When I write, I feel the urge to eat. Perhaps it’s because my brain is crying out for nourishment to feed the creative demons. Whatever it is, that urge to eat coupled with long hours of sitting causes me to gain weight if I’m not careful. Walking Gets the CreativeContinue Reading
The Romantic Notion of the Self-Destructive Writer We’ve all heard the romantic stories of writers who lived on alcohol and drugs and still wrote masterpieces: Truman Capote experienced frequent breakdowns, was in and out of rehab clinics, and died at the age of 59 of liver failure caused by phlebitisContinue Reading
What does a writer feel when tackling a new project? Excitement? Yep. Challenge? Definitely. Enjoyment? Absolutely. But there’s something else that’s a little harder to admit to. I think most writers with at least one novel under their belts will know what I’m talking about. What are we feeling here?Continue Reading
Physically, I’ve worked hard for the last year and shed twenty pounds I gained while writing my first two novels. These days, I set my laptop on the kitchen breakfast counter so as to stand, having been told I burn calories that way, but the truth is I do haveContinue Reading
In my own struggle to do the work I’m compelled to do, I’m often reminded of the idea that we must “battle our own demons.” American novelist and screenwriter William Goldman once said, “…the haunting Demon never leaves you, that Demon being the knowledge of your own terrible limitations, yourContinue Reading
I think the toughest battle for me is balancing writing with other healthy actions. There are only so many free hours in the day, so if I’m dedicating a couple hours a day to writing, it can be easy for exercise to fall by the wayside. Avoidance of the actualContinue Reading
Have you seen the Robert Duvall movie, Get Low? I’ll leave the discussion of the movie itself to the critics, but one thing struck me as applicable to the idea of listening to your own inner voice. In one scene, Duvall’s character—an old hermit—is catching up with an ex sweetheart.Continue Reading
I enjoyed Dawn of the Planet of the Apes. Great fun! But that’s not what inspired this post. It was actually a PBS special entitled, “The Ape Who Went to College.” In case you haven’t seen it, it told the story of Chantek, a baby orangutan raised as a humanContinue Reading
My biggest challenge with writing is being fatigued. I work full time and my job is physically demanding, and then I come home to three children. Time isn’t on my side, and when I’m able to sneak in some writing my brain is on the fritz. What helps me isContinue Reading
You sense a glimmer of an idea, something new you want to do with your life. You mention it to your spouse, your colleague, or your best buddy. Instead of the supportive response you hoped for, you get: “What? Why would you want to do that?” Maybe the person laughs.Continue Reading
The biggest physical challenge for me as a writer is staying physically active. I have diabetes and it’s important to get at least thirty minutes of exercise every day. If I don’t do it first thing in the morning, I can’t manage to work it in. I am a walkerContinue Reading
Housework is a bad thing for writers. It’s intrusive, creeping into our thoughts when we least want it to. Blank screen? That’s when we realize the bathroom needs immediate attention. Plot struggle? It’s time to mop the floor. We try to stop it. A messy house isn’t going to self-destruct,Continue Reading