Well, I do periodically have pains in my hands and wrists from typing too much. But this is generally remedied by getting yourself a good chair. It may sound ridiculous, but every few years I buy the best possible orthopaedic chair I can afford, so I can work comfortably. WhenContinue Reading
A Valentine’s Letter from Your Writing I’m sorry, but it’s just not working between us anymore. I’ve lost the feeling, and I haven’t been able to get it back. It’s not you, it’s…well, yeah, it’s you. You’ve killed the spark between us. Me? You’re blaming me? Well, whatever. If that’sContinue Reading
“There are many ways to kill off the true self,” writes former Presbyterian pastor Paul Rademacher. “My weapon of choice was the ministry.” A great book about personal discovery and finding one’s own inner voice, A Spiritual Hitchhiker’s Guide to the Universe by Rademacher tells the story of one man’sContinue Reading
My step dad just passed an important anniversary—a year ago, he went through a double knee replacement. I remember that day well. One of the things that struck me as particularly challenging was the near endless process of medical-record-taking, from the initial registration to the consistent stream of nurses andContinue Reading
Having a profession that requires you to sit all day is coming under increasing scrutiny as a health hazard. And I do find it hard to think deeply when I’m standing up—I just haven’t been able to make that switch. Trying to Avoid Neck and Shoulder Pain While Writing SoContinue 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
It’s hard to imagine that the only person standing in the way of our success in life is ourselves. That’s just too much responsibility! Even harder to imagine that we might actually get something out of avoiding what we most want to do in life. Is it possible? What WeContinue Reading
I’m so excited and honored to launch this new feature—Writing for Change—with John’s story. He lost his daughter, Casey, to suicide in 2008. He has since become an advocate for suicide prevention, and shares Casey’s story in his book, The Girl Behind the Door. My family had a pretty blessedContinue 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
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
I heard a radio commercial the other day that got my attention. I remember little about the product they were advertising, other than it had something to do with RVs, but I do remember one line: Do you look forward more to starting your day, or to ending it? IContinue Reading
Are you facing a decision but just aren’t sure which way to go? Here’s one thing that may help: calm any emotions you may be feeling. Emotions have a way of interfering with the internal signal from your inner voice, or intuition. Think of your mind as a radio, andContinue Reading