Don't Forget to Eat & Other Writing Tips (Tags: #Authors, #Writers, #Writing, #WritingAdvice)
Over the years, I've learned a lot about writing (the craft) from other authors, and simply by doing it. But writing is the only part of the job that an author needs to know. Too many people forget the basics, and it causes serious problems. The below is a list of things I was taught at Viable Paradise, the Writing Superstars Seminar, and from various health-related work initiatives.
1) Don't forget to eat.
Yeah, it may seem simple, but you'd be amazed at how many people get wrapped up in their current project and forget to eat or drink. Not only are you stressing your body by not eating, you're starving your brain of the energy it needs to produce a manuscript. Keep a somewhat-healthy snack (nuts, fruit, a little wedge of cheese) by your desk so you can snack as you feel your energy levels drag. This could make all the difference in getting your project done.
2) If you're tired, have a glass of water.
Odd as it may sound, when your eyes are trying to close, and your brain is dragging, and you're not all that hungry, you might actually be dehydrated. Drink a glass or two of water, and within 30 minutes, your energy levels could perk up. Soda, coffee, and some teas can actually make dehydration worse. Don't neglect your need for plan old fashioned H20. And if you don't like plain water, remember, they make flavor packets to add to your glass.
3) Get a good night's rest.
3 hours of sleep a night may seem "fun" when you're on a deadline, but the human body requires more sleep than that. Your brain needs the rest, the ability to deal with the day's stress, and the ability to rejuvenate the creative ability. This is in addition to the energy it needs from eating & drinking. And don't be afraid to take a nap during the day. Studies have shown that people who take naps live a few years longer than the average and are less prone to things like heart disease. So go ahead and take the brain break. You probably need it.
4) Write for only 30 minutes at a time.
Author Rebecca Moesta recommends (from hard-won experience) only sitting at your desk for 30 minutes at a time, then getting up to move around for a few minutes before going back to writing. Why? For the same reason people are recommended to get up and walk on a long plane flight, or to not sit at their work desk all day. Long periods of inactivity, with joints bent into positions that the human body was not meant to maintain for long periods of time, can actually cause joint problems, blood clots, and interfere with nervous system and cardiovascular function. The human body was built for physical activity. Keep the blood flowing. Get up, stretch those muscles, move around to remind yourself you're still alive. Otherwise, the consequences could be severe and painful.
5) Exercise, exercise, exercise.
Authors James MacDonald and Elizabeth Bear (both Viable Paradise instructors) recommend writers adopt a daily exercise routine. Whether it's long walks along the Vineyard beaches or yoga in the morning and the evening, they both say "Get yourself moving." It's good advice, too. Authors need to maintain some semblance of health and even the doctors say that exercise helps prevent, or slow down, the onset of diabetes, heart disease, stroke, and other lifetime illnesses. If that's not enough to convince you, think about this: Most full-time writers (without day jobs) don't have health insurance. Do you really want to end up in the hospital, paying full price for all your bills, because you didn't take enough time out of your day to care for yourself?
6) Keep the day job
We all wish we had Richard Castle's wealth. But the fact of the matter is that aside from the occasional "big" advance (because $2000.00 is a lot of money for some of us novel writers), royalty checks tend to be far and few between. Short story / RPG writers don't even get that much most of the time. Something has to pay the bills. Authors Kevin J. Anderson and John Scalzi (and me) recommend keeping your day job for as long as possible. Write in your spare time, pay the bills, and for heavens' sake, work at a job with benefits like health insurance. You'll need that! If you're going to quit the job anyway, make sure you have a sizable nest egg of about 12-24 months worth of bill money put aside. Because most novels don't get published until 2 years after they've been accepted. And Scalzi also advises full-time writers marry someone with a job and benefits so you can piggy-back off their health insurance.
7) Go to the doctor.
This is the one thing that really bugs me about other people. If you feel sick, go to the doctor. Even if you don't have health insurance, it will be cheaper now to see the doctor then it would be to wait until the ambulance is hauling you off to the emergency room for a surgery / hospital stay that could have been avoided if you'd gone in for a yearly physical, gotten antibiotics for that sinus infection, or asked the doctor why you were fainting out of the blue every time you stood up. SEE THE DOCTOR (he might be the Time Lord you're looking for @=).
8) Get comfy!
Another one of Rebecca Moesta's favorite topics, ergonomic writing spaces. Make sure your monitor is at eye level, your keyboard is at waist level, your feet are flat on the floor (or on a swivel foot boost), your mouse pad & keyboard both have a wrist rests, and your chair is adjustable. Carpal Tunnel is a horrible thing, and surgery is not pleasant. Not to mention that it might not solve your problem. If your feet dangle off the floor, it aggravates any knee issues you might have. If your chair is hard and sturdy, you could end up with back problems. All of which cost you money (to get fixed), and time you could spend writing.
9) Turn off your cell phone
Really? You really need that thing on? News flash! Being available 24/7 is stressing you out even more than your writing deadlines. If you don't actually have a hard line going into your house, leave the phone on but put it in a different room. Remember, you're supposed to be writing, not texting. Your peeps can leave you a message that you can pick up during one of your many desk breaks (see # 3). That's what voice mail was invented for. If it's an emergency, make sure they have another way of contacting you. Turn off the cell phone. You are not allowed to play Angry Birds until break time. You should not be watching the incoming text / call list hoping you've just been nominated for an Oscar. It's the wrong award for you anyway and you have more important things to do today.
