A Letter to the Author Who’s Doing Too Much
Dear Author,
If you’re tired, it makes sense.
If you feel like you’re constantly behind, even while doing everything you’re “supposed” to do — that makes sense, too.
I’ve been there right along side you. I remember publishing my first book and feeling the pressure to do everything at once — to show up everywhere, to keep momentum going (without an author brand manager), to make it all matter now.
You’ve been told, directly or indirectly, that building an author career means more.
More platforms. More posts. More visibility. More urgency.
And so you’ve tried to keep up.
You’re Not Behind — You’re Overextended
Doing too much is rarely a sign of ambition alone. More often, it’s a sign of care.
You care about your work. You care about your readers. You care about getting it right — about not missing your chance.
But when everything feels important, nothing feels grounded.
Being everywhere doesn’t always create clarity. Sometimes, it just creates noise — and exhaustion.
If you feel stretched thin, it doesn’t mean you’re failing. It means you’ve been carrying too much without enough structure or support.
Sustainable Careers Are Built With Fewer, Better Decisions
The authors who last aren’t the ones who do the most.
They’re the ones who:
Choose alignment over urgency
Make decisions with intention, not pressure
Allow their work to breathe
Trust pacing as much as momentum
They don’t chase every opportunity. They curate them.
That kind of steadiness doesn’t come from doing more. It comes from being supported well.
You Don’t Have to Hold Everything Alone
One of the quiet truths of authorship is how much decision-making happens in isolation.
What fits?
What can wait?
What matters now — and what doesn’t?
When you’re alone with those questions, urgency tends to answer first.
At Tomlinson, the work is not about pushing you harder or louder. It’s about helping you carry your career with clarity, perspective, and care — so every decision doesn’t feel like it has to be made all at once.
This is what thoughtful author brand management looks like in practice: not control, not pressure — but steadiness.
You can learn more about that approach on the Services page.
It’s Okay to Want Calm, Not Chaos
There is nothing wrong with wanting your author career to feel grounded.
To want fewer platforms, not more.
To want cohesion instead of constant reinvention.
To want a long view — not a constant sprint.
These preferences don’t mean you’re less serious. They often mean you’re more serious.
The work that lasts is rarely rushed.
You’re Allowed to Rest Inside the Work
You don’t need to earn rest by proving your effort.
You’re allowed to:
Pause
Reassess
Let go of what doesn’t fit
Build slowly and intentionally
A sustainable career isn’t built on self-abandonment. It’s built on discernment.
That discernment becomes easier when someone is helping you see clearly.
If you’re curious about who I am and how I came to do this work, you can read more on the About page.
If You’re Looking for Steady Hands
If what you want isn’t hype, but stewardship —
If you’re craving clarity more than volume —
If you want to feel held, not hurried —
Then you’re not asking for too much. You’re asking for the right kind of support.
If it feels right, you’re welcome to reach out through the Contact page. There’s no pressure to arrive with answers. That’s part of what I help carry.
Closing Thought
You don’t need to do everything.
You need to do what’s aligned — and have the right support while you do it.
You’re allowed to slow down.
You’re allowed to choose differently.
You’re allowed to be in good hands.
