Catholic Writing and Publishing – Page 36

New For Me: It is Happy Easter & Happy Pesach (Passover)

April 2, 2013/4 Comments/in Catholic Writing and Publishing/by Larry Peterson

When we are newborns and are introduced into our particular family, it is an unknown world. As we grow into this family we take it for granted. Mom, dad, siblings, dogs, cats, horses, gerbils, whatever there may be, become part of our existence. That world is what we know and love and in which we feel safe. We do not question it. At least I know my siblings and I never did as kids. I’m sure your little ones don’t either. They just know you are there and that is all they care about.

Our four room, south Bronx world was crammed with Mom, Dad, five kids (me being the oldest), and Grandma. We did not think about it or complain about it. We were just like everyone else in the neighborhood. It was no big deal. Some folks had eight to ten kids in an apartment. One person who was never spoken of, and we, as kids, never thought about (until we were older) was Grandma’s husband, Grandpa. The problem for us was that Mom died at 39, Grandma a few years later, and Dad right after that. We still knew nothing of a “Grandpa”. Mom did have one brother, my Uncle Larry. When I was 18 or 19, I asked him about his dad. He told me his father died when he was little. Then he turned and walked awayn and never said another word. What else was there to talk about? But the way I was cut off always stuck in my mind. My sister thought that maybe he did not want us to know the truth.

Because of that, my siblings and I occasionally would talk about the mysterious and unknown Grandpa, and we did hypothesize: he was in an insane asylum; he was a spy during WWII; or he worked for the Nazis. We even considered that maybe he was a murderer and had been executed. We even had fun doing it. The only thing we learned for sure was that his surname was Schul. In fact, that was the only documented info we had on Grandpa for 50 years. Enter cousin Victoria, who had suddenly become very interested in genealogy.

Five months ago, the mystery was solved thanks to Vicki, who spent countless hours searching and checking and documenting. My maternal grandfather’s name was Isidore (Irving) Schul. He was born in Krakow, and his race was Hebrew. His parents’ names (our great-grandparents) were Simon and Regina Schul. Grandpa Irv (that is what we decided to call him) had siblings who were most likely gassed to death at Auschwitz. We are not 100% sure on that–it may have been another death camp, but they did die in the Holocaust. As for Grandpa, he was the only one in his family who made it to America. He died in NYC in 1965. What happened between him and my grandmother remains a mystery.

I felt compelled to share this with my Catholic brothers and sisters who frequent this site. I am not sure why, but I just thought that I should. For me this Easter is very different. I cannot explain what rumbles inside me. I am a cradle Catholic, and so were my parents and my Grandmother (as far as I know). How she wound up with a Hebrew man from Krakow, Poland, in the New York City of the 1920’s we’ll never know.

It is Easter and Passover, 2013. I am 25% Hebrew, and it is still sinking in that I had family members who were victims of the Holocaust. When I look at anything relating to that insane time, I have a completely different perspective. I am not just a spectator any longer–I am INSIDE looking out. It is a very weird feeling. Upon reflection I realize that the founders of our Catholic faith, from Jesus, to Mary and Joseph and the Apostles and so on were Hebrew people. I feel truly blessed to share in both worlds. Anyway–HAPPY EASTER & HAPPY PESACH (PASSOVER).

Jesus, our Saviour and our Example

March 26, 2013/4 Comments/in Catholic Writing and Publishing, Inspirational, Religious Liberty/by Karina Fabian

The tension builds.

Halfway through the week from his triumphant entry into Jerusalem, hosannas still echo in the streets and Jesus is preparing for his passion. The disciples don’t understand; they still expect Jesus to conquer their political enemies.

But he knows better. He knows what he faces.

Betrayal.

Abandonment.

Death by crucifixion.

Most of us can understand and identify with betrayal and abandonment in this day and age, but it is a rare individual who can identify with the intensity of what Jesus experienced on a human level.

But none of us can—or need to—understand the depth of abandonment Jesus experienced on the cross. My God, my God! Why have you abandoned me?

Because of Jesus’ obedience, we know that God will never abandon us, will never betray us.

Nor will most of us identify with the cruel torture he endured. For those who can, my prayers and the prayers of many are with you, that you may find comfort and healing through Jesus’ sacrificial love and God’s tender mercy.

Jesus did not rescue the Jews from their Roman oppressors, nor does he rescue us from the human condition. But he rescued us from our ancient enemies: sin and death.

