Being both writer and artist is a double-whammy in terms of the long-term health consequences of a sedentary lifestyle. I developed severe near-sightedness in my early teens (which made me even less likely to go outside or get active) and I’ve always struggled to maintain a healthy weight. While IContinue Reading
Interviewer: You’ve acknowledged that as writers, we all have moments when we think what we’re working on is crap. Author Harlan Coben (Caught, Long Lost, and Hold Tight): Always. Every writer has that, if they’re worth anything. I don’t think it matters if you’re a writer, musician, new mom, orContinue Reading
Believing in ourselves is essential to living our best lives—we hear it all the time. “Believe in yourself!” we’re told. Then everything will magically work out. Still, it’s often easier said than done, so I gathered some tips to help you out. If you have more, please share! 1. DoContinue 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
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
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
In looking over the many author features here on Writing and Wellness, I’ve noticed one thing that keeps coming up again and again. Have you seen it? On Friday, May 2, 2014, I read Steven Pressfield’s latest blog. There it was again. Even this former Marine and hugely successful authorContinue Reading
I’ve always been a sugar lover, so I can’t really blame writing for that addiction. However, I do find that I am less motivated to exercise and eat healthy because of time constraints. I Love to Walk with Friends I am not a morning person, so getting up early toContinue Reading
I am fortunate these days to have retired from my “day job.” Now I don’t have to choose between writing and exercise, but I sure can remember doing so. I developed a routine of getting up around 5:00 a.m. and writing for maybe 1 – 1 ½ hours before gettingContinue Reading
What Tom Petty said was true—waiting is hard. And sometimes life can seem like one big long line. Waiting for Mr. or Mrs. Right. Waiting for your ship to come in, your dreams to come true, or your luck to turn around. If you’ve started down a new road, youContinue Reading
Part of taking responsibility for our own lives involves figuring out where and how we get in the way of our own progress. Seeing ourselves objectively, however, is something most of us find extremely difficult. We can go on about all the missteps of those around us—how a sister drinksContinue Reading