Healthy Tips for Authors

 

It's easy to work at the computer for long periods without taking a break. There may be many times when you look up and find that you've been working for hours. Sure, you have a deadline, but it's never a good idea to push yourself too hard. 

Unfortunately, if you burn yourself out, you won’t be able to get anything done. Here are some ideas for staying healthy while you work.

Relax after a long working day – sometimes when you’ve got a lot on your list to accomplish, you want to keep pushing even when your body (and mind) want rest. Give yourself a chance to unwind and recharge. 

Take breaks – I set the timer on my phone to remind me to break away from my work. Whether it’s a break for coffee/tea/water, a quick walk, meditation or whatever you prefer. . If you work at a desk and sit for long periods of time, it’s a good idea to get some movement in at regular intervals.

Stay hydrated – do you have trouble drinking your water? I do too!  That's why I got into  the habit of keeping a glass of water nearby. Sometimes I add lemon to give it a bit of flavor. The important thing -- especially in the summer - is to drink as much water (and/or healthy drinks) as possible. 

Take a walk (or get movement into your day) – if you choose to walk, you can do it just about anywhere. The same goes for stretching. Add movement to your day when and where you can, and you’ll be much more refreshed.

 Keep healthy snacks handy – this is a big one! Of course this takes planning ahead so that you'll have them on hand. Sugary snacks can cause those dreaded sugar crashes (and sap your energy) which is a great reason to make different choices while you're working. 

Set realistic goals - it won't help you to work so hard that you burn out. Then nothing gets done and you're even more frustrated. Yes, there are times when you have to get your work done by a certain time, but harming your health isn't the way to go. 

Sure, there will be times when you put in a lot of hours and don't get rest, or eat healthy meals. However, let those be the exceptions so that you have the energy you need to accomplish your writing goals. 

Stay Calm and Read

By Maureen Bonatch

Spending more time indoors lately? As an introvert, an author, and someone who works remotely at home for the ‘day-job’, spending a lot of time indoors and alone isn’t something new to me. It’s pretty much my way of life. That suits this introvert just fine. That doesn’t mean that all the recent panic in the world hasn’t gotten me a little stressed at times.

Unfortunately, there are many situations where there is little we can do but take care of ourselves and find a way to decompress as we continue with our lives. I’ve found that reading has often provided me with a wonderful way to take my mind away from things that I can dwell on, and worry about, but do nothing to change. This is just one of the benefits of making time to read, and since we’re going to be avoiding social interactions and staying indoors more, it’s a perfect time to catch up on your TBR list and find some new books.

Three Reasons to Read

1. Reduce Stress- Reading can lower your heart rate, reduce tension and anxiety, reduce stress by 68% and calm your mind. I’ve found it to be a great way to improve sleep for those restless nights. Instead of lying awake with your thoughts, read for a little bit to relax and return to sleep.
2. Improve Health- Reading and participating in mentally stimulating activities can help keep your brain sharp, improve memory and prevent, or slow diseases like dementia and Alzheimer’s.
3. Practice Self-Care – The term self-care is all the rage over the last few years, although it’s something we should all do ongoing, but often neglect since most of us are accustomed to putting everyone, and everything else before our needs. Reading is a great way to do something that’s just for you, and do it without any guilt (no need- did you read the two reasons listed above? Reading is good for you!)

Three Places to Find Books

When I’m looking for a new book I usually start with my favorite authors to see if they have anything new. Then I might check out other authors that write in a similar genre and take a look at the reviews. But as an author, I can assure you that reviews don’t always tell the whole story. We all have personal preferences of what we like in a story, or a character, and one person’s favorite book may not be someone else’s.

A few other ways to pick out new books include:

• BookBub- follow authors you like, or friends who read in the same genre on BookBub. Review their recommendations and make some of your own to help someone else out when they’re looking for a new read.
• Goodreads- follow authors, make friends, read reviews or join groups on this platform to help you choose new books, and recommend to others.
• Ask for Recommendations- Most of us are all over one social media platform or another and generally we have friends with similar interests in those realms. Ask them what they’ve read lately that they recommend- although you might ask why, because as mentioned earlier, you might not share what they liked in the story, or you might be in the mood for something different and can tuck that book away on your TBR.