Let us walk with Jesus through this Holy Week. Let us pray with him in the garden. Let us witness his pain, his death, which he accepted for our benefit. Let us in turn accept our infirmities, our suffering—and throw ourselves at the foot of the cross.

Not my will, but thine be done.

He bore all our sin on his cross; let us, in love, bear but a sliver of his.

Narrative Voice, Characterization and Reading To Improve Writing

March 11, 2013/7 Comments/in Catholic Writing and Publishing, Fiction, Self-Publishing/by Karina Fabian

Novelists should always be willing (and eager) to improve their craft. Writing fiction is difficult and complex because of the many complicated aspects (narrative voice, writing style, imagery, plot lines, characterization, setting etc).

Whether you’re a bestselling author or an aspiring novelist, one of the best ways to improve your writing is by reading well-written novels. Read books and dissect them. Ask yourself, What makes this particular novel great? What makes it not-so-great?

William Faulkner once said, “Read, read, read. Read everything – trash, classics, good and bad, and see how they do it. Just like a carpenter who works as an apprentice and studies the master. Read! You’ll absorb it. Then write.”

Currently, I read at least 100 books a year, mostly novels. I enjoy immersing myself in a compelling story with believable, relatable characters, rich imagery. These are the types of novels I aspire to write.

I read at night before bed and often first thing in the morning. I read manuscripts that are submitted to my publishing company. I enjoy a variety of contemporary novels and often read a classic or two here and there.

When I was a newbie, my editor recommended I read several books, then asked me to figure out what each book’s strength was. The first novel on the list was a book entitled “Picture Perfect,” by Jodi Picoult. (Spoiler alert) It’s a novel about spousal abuse. Picoult brilliantly creates an abusive – yet sympathetic – husband. So much so that when the abusive husband is begging his wife to return, I said out loud, “Oh, give the poor guy another chance.” I eventually came to my senses, but I realized that it was the author’s brilliant characterizations that made me want the abused wife to return to her abuser.

The following list is recommended for helping with character studies and narrative voice. It is, by no means, definitive. There are literally thousands of great novels with excellent characterizations.

Gone With the Wind by Margaret Mitchell (I own a hard copy but downloaded this on Kindle for .99). This has remained my favorite book of all time and I read it every few years. Mitchell only wrote one novel but it is the quintessential novel, especially if you’re writing romance. This book has the whole package: excellent, crisp writing, compelling story, intricate, believable and brilliant character studies. (More on the “Whole Package” novel in my next post.)

My Sister’s Keeper by Jodi Picoult: The winner of numerous awards, this novel is filled with brilliant character studies and narrative voices. The movie version was okay, but the book is much better (although like most of Picoult’s books, the ending is unexpected).

The Complete Stories by Flannery O’Conner: Just pick any of the short stories in this thick book and you’ll learn from O’Connor, who was a master of crisp, edgy writing and excellent characterizations.

Brideshead Revisited by Evelyn Waugh: A classic. Brilliant characterizations.

Death Comes for the Archbishop by Willa Cather: (read my review here) Also a classic.

The Lottery (short story) by Shirley Jackson (available free online) Excellent character studies.

Jewel by Bret Lott: This novel’s strength is the main female protagonist’s believable, moving, well-developed character.

A Farewell to Arms by Ernest Hemingway: This is my personal favorite of Hemingway’s novels. In this atypical war romance, I think the author’s strength is in the characterizations of the two main characters. I saw the movie with Rock Hudson and Jennifer Jones first, but the book captures their characters better than the movie. (Currently .99 on Kindle)

Do you have any favorite books or short stories that are strong in narrative voice and characterization? If so, please feel free to comment below.

Next month: The Whole Package and Reading Books that encompass great characters, unpredictable compelling stories AND rich, crisp writing.

We Call Her “Holy MOTHER Church”–When the Day is Done Remember That MOTHER Knows Best

March 5, 2013/2 Comments/in Catholic Writing and Publishing/by Larry Peterson

The vacated Papacy has thrust Catholics the world over smack-dab into the middle of an awe-inspiring, historical time in the 2000 year-old life of the church. Most Catholics will stand on the side-lines watching. But we here at the CWG proclaim to be Catholic writers. As writers, do we have an extra special responsibility to Holy Mother Church during this historic time? I think we do.

