Meet Kate Allen Fox

Alright – so today we’ve got the honor of introducing you to Kate Allen Fox. We think you’ll enjoy our conversation, we’ve shared it below.

Kate, we are so happy that our community is going to have a chance to learn more about you, your story and hopefully even take in some of the lessons you’ve learned along the way. Let’s start with self-care – what do you do for self-care and has it had any impact on your effectiveness?

Self-care has never come naturally to me. I’m never fully hydrated. I forget to eat and run off caffeine more often than I should. Through my twenties and now most of my thirties, I’ve learned, little by little, how to take better care of myself. After becoming a mom, I realized I needed to–or I couldn’t be the mom I wanted to be. After becoming a professional writer, I realized self-care was also vital to safeguarding my creativity.

Over the years, I’ve gotten better about doing regular exercise that I like (it’s been yoga or Body Pump or running at various times). But in the last year–after the death of my father and the myriad emotions that accompanied it–I got serious about self-care. I developed a regular meditation practice (just 5-10 minutes makes a huge difference in my mental health). I started training for a half-marathon, which I completed in May. I started doing positive affirmations, and I quit drinking alcohol.

Taken together, this portfolio of self-care has made me more patient and less anxious; more confident and less reactive. In my writing life, it has allowed me to tap into my creativity more often with a clearer and calmer mind (I get my best ideas when I’m in motion outdoors) and to let go some of my perfectionist tendencies. I weather rejections with more grace (though they still can sting) and focus more on my own goals for my writing, rather than the opinions of others.

Thanks, so before we move on maybe you can share a bit more about yourself?

I’m a children’s author with two books out and another slated for release in October. I focus mainly on stories that relate to science and nature–and how nature can make us feel. For example, my next book, WINTER SOLSTICE WISH (illustrated by Elisa Paganelli, published by Beaming Books) is set around a beach bonfire on the shortest day of the year. It incorporates themes of hope and community, along with a light touch on the science of solstices. In my work, I hope to communicate universal feelings that kids experience while also sharing the beauty of nature.

There is so much advice out there about all the different skills and qualities folks need to develop in order to succeed in today’s highly competitive environment and often it can feel overwhelming. So, if we had to break it down to just the three that matter most, which three skills or qualities would you focus on?

First, in any form of writing, I think being a voracious reader helps. I’ve always loved poetry and read a lot of it, which has affected my writing style. If you want write, start by reading widely in your preferred genre.

Second, I think my willingness to try new ideas and iterate was crucial. Early in my writing journey, I wrote a ton of different manuscripts and followed different ideas until I stumbled across what became my niche–nature and science writing for kids. I had no idea that I would end up writing the kinds of books I do. It was only by trying many different ideas that I was able to discover what I loved to write and what I was good at.

Third, I researched the publishing industry deeply and soaked up as much knowledge as I could about how it worked. There are so many resources online for learning about the industry, which can prove invaluable if you intend to write for publication (either through traditional publishing or self-publishing).

Before we go, any advice you can share with people who are feeling overwhelmed?

Pursuing publishing can feel overwhelming at times. The industry has notoriously long wait times at every stage of the process, making it feel unbearably slow at times. At the end of the spectrum, launching a book (or having multiple projects in the queue at once) can feel like a Herculean task. You might be launching one book, in edits on another, and writing multiple more.

When things feel unbearably slow, I like to find new projects to get excited about–researching old ideas, collaborating with writing friends, or taking a craft class. This helps me feel like I’m making progress and reminds me that I love what I do.

When things feel hectic–and I’m juggling multiple projects and parenting and other obligations–I try to take time to get organized and prioritize tasks. A short meditation session can help me calm down before I dive into completing tasks and give me perspective before I say “yes” to doing everything. With a bit of distance I realize that most things can wait, and some don’t need to be done at all.

Contact Info:

• Website: https://kateallenfox.com
• Instagram: @kateallenfox
• Twitter: @kateallenfox

Image Credits

Olga Kubrak Photography, Elisa Paganelli (illustrations)