Are you struggling with writer weight gain? In featuring many writers on this site over the years, one thing I’ve found is that weight gain is a common struggle for us. And no wonder. We spend much of our days at the computer and often have a hard time fittingContinue Reading
The biggest physical challenge for me, at first, were the dozens of paper cuts from rejection letters. Adapting to the demands of writing was a huge adjustment from working in a prison environment. I worked nearly thirty years in prisons, parole, probation and managing prison operations. There were no longerContinue Reading
Would you know if you were suffering from writer’s anxiety? A friend of mine wasn’t getting her writing done. It had been over a month since she’d made any progress, or even sat down to focus on the work. It was her second novel and for a long time sheContinue Reading
Back pain seems to be the biggest physical challenge when I’m writing. Sitting in one spot for too long triggers off a lower back issue I’ve had for years. Snacking on the wrong things can be a problem too—any excuse to get up and procrastinate, which usually means coffee andContinue Reading
Are you finding that you lack energy for writing? Do you struggle to focus, or engage in a daily battle with brain fog? If you find yourself feeling that way at the start of your designated writing time, there’s one thing that may help more than you think: drink aContinue Reading
I was a forester for over twenty years working in the private sector. My job consisted of office time behind a desk, but also field work. A good balance. Writing a novel required sitting for long hours working on a computer. Bad posture, leaning too close to the monitor andContinue Reading
You sit down for a blissful hour of writing. You carved out this time and everything worked out perfectly. You’ve got a private place to work, your favorite tea (or other drink) beside you, and your work-in-progress pulled up on your laptop. An hour later, you’ve managed little more thanContinue Reading
The biggest physical challenge of being a writer? Easy. Wrist pain and eye strain. I find if I overuse my computer mouse—whether writing a novel, editing, blogging, or engaging in social media—my wrist starts to throb. Then I know it’s time to put on a wrist brace, and rest myContinue Reading
I’m excited to welcome guest author Sarah Close to Writing and Wellness. Sarah plays the harp in the local symphony orchestra and other various musical groups. In addition to admiring her skill with the instrument, I have found myself on more than one occasion amazed by her posture. She sitsContinue Reading
The biggest physical challenge in writing is probably having to sit so long in one place. When I first starting writing novels, I would only write for an hour a day and then go about my business, but now I sit for about seven and a half! I start writingContinue Reading
How do you keep writing when others don’t support you? In a recent Writing and Wellness survey, I asked respondents to share their biggest writing challenges. One answer in particular broke my heart. The writer explained that a bad relationship had left her with the nagging feeling that her writingContinue Reading
by Marcia Yudkin Having coached scores of writers over more than 30 years, I’ve observed that they often struggle for two reasons: They tend to fight their inborn tendencies rather than accommodating them, and they have an overly rigid idea of how writing needs to take place. Have you triedContinue Reading