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Rachel Valliere's avatar

This is such a beautiful and refreshing perspective. There’s nothing inherently wrong with going fast or being less involved with your book if that’s right for you, but if it’s not right for you, it’s going to feel very wrong. I don’t see this approach getting much airtime as an equally valid strategy—especially in the nonfiction world. Sometimes slowing down is the fastest way to get things done. Even in business. 💜

Rachel Warmath's avatar

Thank you so much! I'm so glad to hear you found it refreshing.

I agree. Creating a nourishing experience is all about finding your uniquely right pace as an author. And I love that idea that sometimes slowing down actually speeds you up. I heard about that a lot in my training with Yoga for First Responders. There's this concept that "slow is smooth and smooth is fast." Slowing down helps us move in a way that's not frantic. So many book-producing companies out there are based around a model where "as fast as possible" is the priority and I think that can actually backfire for people sometimes. Thanks for reading and commenting, I appreciate you!

Rachel Valliere's avatar

I completely agree! What is fast for one person or project isn't necessarily fast for another. But if it feels rushed, then it IS rushed. Slowing down can be so valuable. Especially if the book incorporates sensitive topics or difficult experiences the author went through. I'm a horse owner and have been riding my whole life—one of the most important lessons I learned from a horse trainer is that the fastest way to get anything done with a horse is to go slow. So that's where that sentiment came from, and I think it applies to SO many things in life and is just as relevant to humans as it is to horses :) And when it comes to book design, the number one issue I see is rushed timelines hurting the end result, not to mention causing unnecessary stress and stripping the joy out of the process for everyone involved 🙃. I'm just as guilty about rushing things as the next person, don't get me wrong. But this is such a valuable perspective to be reminded of.

Sandi's avatar

What an effing powerful, well-written, world-changing article!! This feels like a new way to be!

It makes so much more sense to have the book be the experience. It will *actually* reach people.

It’s so obvious when a book is spat out by AI because it’s terrible. I’m particularly passionate about the human being. This approach is the best way, if you really want to achieve something. That’s what makes it a book!

This article makes me feel hopeful for the world. We are changing old paradigms that just don’t work. Being present and showing up for yourself is becoming cool <3

Rachel Warmath's avatar

Thank you so much! It means a lot that this resonates ☺️🙏🏻

Jade Eby's avatar

As a new reader of yours, I LOVED this piece. I think the "meta" part of this is that HOW you write about your work in the world matters, too. And someone can learn a lot about a person in the way they discuss how and why they work the way they do.

Side note but as a fellow tattoo lover, I'm obsessed with yours. So incredibly beautiful!

Rachel Warmath's avatar

Aw, thank you so much, Jade! I appreciate your feedback. I've been thinking about this a lot and had so much to say about it once I sat down and started writing. It helps to hear that it resonates. And yay for tattoos!! Thank you!