Shutdown, but Not Shut Down

I'll be honest—the federal government shutdown threw a wrench into my publishing plans this year. The manuscripts I'd hoped to finish and publish had to take a back seat while I focused on work outside of Francis-Malloy Press to keep myself afloat. It's been humbling and frustrating at times, watching my creative timeline shift because of circumstances beyond my control. But I've learned that staying motivated during uncertain times isn't about maintaining the same pace you had when things were stable—it's about finding small ways to keep moving forward, even when the steps are smaller than you'd like. Practicing gratitude for what I do have, being intentional about self-care when stress levels rise, and most importantly, extending myself the same compassion I'd offer a friend going through a hard time—these have been my lifelines.

What's kept me from being completely shut down during the shutdown? Doing a little work towards my dream as often as possible, even if it's just fifteen minutes of editing or jotting down ideas for a future project. Those small acts of creative persistence remind me that this detour doesn't change my destination—it just changes the route. I'm curious about you, too: how are you staying positive and productive these days? Whether you're navigating your own professional challenges, creative obstacles, or just the general uncertainty that seems to permeate everything lately, I hope you're being kind to yourself and finding those small moments of forward motion. We may have slowed down, but we're not stopped. And that's worth celebrating!