I think we must sharpen our swords (in our case, pencils) and get ready. As the College of Cardinals prepares to meet in conclave to elect a new Pope, the anti-Catholic mainstream media will be inviting the world to their banquet of over-baked, sauteed, raw and stale vitriol disguised and wrapped in virtuous secularism. As Catholic writers, it may be time to dump a bunch of baking soda on their main course while feeding our readers giant tablets of Alka-Seltzer to help them digest what they have already swallowed.

I understand that we have EWTN and the National Catholic Register, and many straight up Catholic defenders of the faith. Many of us here at the CWG defend and promote the faith via posting commentary and blogging. Maybe we should add our smaller voices to the bigger voices more often, and with more fervor. Maybe we need to add some exclamation points to the words we pen. Then maybe more people will hear such things as how the Catholic Church is the greatest and most prolific helper of the poor, sick, and needy that the world has ever seen. Or how abortion, gay marriage, the ordination of women, birth-control and divorce are secular issues promoted by a secular world.

This world, which includes many who call themselves ‘catholic’, has become defiant and hateful toward the Church. Why? Because the church is in the forefront of establishing boundaries that support signs in bold letters that say “NO”. (A synonym for “NO” might be MORALITY, a word almost anathema to a secular world). The many who are self-indulged scream out, “How dare you tell me NO! I’m not bothering you, so mind your own damn business. I just want to be a Catholic and have my own rules and do what I think is right.”

It doesn’t work like that. The Church has always had her moral code in place. It is nothing new. There were some who, while hiding inside the Church behind their clerical garb, violated their sacred vows. This does not make the Church “bad” or “out of touch” with the world it is a part of. The Church failed in protecting many, especially children. But she accepted responsibility and has cleaned house. Over the 2000 years of her history there have been dark episodes. How many canonized saints were actually put to death by so called “Catholics”? But we must not forget that men ran the church and men are always fallible*. Hiding behind their clerical garb and using their positions of trust to satisfy their desires was reprehensible. Greed and the thirst for power are also strong aphrodisiacs, and many have succumbed to this potion. But the Church always survived and still does.

Christ taught us to love our neighbor and to forgive each other. That’s it. The whole enchilada has two main ingredients, love and forgiveness. Where do we find these ingredients? We look at the Risen Christ, it all comes from Him. What a beautiful thing it is. Too bad so many let their inflated pride smother it inside themselves.

So sharpen your pencils, fill your pens, and be prepared to counter the all-out, verbal onslaught by the secular experts who know nothing or care nothing about our faith. What they care about is being told “NO” to what they want. The deem the Church outdated and out of touch with the “mainstream” of today. And that is why they hate her. She will not give in to them.

The Catholic Church is the “Bride of Christ” and we call her, “Holy MOTHER Church”. The Holy Spirit guides her. St. Joseph protects her. We need to follow their lead and defend and refute the slurs, accusations, lies, innuendo, and false rumors that are continually fired at her by those who are filled with their own sense of imagined omnipotence. We have the opportunity to participate in the upcoming battle. We should all try our best to to join in the fray. When the day is done MOTHER knows best.

*The Pope proclaims infallibly only when speaking about faith & morals Ex-Cathedra

Something “to do” for Lent

February 27, 2013/1 Comment/in Catholic Writing and Publishing/by Larry Peterson

OPPORTUNITY FOR A LENTEN “To Do”

I don’t know about you, but one of the problems I have always had with the Lenten season is what to either “give up” or what “to do”. I was going to give up bread (I love bread) and failed miserably two days in.

Anyway, to the point: My novel, “The Priest and The Peaches” (SoA awarded) sells for $2.99 as a Kindle download. I decided for the season of Lent I’d give it away. I’m offering it for 99 cents, which means as the author, I would make .18 cents per sale. So then I decided that I would donate whatever profits that might come my way to the American Cancer Society.

This I can consider a Lenten “to do”. If any of you guys want to jump in and make a promotional offer on any of your work, maybe you might post it in the combox. You might also post some recommended Lenten readings or something like that.

Wishing you all a contented and peace filled Lenten journey. Larry P.

Special Lenten Offer

THE PRIEST AND THE PEACHES

LENTEN SPECIAL: The novel, The Priest and The Peaches, will be available for .99 cents on Kindle during the Lenten season. This is a story about orphaned siblings trying to stay together as a family and how their faith, coupled with the guidance of their parish priest, helps them to learn about forgiveness, love of neighbor, and the real power of family. A great read for the Lenten season especially for the young folks.

