Writers: What is More Important than Writing?

4 Responses to Writers: What is More Important than Writing?

1. Patty Blount says:

   August 20, 2010 at 19:34

   What a thought-provoking post! You’re right. Health is a top concern for me, given my mother’s recent terminal diagnosis.

   I’m fortunate; my employer has wonderful amenities including an on-site gym. I used to go to the gym every day, twice a day and then got lazy. After a nearly four-week hiatus in which my physical activity looked much like a sloths’s, I returned to daily lunch time gym visits this week.

   I hurt all over.

   But it’s good, right? It means my body is adjusting to becoming healthy again. I’ve packed on some weight and am stiffening from my writing habits. Regular exercise addresses both of those problems.

   I’m also planning annual doctor’s examinations. There are two health issues in my family I must be diligent about: breast cancer and stroke. I am terrified of hearing bad news, but even more terrified of the alternatives, so I will see the doctor every year, with my fingers crossed and my prayers said. You should all do the same.
2. Jessie Mac says:

   August 21, 2010 at 01:34

   Patty, yes, I remember reading your post about your mother and remember being touched by what you wrote. Actually your last post I responded to made me think about health and mortality – we’re getting pretty serious here, aren’t we? I’ll stop.

   I ache as I write this from the jog. It takes some time to get back into the flow of things. I used to be much better at exercising and looking after myself but like you I’ve been lazy too. Recently I had some blood tests done pushed by a handful of people mentioning the same thing and it’s been a month or so and I still haven’t gone to the doctor’s to find out what the results are. Unless I’m confined to a bed and not able to move, I won’t do anything.

   And though I don’t sit too long without getting twitchy, we writers do tend to sit a lot – more so if you’re working in an office – so we really have make time for exercise. I do stretches – Callanetics – and it helps with my back. Also, I’m like a series of dominoes – if my body breaks down, everything else breaks down or if I’m low, it affects everything else too.

   You’re so lucky to have a gym at work. You were going every day and sometimes twice a day?! I’m impressed. I wish I could do that.
3. Jaime says:

   August 23, 2010 at 09:52

   I have recently taken it upon myself to find a balance for my life that involves structured exercise (something I have the *hardest* time doing). I’m what my husband calls a ‘binge exerciser’ – I go in full force, not giving myself time to build up, and then I end up hurting myself in one way or another.

   Now I finally have a plan that involves blocks of exercise that will slowly build up intensity.

   While I have always considered my health incredibly important (I need to lose weight to be able to have a chance at conceiving naturally), I never linked it to my writing. And yet, it’s as you say – no one can write my novel for me when I take a sick day.

   This puts a whole new level on dedicating myself to a life with balance and health.
4. Jessie Mac says:

   August 23, 2010 at 12:36

   Hi Jaime, thanks for popping by my blog, reading and leaving a comment.

   I’m a bit like you too – I do it well for a week and then it goes downhill.

   What’s really strange is when I’m writing my novel I get twitchy after an hour but when I’m on the internet, time just disappears. It’s almost as if sitting on the computer on the internet has become a habit that is really hard to break.

   The thing is I do feel better. It’s like writing, it’s hard to actually start it but once you’ve done it, it does feel good.