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
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
Are you a highly sensitive writer? Do you know what “highly sensitive” is? I didn’t until I read The Highly Sensitive Person by Elaine N. Aron. Wow. What an eye-opener. If you’ve ever been told that you’re “too sensitive” and you haven’t read this book, I highly recommend you do.Continue Reading
Sitting at a desk for long stretches of time takes a toll on my body in many ways. When I’m chugging along, it’s hard to avoid as many as 20 hours at a computer each day. But to be fair, this is the case with all of us who workContinue Reading
The biggest physical challenge of being a writer? The lack of movement. When I am sitting at my desk for hours, especially if I get into a creative zone, I have to literally stop and remind myself to get up and stretch, let alone get a proper workout. For me,Continue Reading
The sun’s rays gleam through the picturesque window as her fingers click the keys. A steaming cup of coffee sits within arm’s reach, and her calico cat sleeps on her lap. She languidly types on, the story flowing from her mind onto the screen. She smiles to herself. Her masterpieceContinue Reading
Rejection. Ack! Poor review. Help! Lackluster sales. Eek! Writer’s block. Ugh! What’s the cure for all these writer afflictions? Appropos for this time of year: Gratitude. Practicing an attitude of gratitude can save a writer on many occasions. Ready to throw in the towel or tear your hair out? TakeContinue Reading
My older brother and I really enjoyed roller-skating when we were young kids (around seven to ten). We were lucky enough to have a nice rink in our town, and a mom who was willing to invest in opportunities for us. We both took lessons, but because we were threeContinue Reading
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
When another human leaves your heart in an billion pieces, people get it. Friends are happy to help fuel a nice big bonfire, mostly with the ex’s photos. Family members reveal everything they didn’t like about the person to begin with. “You can find much better,” they assure you. ButContinue Reading