reading

Nothing is better then when the words are flowing through me, and I can’t seem to get them on a page fast enough. When I am in “writing mode,” the world drifts away and it is just me and the page in front of me. I am completely immersed in a world I have created. Sometimes, if I am lucky in my busy, loud life, I can do this for hours. I emerge from the other side of this writing haze and realize I have wrote through lunch or dinner, or both, my bladder is bursting, and my leg has fallen asleep. I stand out of my chair as pins and needles race up my leg and I hobble to the bathroom, then to the kitchen for any food I can get into my stomach quickly because I am now starving. Sound familiar?

When I am engrossed in a project, it consumes me, even when I am not physically working on it. I am always thinking about it. I have also gotten stuck, I mean really stuck, or written myself into a corner. It is like a puzzle I sometimes can’t figure out which makes me nuts too. I often lay in bed at night thinking of characters and plots, or even dreaming about them. I try to have a rule of moderation in all things in life, but I think writing at least for me, is something that I have to be all in, or all out of when I am really working on a project. Along the way I have learned a few things for good writer’s self-care.

Exercise: This doesn’t have to be strenuous, but you should get the blood pumping. I love to walk when I have writer’s block, moving my body, changing the scenery and getting outside really does seem to help. I am sedentary when I am writing, my butt is in the chair. I know I could use a standing desk, but it’s not for me, at least not when I am writing. Move your body, it might move your plot along!

Eat Right: I know this is easier said than done. My nutrition seems to tank when I am writing. I begin to live on things that can be cooked in the microwave, or toaster. What can feed me quickly so I can get back to work. I now know that if I am digging into a big project that I need to plan ahead for meals. I will wash and cut up fresh vegetables and stick them in the fridge, then they are just as easy to grab as an unhealthy snack. Keep healthy foods at the ready and make sure to drink lots of water.

Sleep: Writing when my entire house is asleep is a special and unique experience. My dog sleeps at my feet as I type away. The light of my screen and my solitary desk lamp light the room. This is a feeling that easy to get addicted to, but then like most indulgences, the next morning is rough. I wake, after sleeping a few hours, to happy energetic kids who could care less that I filled a plot hole and now I need to sleep, they want breakfast and a trip to the park. I have burnt myself several times this way and I have learned that it is not the best idea to write well into the early hours of the morning.

Cleanse Time: This isn’t a new age spa treatment. After a long day of writing, or after completing a tense scene. I need some time for my brain to rest. I have to go find an activity that doesn’t require problem solving or strategic thinking. Some of my favorite things to do to rest my brain; watch a comedy, cook, knit, work in my yard. I find these tasks to be relaxing and they recharge me so I can go back to writing.

Read: I love to read! I was late to the reading game, as I have said before in previous blog posts, but I am making up for it now. I am always reading. While I am working on a project, I like to pick a fun piece of fiction to read. I generally try to read in the genre I write in but, I read all sorts of fiction. I do have one rule, as I write primarily romance, I will stay away from any story that has any resemblance to my own work in progress. I do this out of respect for the author. I know that it is said, that imitation is the biggest form of flattery, but I don’t think that holds true in this case. I want to respect the identity of another’s work, and not have it bleed into my own.

Community: Plug into a support network. I am luck to have a sister and a husband who are both excellent writers. My support network knows the ups and downs of writing and how much it really takes out of you after a long day of writing. I know I am very blessed to have a good network like this. I have also found more recently a great writing network on Twitter. There is a very active and robust writing community there. It is great to connect with others who “get it.”

Remember when you are writing or working through writer’s block to take care of you. Your characters rely on you for their voice, if you aren’t in the best shape, then you do them a disservice. Take care of yourself and write on!

If your writing you should be reading, period. I read my first romance novel a few years back and I have not been able to put them down. The first romance series I ever read was by author Christine Feehan. The series was about a group of physics who fall in love, not always in the best ways. I won’t lie\ sexy physics are not normally my thing, but I could not put them down. I read through the series in about six weeks. I share this because I think it is important to read in the genre you write in. I also think it is important to read lots of things, not listen to, but actually read. (I am not knocking audiobooks.) The important thing here is to read, just read.

I read a lot. I read for work, for school, and for pleasure. Here is a list of what I read this month for pleasure.

Where the Crawdads Sing: by Delia Owens

I love fiction, I read all kinds of fiction. This book came highly recommended to me. I decided to give it a try and I was so glad I did. The book is written with almost poetic-like prose, which normally would turn me off as a reader. I don’t have anything against poetry, I just don’t want to read a novel written in poetry. The story is of a young girl who is abandoned by her family. She is left in her family home to survive off of the Carolina coast. Reading the book, I could feel Owen’s love for her main character. There is a murder mystery and a romance that weaves through the story.

Like the Carolina coast, this story has a unique rhythm all it’s own. What amazes me, even more, is that this is Owen’s first published novel. Let me just say, wow! I would have thought Owen’s has been writing for years. This book is really well written and the story unfolds beautifully. A real treat.

The Idea of You: by Robinne Lee

In full disclosure, I have not completely finished reading this one yet. I am two-thirds of the way through. I picked it up because the concept intrigued me, a mom falls for a member of a boy band that her twelve-year-old daughter is in love with. So far it has been a fun read. Lee does a great job painting Solene’s world, a French-American divorcee, living in L.A., owning an art gallery and raising her daughter. The love interest Hayes Campbell, dreamy boyband member and almost twenty years Solene’s junior, is sexy. I love the tension between the two characters Lee does a great job of not letting the reader know who is really in charge, is it Solene the older, wiser person in the relationship or is it Hayes, with his ability to know just what to say? As I said, I haven’t quite finished this one, but it is so good so far!

Beta Read the 1st Draft of Jon Thomas’ Book.

My husband wrote a book! Actually, my husband has written several books. This one has been a labor of love and I could not be prouder of him. The icon above is from our website Anglotopia.

He is asked almost daily, why he loves Britain so much. He explains why and how he came to love that quirky, wonderful nation in this book. The book has taken him almost two years to write as he explains through travel experiences why he loves the U.K.

He has a good edit ahead of him, but I have no doubt that his book will be wildly successful!

Beta Read The Bridgekeeper: by Mathew Warren

This author was the first writer in my life. He has been writing since as long as I can remember. He went through a traumatic experience that threw off his writing mojo. This was the first project he has written since. I love the concept of not being able to rely on the narrator. I don’t want to share too much about it, because it is his and a work in progress. All I can say is that it is a powerful story that I could not put down. Way to flex that writing muscle little Matthew!

Toxic Game: by Christine Feehan

This arrived the other night and I could not wait! I preordered this newest book in Feehan’s Ghostwalker series last August. I had completely forgotten that I had ordered it at all so it was a great surprise when it arrived in the mail. I have not technically read it yet. I was all geared up to dig in and tear through it but honestly, I do that and I feel like I miss out. I am going to take my time and read this one. Feehan, in my opinion, is one of the best romance authors I have come across. Her ability to write the chemistry, awkwardness, affection, and love that her characters experience is a true study in the craft of romance writing.

How to Write Your Best Work