I write because there is this longing deep inside me that makes me feel lost when I miss a day of writing. I would have to say self-doubt is my biggest challenge. I work so hard to be good at what I do—be the best writer that I know IContinue Reading
Spoken words I sometimes find tiring; written words are for me a source of energy and understanding. I can take the time to get the nuance just right without worrying that it is someone else’s turn to speak. I can examine a thought carefully, without it slipping through the fogContinue Reading
When I was younger, the biggest physical challenge of being a writer was overuse injuries to my hands and wrists. Because I often worked several jobs to support myself—teaching jobs, which virtually always included writing out lesson plans and grading papers—and because I wrote my poetry and fiction before goingContinue Reading
I think the overall ups and downs in this industry can be quite stressful, depressing and discouraging. One day you will get a 5-star glowing review and the next you get a 1-star negative review and its hard to realize that you can’t please everyone. I have definitely taken negative feedbackContinue Reading
I love my family and my life too much to waste it closeted away over an unfinished manuscript, isolated and border-line insane, with my stomach tied in knots over self-imposed deadlines. Seriously. If the actual writing of a book isn’t taxing enough, the burden of editing, re-writing, re-editing, gathering reviews,Continue Reading
The sedentary nature of working at a desk during the day and then at night writing is a real health trap for me as I get older. I’m a busy person, always up and down the stairs and choosing to walk as much as possible when I’m out, but IContinue Reading
For me, the biggest physical challenge is getting so wrapped up in the writing that I sit in the same position for hours until one of legs goes dead, or something like that. I can feel the discomfort creeping up but it’s the case of “just until I get toContinue Reading
by Melissa McPhail When I think of the greatest challenges I’ve had to face, time is often a factor within them. Time to finish the manuscript. Time to coordinate a hundred varying logistics. Time to deal with an emergency. Time to write. Time is one of the greatest hidden stressorsContinue Reading
I have to admit that I’m pretty lucky when it comes to the physically challenging side of writing. I often hear of fellow writers struggling with high blood pressure, carpal tunnel syndrome, insomnia, and the numerous other ailments that seem to come along with our trade. Occasionally, my back getsContinue Reading
The term “sedentary lifestyle” has become a buzzword in our house of late. My husband has real concerns about the fact that I spend all day typing at my computer. I get so locked into my projects, so focused on what I’m doing, I forget about everything else. When myContinue Reading
My mental and physical health are inextricably linked. I’ve shared my personal space with anxiety and depression my entire life, and any attempts to mitigate or improve with medication has run the spectrum from ineffective to disastrous. I long ago learned that physical activity and a carefully tuned diet areContinue Reading
My biggest challenge is lack of time. I am a writer who doesn’t want to start work on an aspect of a project unless I have a good couple of hours. It takes me time to reacquaint myself with where I was and my mindset. Sometimes, though, that becomes anContinue Reading