Only .99 on Kindle also available on Nook, iPad, Google, Smashwords and PDF https://thepriestandthepeaches.com (45 reviews available at Amazon)

Balance in Fiction Writing

February 26, 2013/17 Comments/in Catholic Writing and Publishing, Editing, Encouragement for Writers, Fiction, Marketing Your Work, The Writing Life, Writing Tips and Tricks/by Karina Fabian

Balance.

A few days ago, Ellen Gable Hrkach posted a great blog on common errors to avoid in writing fiction. One item she mentioned got me to thinking, namely too much dialogue.

What’s ‘too much’?

A lot of times that depends on the genre you’re writing. Clearly, screenplays and graphic novels rely almost exclusively on dialogue.

Novels, however, require a blend of narrative, description, introspection and dialogue. The ratio of one to the other changes with both prevailing ‘style’ and with genre. Novels written a century ago utilize long passages of description and flowery stretches of dialogue, whereas the trend today is for faster, tighter construction in all areas, especially dialogue.

How do you know if your manuscript has a good balance? Part of this comes down to voice, that elusive factor that makes your work yours. However, we’ve all had the experience of reading a book and finding ourselves skipping over passages, maybe even pages. If we skip too much, we’ll put the book down – and if that happens, we may never pick it up again.

Not good, if you’re the author.

Next time this happens, stop and analyze why you lost interest. Chances are there was too much of one element on the page. Too much description. Too much internal monologue, or perhaps too much narrative. Sometimes too much dialogue, but if that’s problematic, it’s more likely because the ‘voices’ of the characters are too similar. They need to be so distinctive that the reader knows who is speaking. Even so, if they go on for pages, the reader may tire. (For more on dialogue, click here.)

One helpful technique is to analyze your manuscript for the different elements and highlight the pages. Margie Lawson teaches a method for this in her Deep Editing classes. Choose different colors for narrative, description, emotion, dialogue, and internal thought, etc., then go to town with your highlighters (or crayons, or whatever your inner child wants to play with!). If one color dominates a page, revision might be in order. One of my critique partners occasionally says of my work, “This section has too much yellow.” Since we’ve both taken Lawson’s class, I immediately understand what the problem is. My work flows better if the page has a rainbow of colors. Another application of this technique is to apply your highlighters to one (or more) of your favorite published books.

Keep in mind there is no ‘one size fits all’ in fiction. Thank God! Otherwise, reading would get boring! Check out a wide variety of books to see how other authors manipulate the elements that create story.

For instance, action novels such as Lee Child’s Reacher series use lots of dialogue, but it’s nearly all less than one line long. Child also uses relatively long stretches of description/narrative, and he tends to go with one or the other at any given point. His books are effective, powerful, and popular.

Debbie Macomber takes a more blended approach in her wildly successful women’s fiction and romance novels. You will find narrative, description, introspection and dialogue on nearly every page.

Many authors are exploring screenwriting classes, some for the challenge of breaking into a new field, but most for a better understanding of both story structure and use of dialogue. While this is an excellent strategy for honing of specific elements, written fiction is more effective and more engaging when the entire spectrum of tools are used to create the final product.

The subject of balance also touches on pacing, which is a topic deserving of its own post. Narrative, description, and interior monologue can slow the pace—although skillfully applied, they can ratchet up the tension until it is unbearable. Dialogue tends to speed things up.

As you can see, there isn’t a cut-and-dried answer to ‘how much is too much’. But a willingness to analyze and evaluate your writing will always make it stronger. Look at your work with an eye toward what you want to accomplish in a given scene. Learn to use all the tools in your toolbox. Buy books on the craft of writing. Review them once in a while. Take classes. Be open to feedback from trusted colleagues, and then decide how (or if) you will apply their advice.

Find the best balance for your story and your voice.

Have you struggled with this aspect of writing? Do you have tips to share? Please do!

President’s Message – February 2013

February 22, 2013/11 Comments/in Catholic Writing and Publishing, CWG Member News, Encouragement for Writers/by Karina Fabian

photo copyright Josh Hrkach

“The future starts today, not tomorrow.”
Blessed John Paul II

Every year, around this time, winter seems like it will go on forever and many wish for the warmer days of spring. This is much like the mother with a small baby who longs for her child to grow older so she may get more sleep and enjoy her freedom. For the Catholic writer, we often yearn for the day when our current project is finished.

