Avoiding the phrase “I don�t have time…”, will soon help you to realize that you do have the time needed for just about anything you choose to accomplish in life. -Bo Bennett
NaNoWriMo continues, and I am about to embark on my own personal marathon. Except this time, I am going to do so in a healthy way that does not result in utter exhaustion and unmitigated irritability. Actually, there’s no good way to prevent the latter; I am one cranky girl when I start moving into a project. I suspect a lot of writers and artists get like that; time becomes a precious commodity, space to work in becomes the Holy Grail of all territories, and interruptions feel like the masked executioner bearing down with ax in hand. CHOP! and away goes your inspiration, along with time, time, time.
So how does a writer cope with all that? Like, without heading for the hills and going all wild girl of the mountain?
You CHILL OUT. That’s right. Laugh at yourself for being so silly, and then just CHILL. Because seriously, life is too short to be that uptight about words on a page. Which I’m sure is quite funny coming from me, as I am the Queen of Uptight (especially lately), but I am trying to turn a new leaf. As in, relax.
Because here’s the thing – if you make yourself sick from writing, if you build up all kinds of anxiety in the course of writing, you are eventually going to fear your writing, and that is a terrible thing. Really, just awful. Don’t go there if you can help it. I certainly don’t want to hit that point. I love what I do way too much. Only, it’s easy to forget how to take care of yourself—heart, mind, body—when the rush is on. Real easy.
So to all of you other marathoners out there, be warned: Have a good time while writing your books, be aware of your goals and deadlines, but don’t run yourself ragged because of them. Don’t make yourself sick. Don’t kill what you love.