Regardless of reviews not telling the whole story, most people do go there first, so if you like a book, help another reader out and leave a review.

Can You Name Other Reasons to Read?

Author Bio: Maureen Bonatch grew up in small town Pennsylvania and her love of the four seasons—hockey, biking, sweat pants and hibernation—keeps her there. While immersed in writing or reading paranormal romance and fantasy, she survives on caffeine, wine, music, and laughter. A feisty Shih Tzu keeps her in line. Find Maureen on her website, Facebook & Twitter

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Taking It To The Mat

I know I’ve posted before about my yoga practice, and yes, the Move From Hell, did interfere with that. A lot.  But I’m pleased to say that, after almost a year’s hiatus, I’ve gone back to the mat and I’ve managed to lose another 40 pounds this year. Even with the move! So woo-hoo, and Merry Christmas to me.

I love yoga for a lot of reasons, but today I want to discuss the way it relates to writing.

1.     Repetition. There’s a definite form and structure to every session—just like with books. Yet every one is put together differently. And the ways in which you experience a given session will change depending on how your body feels. Doing a particular exercise over and over again is a lot like editing—you’re constantly tweaking and repeating, refining your movements/words as you go.

2.      Variation. Every posture has almost innumerable variations (just like every trope does) and even with all of that, individual modifications are encouraged. As one of my teachers is fond of saying, “I’m in my body and you’re in yours. You know what’s best for your body.” As a writer, you know what’s best for your book as well. And what’s best for this book, might not be best for the next one. You’ll only know by getting to it and seeing how you feel.

3.     Getting to it—that’s really the key to everything, isn’t it? You won’t accomplish much of anything unless you put the time in. Regularly. There are no shortcuts. Well, there are Electronic Muscle Stimulation exercises that could, theoretically, get you in shape faster, but I’m thinking they wouldn’t really help with flexibility, so I stand by my original statement!

4.     Courage and Vulnerability. A month ago it dawned on me that I’ve become one of those people who set up their mats in the front row—which, trust me, was not always the case! With writing, as with yoga, you need to be okay with being vulnerable. With being “seen”. With being willing to look like an idiot—while wearing brightly colored, body hugging clothing. And maybe also while being considerably older, heavier and less flexible than most of your classmates. You do you,” is a valuable mantra. Also valuable is realizing that while you’re doing it (writing or yoga) you’re pretty much safe from judgment. Everyone disappears on their mat. No one’s watching you when you’re exercising, because they’re too busy focusing on themselves. No one’s watching you while you’re writing, because all the critics are in your own head, at that point. Afterwards…yeah, sure. People will likely judge you then. And that’s definitely one place where the peace of mind you get from yoga would come in handy. Another reason I think all writers should be yogis.  

5.     Namaste. I think this is a true story; although I admit it sounds almost too good to be true. It was told to me by a dear friend, shortly after she started yoga, and I have no reason to believe it didn’t happen exactly like she said. She was clueless when she started—as most of us are. She knew nothing about yoga tradition and nomenclature. But she was enchanted by one part of the practice in particular. She thought it was so lovely and encouraging how, at the end of the class, everyone would bow their heads and solemnly agree that they’d made “no mistakes.” I think about that often, especially when I, too, get to that part of class where we all intone, “Namaste.” Because, while that might not be what the word means, it’s not that far off either. There are no mistakes. Everything is perfect: the book you’re writing, your progress on the mat, Life.

Because next week is Christmas, I have two free reads available! I’d hoped to have a couple more short, holiday stories done by now, but…there are no mistakes. Also, I guess that gives me something to look forward to next year. Please enjoy, and Happy Holidays! 

Free For The Holidays

This Winter Night

Winter Hearts 0.25

Newlyweds Dario and Ophelia Leonides are passionately in love. There are only two things marring their happiness this holiday season—Lia's homesickness and her continued inability to conceive a child.

Dario would do anything to make his wife smile again. He's hoping to use the miraculous technology his father-in-law has pioneered, combined with the magic inherent in his native land. But calling upon the forces of Kokopeli may have unintended consequences. 

This prequel to This Winter Heart is available as a FREE READ.

Click HERE  to download.

