Christian writers face many of the same issues as other writers. One of these issues is keeping healthy when dedicated to the writing task. It’s most desirable if you maintain a balanced life including interaction with others, exercise and wholesome meals. However, many of us become so focused on finishing a magazine or blog article, or meeting a book deadline, that we sometimes fail to take proper care of ourselves.
Your body is the vessel of the Holy Spirit, and that ship must be in good repair in order to work at maximum efficiency. That means if you want to do your best work you need to make sure your body is healthy and your mind is clear.
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Feeling down in the dumps as you face a blank page? Afraid your brain-freeze might not thaw anytime soon? You might try taking a big bite of a red hot chili pepper. The searing chemical reaction you’ll experience is Capsicum stimulating your mouth’s nerve endings.
But a burning mouth is not where you’ll get your bounce from chili peppers. Expect a rush of creativity as the Capsaicin releases endorphins in your brain to extinguish the fire in your mouth. Endorphins are natural painkillers and produce a temporary high. Theoretically, the more chili peppers you eat, the more creative you’ll be. The question is, do you want to suffer that much for your art? [Read More]
Writing takes tenacity. Successful writers know there is nothing more important than planting your rear firmly in a chair and sitting there until the day’s work is done. However, this kind of sedentary activity takes its toll pretty quickly, so it’s important to have an exercise plan that goes beyond walking over to the refrigerator to see what’s inside.
Mayo Clinic researcher Dr. James Levine said, “Getting out there and taking a walk is what it’s all about. You don’t have to join a gym, you don’t have to check your pulse. You just have to switch off the TV, get off the sofa and go for a walk.” [Read More]
Guest post by Michael Hemmingson
Writers differ in their needs and preferences for space in which they create. If you’re fortunate enough to have a writing room in your house, or have an office away from home, then you’re one of the envious few. Writers must be able to create their own writing space, and it’s as much psychological as it is physical.
It’s said that Louis L’Amour, the legendary Western storyteller could write anywhere, on the back of a horse or on the median in Times Square in New York City. He had incredible powers of concentration and once he was in the zone, nothing could distract him. [Read More]
Guest post by Michael Hemmingson
Pets have always gone hand-in-hand with writing; they act as inspiration and companions in those lonely hours behind the keyboard. This is why every good used bookstore has a cat living there—there’s something about cats and old used books that is a literary tradition. Just as the cat goes with the books, the pet goes with the writer.
If you don’t already have a pet to help you write, which one is best for you? Just as pets match certain people’s personalities, I am going to suggest that some pets are good matches for specific genres that writers work in.
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