Advice for Staying Emotionally Strong Enough to Write Well. Wow!

A Change is as Good as a Rest

By Donna Schlachter

"In order to write deep stories that will draw readers in, 

we need to be in prime emotional condition. 

We can’t do that if we don’t take care of ourselves."

  

“A change is as good as a rest”. My father used to say that a lot.

Lately I’ve been really tired. I thought I needed a rest. A vacation. And so I told some friends, “I’d like to take a vacation where I don’t have to travel every day. Where I get to sleep in the same comfy bed every night. Where I don’t have to cook, or clean, or make the bed.”

The next day I learned that my attendance at a set of weekend meetings wasn’t required. But I’d already booked the time off, reserved a hotel, and bought tickets to a museum in the area.

What to do?

Wait a minute. I was just saying I needed a vacation. Yippee!

Suddenly I was re-energized. I buckled down and accomplished a lot in one day. Caught up on my correspondence, cleaned out my email inbox, wrote some blogs that were due, and generally felt a lot better about myself, my schedule, and my workload.
Do you need a rest? Maybe all you really need is a “change”. And while I wish I’d said I’d like to spend my vacation somewhere warm, like on a beach, I’ll take what I’ve been given.

So if you need to make a “change”, my first suggestion would be: be specific. There is nothing wrong with spelling out exactly what you want. Maybe a new car. Well, describe it. Perhaps you need a new house. Write down how many bedrooms, how many levels, even the color if you know it. Maybe lose weight. Decide what your ideal weight goal is.
Next, decide what the first step is to achieve your goal. If you want a new car, perhaps you need to start saving. A new house? Go to open houses in the area you’d like to live in. Lose weight? Decide what foods tempt you and get them out of the house.

Third step would be to visualize your change. Find pictures of that new car or new house. Post pictures of outfits you’d like to wear or the cruise ship you’ll sail on when you can fit into a sleeker swimsuit.

Finally, do whatever it takes to achieve your goal. Need to save more money faster? What can you sell? What service can you cancel? Maybe you don’t need a landline telephone and a cell phone. Maybe you can live without cable for a while. Don’t want flabby skin after you reach your weight loss goal? Maybe you can walk some each day. Get up early and do some stretches. Join a gym.

Whatever your “change” is, you won’t achieve it if you don’t start. So start dreaming today, and tomorrow, put some action behind your dreams.
 
Takeaway: In order to write deep stories that will draw readers in, we need to be in prime emotional condition. We can’t do that if we don’t take care of ourselves.
 
Exercises:

1. If you’re feeling physically exhausted, could there be a physical reason? What you’re eating? Not getting enough sleep? What changes are you willing to make to improve how you feel?

1. If you’re feeling emotionally exhausted, check your calendar. Schedule in some down time, some couple time, some family time.

1. How’s your prayer life? If you aren’t spending time with God now on a daily basis, perhaps now is the time to start. Get a Bible and a reading plan, and follow it. Spending time in the Word on a daily basis rejuvenates like nothing else.

 
 
Check out Donna’s latest release, Calli, here: https://www.amazon.com/Calli-Prairie-Roses-Collection-Book-ebook/dp/B09SD6XPRQ
 
About Donna:

A hybrid author, Donna writes squeaky clean historical and contemporary suspense. She has been published more than 50 times in books; is a member of several writers groups; facilitates a critique group; teaches writing classes; ghostwrites; edits; and judges in writing contests. She loves history and research, traveling extensively for both. 
 
www.DonnaSchlachter.com Stay connected so you learn about new releases, preorders, and presales, as well as check out featured authors, book reviews, and a little corner of peace. Plus: Receive a free ebook simply for signing up for Donna's free newsletter at:
www.DonnaSchlachter.com/blog
Check out previous blog posts by using #SharingwithWriters' search engine. 

Get to know Donna better: 

Facebook: www.Facebook.com/DonnaschlachterAuthor
Twitter: www.Twitter.com/DonnaSchlachter
Books: Amazon: http://amzn.to/2ci5Xqq
Bookbub: https://www.bookbub.com/authors/donna-schlachter
Goodreads: https://www.goodreads.com/search?utf8=%E2%9C%93&query=donna+schlachter
Etsy online shop of original artwork: https://www.etsy.com/shop/Dare2DreamUS  

MORE ABOUT THE BLOGGER

 Howard-Johnson is the multi award-winning author of fiction, creative nonfiction, and poetry. She is also a marketing consultant, editor, and author of the multi award-winning HowToDoItFrugally Series of books for writers including the multi award-winning The Frugal Book Promoter (https://bit.ly/FrugalBookPromoIII), now offered in its third edition by Modern History Press. Carolyn's latest is in the #HowToDoItFrugally Series of books for writers is How to Get Great Book Reviews Frugally and Ethically. She has two booklets in the #HowToDoItFrugally Series, both in their second editions from Modern History Press. Great Little Last Minute Editing Tips for Writers (https://bit.ly/LastMinuteEditsII) and The Great First Impression Book Proposal (https://bit.ly/BookProposalsII) are career boosters in mini doses and both make ideal thank you gifts for authors. The one on writing book proposals is also available as an Audio Book. The Frugal Editor (https://bit.ly/FrugalEditor), now in its second edition, is the winningest book in the series. Carolyn also has three frugal books for retailers including one she encourages authors to read because it helps them convince retailers to host their workshops, presentations, and signings. It is A Retailer’s Guide to Frugal In-Store Promotions: How To Increase Profits and Spit in the Eyes of Economic Downturns with Thrifty Events and Sales Techniques (https://bit.ly/RetailersGuide). In addition to this blog, Carolyn helps writers extend the exposure of their favorite reviews at TheNewBookReview.blogspot.com. She also blogs all things editing--grammar, formatting and more--at The Frugal, Smart, and Tuned-In Editor (https://TheFrugalEditor.blogspot.com). Learn more and follow for news on her new releases direct from Amazon at https://bit.ly/CarolynsAmznProfile.