Counting On Christmas

An Ugly Christmas Sweater Story

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This Ugly Christmas Sweater short story features the characters Mike and Claire from Let Me Count the Ways (LA Love Lessons, book 3). Mike's been a very good boy this year and Santa Claire has the perfect present picked out for him--one that's both naughty and nice!

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***This story was originally released as part of the Nine Naughty Novelists' Ugly Christmas Sweater story collection ~ Volume I***

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Click HERE to download.

Strengthen Your Creative Muscles by Writing Flash Fiction

Spring is here and summer is not far behind so everyone is talking about exercising and getting in shape. But the muscles I’m talking about can’t be molded with weights or cardio. I’m talking about your creative muscles. You know, your muse! 

No Workout Gear Required

That is, unless you really want an excuse to buy some new yoga pants, or that cute top that’s on sale, then go ahead. Tell your hubby it’s necessary for your “exercise regime.” He doesn’t need to know you’re planning on working out your mind. Besides, some days just getting those creative juices flowing can be considered work. Besides fighting off the distractions of social media, getting your mind focused on the story can be exhausting.

Granted, writers need to keep moving to stay healthy and on top of their health, but the same thing can happen to your writing muscles if you don’t use them. Your story might get stagnant, or you forget the direction it was heading, or you hit a wall with the dreaded writers block.

How Can Flash Fiction Help?

There are lots of definitions on word count for Flash Fiction, including the 6-word story, but most consist of writing a tight, complete story in a few hundred words. It might hint at a larger story but the piece can stand on its own.

This is a great way to practice trimming the fat from your stories. When every single word counts, you tend to notice…

·      Extra, unnecessary words

·      Backstory dumping

·      Excessive dialogue tags

Plus, as a bonus, it helps you practice writing a concise tweet (140 characters or less is not much to work with—challenge accepted?)…and it’s fun!

So…You Wanna See How Good You Are?

Writing prompts can be a great way to become inspired to write a flash fiction piece. Some people choose to use a picture to develop a story, you can buy a book of prompts, or just Google writing prompts to find tons of places to choose prompts from or compete with other writers.

You can use this writing exercise to wake up your muse at the start of your day, or if you need to crank up your creativity. Once the juices are flowing you can return to other writing with fresh inspiration.

Show & Tell

I’ll share one of mine. This is my 250-word prompt on aging.

THE MIRROR NEVER LIES (241 words)

“Where’s my baby?”

“Here you go, Elizabeth, she’s fine.” Judy handed her the doll. “Let’s get dressed.”

“George likes me in red. He says it showcases my hair.”

“How about this, then?” Judy laid the flowered dress on the bed.

Elizabeth gently set the doll aside. “She’s not crying anymore.”

“Perhaps Joan will visit this weekend,” Judy said.

“George is the only one who calls me Beth,” she slid the dress over her head. “Is he here for dinner?”

“Not tonight, but it’s your favorite dish.” Judy brushed her hair. “How shall we fix it?”

“I used to wear it in braids.” She wrinkled her nose. “But I think it looks better down.”

“How about a nice barrette?” Judy offered several.

“I like this one, it’s pretty,” she giggled. “George says I’m pretty, maybe we’ll get hitched one day.”

Judy raised a brow. “I think there’s a good chance of that. How about shoes? These look comfortable.”

“Shouldn’t I wear heels with my dress? What will the other ladies think?”

“Oh, these are all the rage.” Judy pointed at her own white sneakers.

“Alright, but I thought the war was over. Why isn’t George home?” Elizabeth pouted.

“All your friends are waiting.” Judy helped her stand and they walked past the mirror. 

Elizabeth gasped. “Who is that old woman?” She pointed at the reflection. “She’s wearing the same dress as me! People will talk.”

“It looks better on you,” Judy whispered.

Do You Have a Favorite Writing—or get ready for summer-Exercise? Please share it so we can ‘get in physical & mental shape for summer’ together. 

Author Bio: Maureen Bonatch grew up in small town Pennsylvania and her love of the four seasons—hockey, biking, sweat pants and hibernation—keeps her there. While immersed in writing or reading paranormal romance and fantasy, she survives on caffeine, wine, music, and laughter. A feisty Shih Tzu keeps her in line. Find Maureen on her website, Facebook & Twitter