This is the time of year for the winter blues. You’re dragging yourself through your workday. You’re dreading your exercise routines. You’re sleeping in on weekends until noon. And you’ve got a deadly craving for frosted brownies. Worst of all, you’re writing has slowed down. Maybe you’re struggling more thanContinue Reading
I find I get very stiff if I sit in one position for too long. I’ve had neck pain for years, and I have to be pretty careful of my position. Also, I’m very antsy. I have trouble sitting for longer than about twenty minutes at a time. The Problem of SittingContinue Reading
I was slumped against the passenger side door of our old Dodge station wagon. Its claim to fame was that it resembled the Ghostbusters’ prized vehicle, minus the sirens and lights. My younger brother was extremely proud of that. My mom, on the other hand, wasn’t so thrilled. Like it’sContinue Reading
Interviewer: You’ve acknowledged that as writers, we all have moments when we think what we’re working on is crap. Author Harlan Coben (Caught, Long Lost, and Hold Tight): Always. Every writer has that, if they’re worth anything. I don’t think it matters if you’re a writer, musician, new mom, orContinue 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
Are you a grateful writer? I believe that our thoughts and words can create our reality. Too much wallowing in the difficulty of our chosen occupation and pretty soon that’s all we see—how difficult it is. It’s only a short step from there to seeing ourselves as unable to overcomeContinue Reading
For me the biggest challenge is getting enough exercise. Sitting at the computer all day is not healthy, but it’s easy to do. Fortunately, my dogs demand attention and distract me, making me get up and move around. Still, I do suffer from frequent back pain, the best remedy forContinue Reading
I’ve received a lot of writing critiques over the years. I’ve come to believe that critiques are both a writer’s blessing and a curse. After so many, I think I’ve figured out how to sort through them in a way that makes them mostly beneficial, most of the time. ButContinue Reading
My age creeps up every year, gosh dang it! My biggest problems are eye fatigue and what I call the iron neck. I hold all my tension in my neck and shoulders and sometimes can’t even turn my head. The best way to deal with this is the doorway exercise.Continue Reading
I hate morning people. Not literally, of course. In fact, as long as they don’t bother me, I don’t mind them at all. But every once in awhile, if I spend time with friends or family, I’m reminded how very violent I can get if people bother me in theContinue Reading
I should probably start with a disclaimer. I’m a dad to two-year old identical twin boys and that has completely changed the way I write. And many other things too, of course. Balancing Fatherhood with Writing Before they came along, I’d have probably said backache or a little RSIContinue Reading
We can communicate with one another in more ways than ever before. But strangely enough, that’s not what seems to be happening. Recent research suggests our obsession with technology is making us more isolated. Despite the fact that we’re more connected, we’re also “more lonely and distant from one another,”Continue Reading