Meet Kris Bock

We were lucky to catch up with Kris Bock recently and have shared our conversation below.

Kris, thrilled to have you on the platform as I think our readers can really benefit from your insights and experiences. In particular, we’d love to hear about how you think about burnout, avoiding or overcoming burnout, etc.

Around six months ago, writing was feeling like more of a chore than a joy. It seems like most writers I know are exhausted. The industry keeps getting more competitive, and it’s harder to be successful. There are so many things we “have to do” in terms of marketing and promotion and running our businesses. The challenges inspired me to include a weekly post on writer support thoughts on my newsletter for writers (https://writebetterwritenow.substack.com). I started thinking about what I’ve done and need to do to keep enjoying the work I love even when it doesn’t always love me back.

Another friend was struggling too, so we invited a few others to an ongoing group video chat. Our goal is to make it a supportive place where we can commiserate but not get bogged down in ranting, so we ultimately leave feeling positive and inspired, or at least okay with where we are.

I asked my publisher to push back some deadlines, and they agreed. The earlier you can ask for more time, the better, so they can adjust the schedules, but editors and publishers do understand. Don’t feel like you’re destroying your career if you need to slow down!

For people who aren’t writing for a living, it’s okay to stop writing, if you want. (Many people who decide to stop wind up starting up again because they miss it – but don’t make that your goal.) If you have other priorities or hobbies you would enjoy more, that’s fine!

Or if being a writer is part of your identity, you could look for ways to write to that don’t involve the trauma of the publishing business. Blog posts, a newsletter, occasional freelance articles, letters to friends, a journal.

For published writers, it’s okay to stop marketing. Obviously we want our books to be successful. We want readers. But there’s very little evidence that being on social media or even hiring a publicist boosts sales for most writers. It’s some bizarre combination of the book’s concept, the writing, and a whole lot of luck that makes the difference (mostly the luck). It’s fine to choose one thing you will do – guest blog posts when a new book releases, or a regular schedule of posting on the one social media you enjoy, for example.

Try to avoid comparing yourself to others, especially based on what you see on social media. I had people tell me, “You’re doing so well” when I felt like my career was collapsing. They saw new books out, but I knew my editor left, the publisher wasn’t returning my emails, my agent retired, etc. It’s much easier to look successful on social media than when you see your royalty statement or your bank account.

One reason I need to keep writing: if I’m awake in the middle of the night and my thoughts are going bad places, I make myself work on a story problem. It sometimes takes a few tries to get that focus, but then … Well, usually I fall asleep. It’s like my brain doesn’t want to work, so it gives up. But if nothing else, I have a problem in mind that isn’t so emotionally personal, and one that I will eventually solve.

Also, when things are tough, you can think of it as writing research. After a car accident where I had a fat lip from the airbag, I thought, “Now I know what it feels like to get punched in the face.” After friends and I found the two-month-old corpse of a murder victim while hiking, I took notes on the emotions we were feeling for the next few weeks. It took two years before I was ready, but I eventually turned the experience into a romantic mystery (What We Found). It might help to take that mental step back from what you’re experiencing and think of it as research for when you have a character with those emotions.

Finally, starting a project just for you can help you find the joy again. This should be a project where the primary goal is to keep it fun. Forget about the business once in awhile!

Appreciate the insights and wisdom. Before we dig deeper and ask you about the skills that matter and more, maybe you can tell our readers about yourself?

As Kris Bock, I write romance, mystery, and suspense. In the Accidental Detective series, a witty journalist solves mysteries in Arizona and tackles the challenges of turning fifty. In the upcoming Reluctantly Psychic series, a quirky loner who can read the history of any object with her touch gets drawn into mysteries when people bring troubled artifacts to the museum of oddities where she works. My Furrever Friends Sweet Romance series features the employees, customers, and cats at a cat café. In the Accidental Billionaire Cowboys series, a Texas ranching family wins a fortune in the lottery, which causes as many problems as it solves.

I write a series with my brother, scriptwriter Douglas J Eboch, who wrote the original screenplay for the movie Sweet Home Alabama. The Felony Melanie series follows the crazy antics of Melanie, Jake, and their friends a decade before the events of the movie.

I also write for young people under the name Chris Eboch. I do a lot of work-for-hire in educational publishing, and I teach workshops, critique manuscripts for private clients, and publish a newsletter for writers.

If you had to pick three qualities that are most important to develop, which three would you say matter most?

I started writing and publishing before the era of self-publishing. While the option to publish on your own has been a great benefit for many writers, it encourages people to publish before their work is ready. Being forced to slow down and make sure I wasn’t the only person judging my work was helpful.

I got my bachelor’s degree in photography at an art school. While I haven’t used most of those specific art skills, learning to critique and take critiques has been a huge benefit. You develop a thicker skin and a willingness to listen to feedback as well as sort through what works and what doesn’t. Plus it’s helped me critique other people’s work professionally.

I’d recommend people get a professional critique before publishing and maybe even before submitting work to a traditional publisher. Critique groups can be great but they don’t always give you the experienced feedback you need.

I also recommend people get involved in writing organizations, either locally in person or online. You can learn an enormous amount and make professional connections. At least as valuable, you can make friends who know what you are going through and who support you. I’ve made some of my best friends through volunteering in a writing organization.

How can folks who want to work with you connect?

I’m always looking for opportunities to teach writing skills, and I’m interested in finding people who would like to share a guest essay in my writing newsletter or co-promote Substack newsletters about writing, creativity, or maintaining mental health while working in a creative field.
People can message me through either of my websites or find me on Substack:

https://www.krisbock.com/

About Chris Eboch

https://writebetterwritenow.substack.com

Contact Info:

• Other: writing newsletter: https://writebetterwritenow.substack.com
  Bluesky: @krisbock.bsky.social
  BookBub https://www.bookbub.com/authors/kris-bock