different. Um, but I, I think as well, like I, I, um, I, I know it's not really about. Well, I guess it is a little bit about time and Tina writing from a child's perspective. Yeah, I was about to say that. Yeah, I think so.
Tina Strachan:I feel like I am still a child, so I find that very easy to do. But I do have to say, um, I've, I'm sure there's lots of middle grade writers who don't have children, but geez, it's been helpful. I think I like, I dunno if I would've been able to connect enough, like with where they're at now. Mm-hmm. True. Because it's very different to where we were at. But still not like, still they're still the same, you know?
Natasha Rai:But I'm curious about that. Tina know, like, do you feel like when you, I know it must be hard because you are their parent, but also seeing how they've changed over time and what interests them at different points and how, but not that you're using your children in your books, but Mm. What occupies different at different times? Yeah.
Tina Strachan:Mm. Yeah. I think it's been. Well, in respect to the Wild Zoo series, it's, you know, she's got quite a unique life. And I specifically, uh, I remember there was a question early on in one of the edits and, um, someone said, well, wouldn't you just have a phone? And I was like, no, once you, and I was like, well, no. I mean, she's 11 lots of 11 year olds, probably her phones. But you know, she also like lives in a zoo and still like around, you know, I just. Once you introduce a phone and technology like that, I don't, I don't see how you can make the A plot worth anything really, because you can just use the phone to Google the answer or call for help.
Do you
Tina Strachan:know what I mean? Like there's no drama. Where's the conflict? You get out of it all'cause you can just ring.
Madeleine Cleary:So Tash, is this something, do you think you're gonna start intention setting for your future episodes?
Natasha Rai:Yes, I think so because it's been really helpful for me and I know that. Some of the feedback we've had from listeners, they like it too. So yes. Mm-hmm.
Madeleine Cleary:Please do in tuned and then we can also chat about it in our catchups. Yeah, lovely. We can stick to theme. Oh my goodness. Look at us. We can try. We can try. Alright, we're gonna do little short tips. Uh, Tina. Take us away. Oh gosh.
Tina Strachan:Okay. Well, uh, my top tip for authors, uh, or anybody really is, uh, when they're feeling a little bit overwhelmed, which I know is hard to identify sometimes, but I'm gonna go with my nature paving. There's lots of papers on it, if you wanna, or just articles if you want to look it up. It's an actual term. It does. Actual measurable change to your body. And I mean, you can listen to a podcast, you can listen to some music or something while order, or, or an audio book, or can literally just go outside and listen to nature, whatever that may be for you. Um, and you know what? Even if you don't have that, you can, um, there's. Lots of audio that you can get from, oh, you can get it for free, just even on like YouTube and stuff like that. But, you know, um, on, you know, if you've got any of those music apps, uh, they have some lovely nature sounds and even that is pro like, actually proven to be helpful. So five minutes, 10 minutes even if that's all that you can do, it's, it's scientifically proven. Get out there, take some deep breaths.
Madeleine Cleary:Love that. And I'm just gonna add onto that Ocean swims as well if you can. I mean it's a privilege, right? It's bit of a luxury. It's a luxury. But if you get that opportunity, take it. I felt so, so good after those ocean swims. And I had,'cause I went quite early in the morning and a lot of the surfers there at Noosa were um, you know, in their wetsuits and a couple of them.'cause I was just in my bathers, um, what do you call them in Queensland? Dogs. Dogs. Dogs. Yeah. No, what Bathers as well. Yeah. And, um, they were like, oh gosh, you are brave. Like going in without a wetsuit. I'm like, I'm a Melbourne Ian. I'm from Melbourne. Yeah. Natasha and if you don't have the ocean, you can have just a cold shower. Cold shower. Yes. Yeah, I've heard about this and the whole, like I used to cold shower. I was during summer, I probably will go back to that like one minute. I just stand under a cold shower. It's most, most supposed to bring out like brown fat or something. It's not Oh, oh call It didn't heard that. It's not a thing. Is that not a thing? I dunno. Never. I'm gonna to Google it after this. Apparently brown fat is very good for you.
x:Oh,
Madeleine Cleary:it like builds, like I, I don't think, I think it's like a term, I don't think it's an actual thing, but it's meant to like help you with like building, um, you know, your good immunity and good mental health and like all, I think that's what the term's called. And if not, then just ignore everything I'm saying this no
Natasha Rai:actual medical
Tina Strachan:advice
Madeleine Cleary:given
Tina Strachan:here. Exactly.
Natasha Rai:Don't listen to us. Um, so my tip wasn't about the show, but I just thought I'd add it in my tip because I've been so immersed in emerging writers, um, world lately, especially reading some of the entries for this prize that I'm judging. Please, writers out there, double, triple, check your work before you submit because it is really heartbreaking as a judge when you read a piece that's really good. And then there are some. Errors that you can easily fix, like tense changes, um, spelling errors. And I know that, you know, sometimes with deadlines in life you don't have time, but I think it's better that you don't submit if you really are rushed than to submit something that's not up to your, like a, a good standard because. You know it, it's just, it's, yeah. As a judge, I'm like, no, this is so good. But please, if only you had just taken a bit of time. So time, there's that theme. Take some more time and just check your work, please before you submit. Especially to competition.
Madeleine Cleary:Love it. Well, that's an excellent way to finish. All right, ladies, thank you so much. Thank you. Thank you.
Tina Strachan:Alright, talk. We're gonna go have a cold shower now,
or an ocean swim. You could. We couldn't actually. You probably could too. Tash?
Natasha Rai:No. I'll just stick with a cold shower.
Madeleine Cleary:Hi, it's Madeleine here. A quick update about the book deal podcast. So after a year of our podcast and 51 episodes, we're looking to grow our community. If you've been enjoying the show, I wanna help. Keep us bringing you conversations about the writing life. We'd love for you to join our Patreon for the cost of just a coffee per month. Your contribution will be going directly to cover the costs of our podcast, and it also means we'll be able to keep paying our sound producer Brogan. We've got lots of exciting things planned for our patrons, and we can't wait to share more as it all unfolds. So if you'd like to come along for the ride, head to patreon.com/the book deal podcast, or just click on the link in our show notes. And we'd love to have you on board. Thanks so much for listening and for being part of the Book Deal Podcast family.
Tina Strachan:Thank you for listening to the Book Deal podcast. If you enjoyed this episode, please subscribe to the pod so you can receive updates as soon as our new EPS drop and to keep up to date with what the pod is doing. You can also find us on Instagram.