And on that note, I will end today's list. There are dozens of blogs and websites on how to be a published writer, but there just aren't enough of them that give you the practical advice you need to survive being a writer. Please let me know if any of this helped you out.
1) Don't forget to eat.
Yeah, it may seem simple, but you'd be amazed at how many people get wrapped up in their current project and forget to eat or drink. Not only are you stressing your body by not eating, you're starving your brain of the energy it needs to produce a manuscript. Keep a somewhat-healthy snack (nuts, fruit, a little wedge of cheese) by your desk so you can snack as you feel your energy levels drag. This could make all the difference in getting your project done.
2) If you're tired, have a glass of water.
Odd as it may sound, when your eyes are trying to close, and your brain is dragging, and you're not all that hungry, you might actually be dehydrated. Drink a glass or two of water, and within 30 minutes, your energy levels could perk up. Soda, coffee, and some teas can actually make dehydration worse. Don't neglect your need for plan old fashioned H20. And if you don't like plain water, remember, they make flavor packets to add to your glass.
3) Get a good night's rest.
3 hours of sleep a night may seem "fun" when you're on a deadline, but the human body requires more sleep than that. Your brain needs the rest, the ability to deal with the day's stress, and the ability to rejuvenate the creative ability. This is in addition to the energy it needs from eating & drinking. And don't be afraid to take a nap during the day. Studies have shown that people who take naps live a few years longer than the average and are less prone to things like heart disease. So go ahead and take the brain break. You probably need it.
4) Write for only 30 minutes at a time.
Author Rebecca Moesta recommends (from hard-won experience) only sitting at your desk for 30 minutes at a time, then getting up to move around for a few minutes before going back to writing. Why? For the same reason people are recommended to get up and walk on a long plane flight, or to not sit at their work desk all day. Long periods of inactivity, with joints bent into positions that the human body was not meant to maintain for long periods of time, can actually cause joint problems, blood clots, and interfere with nervous system and cardiovascular function. The human body was built for physical activity. Keep the blood flowing. Get up, stretch those muscles, move around to remind yourself you're still alive. Otherwise, the consequences could be severe and painful.
5) Exercise, exercise, exercise.
Authors James MacDonald and Elizabeth Bear (both Viable Paradise instructors) recommend writers adopt a daily exercise routine. Whether it's long walks along the Vineyard beaches or yoga in the morning and the evening, they both say "Get yourself moving." It's good advice, too. Authors need to maintain some semblance of health and even the doctors say that exercise helps prevent, or slow down, the onset of diabetes, heart disease, stroke, and other lifetime illnesses. If that's not enough to convince you, think about this: Most full-time writers (without day jobs) don't have health insurance. Do you really want to end up in the hospital, paying full price for all your bills, because you didn't take enough time out of your day to care for yourself?
6) Keep the day job
We all wish we had Richard Castle's wealth. But the fact of the matter is that aside from the occasional "big" advance (because $2000.00 is a lot of money for some of us novel writers), royalty checks tend to be far and few between. Short story / RPG writers don't even get that much most of the time. Something has to pay the bills. Authors Kevin J. Anderson and John Scalzi (and me) recommend keeping your day job for as long as possible. Write in your spare time, pay the bills, and for heavens' sake, work at a job with benefits like health insurance. You'll need that! If you're going to quit the job anyway, make sure you have a sizable nest egg of about 12-24 months worth of bill money put aside. Because most novels don't get published until 2 years after they've been accepted. And Scalzi also advises full-time writers marry someone with a job and benefits so you can piggy-back off their health insurance.
7) Go to the doctor.
This is the one thing that really bugs me about other people. If you feel sick, go to the doctor. Even if you don't have health insurance, it will be cheaper now to see the doctor then it would be to wait until the ambulance is hauling you off to the emergency room for a surgery / hospital stay that could have been avoided if you'd gone in for a yearly physical, gotten antibiotics for that sinus infection, or asked the doctor why you were fainting out of the blue every time you stood up. SEE THE DOCTOR (he might be the Time Lord you're looking for @=).
8) Get comfy!
Another one of Rebecca Moesta's favorite topics, ergonomic writing spaces. Make sure your monitor is at eye level, your keyboard is at waist level, your feet are flat on the floor (or on a swivel foot boost), your mouse pad & keyboard both have a wrist rests, and your chair is adjustable. Carpal Tunnel is a horrible thing, and surgery is not pleasant. Not to mention that it might not solve your problem. If your feet dangle off the floor, it aggravates any knee issues you might have. If your chair is hard and sturdy, you could end up with back problems. All of which cost you money (to get fixed), and time you could spend writing.
9) Turn off your cell phone
Really? You really need that thing on? News flash! Being available 24/7 is stressing you out even more than your writing deadlines. If you don't actually have a hard line going into your house, leave the phone on but put it in a different room. Remember, you're supposed to be writing, not texting. Your peeps can leave you a message that you can pick up during one of your many desk breaks (see # 3). That's what voice mail was invented for. If it's an emergency, make sure they have another way of contacting you. Turn off the cell phone. You are not allowed to play Angry Birds until break time. You should not be watching the incoming text / call list hoping you've just been nominated for an Oscar. It's the wrong award for you anyway and you have more important things to do today.
And on that note, I will end today's list. There are dozens of blogs and websites on how to be a published writer, but there just aren't enough of them that give you the practical advice you need to survive being a writer. Please let me know if any of this helped you out.