Monday, March 14, 2011

I Think Writing Might Be Bad For My Health

I needed an epic writing day last week to launch myself into the third act of my book. So, on Friday I sent the kids off, turned the heat waaaaay down in my house and made a pot of coffee. Springsteen on repeat, no television - off I went. Six hours later, one phone call with Sinead to get myself out of the corner I had written myself into, a bag of carrots and half a loaf of raisin bread later - 5,000 words.

I was wired and exhausted, my head hurt, my heart was racing. I felt like for six hours of sitting I just rode adrenaline, which is crazy! I was eating toast and sitting, what did I need the adrenaline for?

After all that I turned on the news to see what had happened in Japan, and spent the next several hours crying. I went to bed in the clothes that I slept in the night before and that I wrote in all day. I couldn't fall asleep until three a.m. because of emotion and a brain that wouldn't stop.

The next day I still didn't feel right, so after our TRW meeting, I drank a bunch of beer to relax. That worked. But OH MY LORD! This is not good. This is not a healthy life.

At least once a book I have a day like this, I don't think it can be avoided. But what effects has writing had on your health? (As I write this, my back is practically bent in half...so, we can start with posture!)

My prayers and hope are with everyone in Japan or who have loved ones there...what a nightmare.

6 comments:

Karen Whiddon said...

What you just said is EXACTLY why I started going to the gym. I make myself go. 30 minutes a day.

Because I do the same thing. Sit all day, drink beer to relax, lay in bed unable to sleep. If I don't exercise, the pounds start packing on, the blood pressure goes up, and I get blinding headaches.

But wow - a 5000 word day? Amazing.

Anonymous said...

That is amazing. 5000 words in a day is ridiculous.
There is no healthy to writing, either emotionally, or mentally.
We have to ensure that when we're not writing... what am I saying.
Let's try and workout to balance the drinking that the writing makes us do.

Maureen McGowan said...

I think the key is exercise, too. Not that I get any. Stretching helps even if I don't manage to work out. And congrats again on your epic day!!!!

Eileen said...

The ever-widening butt. The aching back. The carpal tunnel. No. Probably not the healthiest profession.

On the other hand, I feel like writing is often free therapy. I work out a lot of issues on the page. :-)

Stephanie Doyle said...

I need therapy a couple of times a year on the neck and arm. Works wonders.

But writing is such a profession that beats you up. I totally get Hemmingway and drinking now!

And when you're in full blown mode like that sometimes it just won't let you go.

Kristina Mathews said...

Molly,
This blog is exactly what I needed today. Instead of working on the sagging middle of my story, I headed to my excercise class to work on the sagging around my middle. Strong abs equal a strong back.

On the other hand, if I don't get to my writing I am up all night and lack of sleep is worse than lack of excercise.

I hope you find that balance because I love your writing. I just finished HIS WIFE FOR ONE NIGHT, I won it on the SuperRomance Blog. Thank you so much.

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