This month, I’ve already seen some of the most brilliant sunrises of the year. When it is stifling hot in August, I will wish for these cooler days. The years when my five children were small seem like a blur to me, and I yearn to experience their baby giggles and toddler exploits and all those joy-filled moments that made up for any lost sleep.

I’ve been working on my current “work in progress” for almost five years. For the past year or so, it has been going nowhere fast. All of a sudden, in late December, I sat down to work on it and it seemed to come together within a few short weeks. Yet, it didn’t, really. It was in the blood, sweat and tears of the previous five years that has allowed for the final stages to go more smoothly.

It is in these day-to-day struggles that we, as Catholics, not only can grow in our particular vocation, but we can also increase in virtue.

And so…I encourage you to see the positive in every day. Enjoy the winter sunsets, your baby’s smiles and your characters’ exploits.

In CWG news, the Board has recently approved a new logo. Plans are moving forward for the redevelopment of the CWG website. New members are joining. Soon, we will be organizing and planning for the Catholic Writers Conference Live (August 7-9) and the Catholic Writers Retreat in October.

And if I can brag for a brief moment: earlier this week, for the first time ever, ALL SIX of my company’s books (including my four) were simultaneously on at least one Kindle bestseller list for three days! How cool is that? When I first started writing Catholic fiction, a self-proclaimed expert told me, “Nobody buys Catholic fiction.” I guess that self-proclaimed expert had no idea what he was talking about.

As always, if you have a concern, a question or just want to chat about writing or publishing, please feel free to drop me a line: president(at)catholicwritersguild.com

Blessings,

Ellen Gable Hrkach
President, Catholic Writers Guild

Improving Your Fiction Manuscript: Common Errors To Avoid

February 11, 2013/13 Comments/in Catholic Writing and Publishing, Fiction, Self-Publishing/by Karina Fabian

A good novel begins with a great story, a compelling plot, interesting characters. But it doesn’t end there. A good novel also needs to be well written.

I’ve been editing other authors’ novels for two years and writing novels for ten years. What follows are the most common mistakes I see in fiction manuscripts and self-published novels. By finding and fixing these common errors, you can improve your manuscript before it gets to the editor.

1. Overuse of Adverbs
If you’re working on a manuscript right now, do a “find” or “search” for every word that ends with ly. Now remove half of them. Your manuscript is already better. Even without doing a search or find, read each sentence. Are there two adverbs in some sentences? Recent manuscripts I’ve read contain sentences with two or three adverbs.

2. Repetitive Wording
Just, so, very, some. It’s difficult for an author to see his/her own mistakes. Have someone else read through your manuscript to assist you with this. For me, I often can’t see that I often use the same word often in the same sentence (see what I mean?) Or…read your manuscript backwards. This helps to show you areas of repetitive wording and other common errors.

3. Show Don’t Tell
This is a big newbie mistake.

He was sad.
She was amazed.
The look on her face was happy.

Now go through your manuscript and pick out all the times an emotion is simply stated and not described. Instead of writing “He was sad,” try something like “his shoulders slumped” or “his eyes were etched in grief.” Instead of writing “She was amazed,” experiment with different descriptions. One of the most helpful resources I’ve found is The Emotion Thesaurus.

A seasoned reader can spot a badly written, amateur book a mile away and usually within the first two pages. And…it will be more interesting for your reader if you allow them to visualize what’s going on.

4. Too Much Interior Thought
When I presented the initial draft of my first novel to my editor, one of her biggest complaints was “too much interior thinking.” When a character’s italicized thoughts are on every page, twice a page, that’s too much. It’s almost as if the author is lazy and just wants to tell the reader exactly what the character is thinking. Interior thought is fine when used sparingly, but not several times a page. Describe how they’re feeling instead.

5. Comma Errors, Grammar Errors
A great book for helping fix comma errors is:Eats, Shoots and Leaves. As well, search on Amazon for good grammar books. There are many.

6. Exclamation Points!
First-time novelists tend to use too many exclamation points. Do a search and omit most of them (replacing them with descriptions of the tone or face).

7. Too Much Dialogue
My first novel, Emily’s Hope, is 60 percent dialogue and 40 percent narrative. As a beginner, I didn’t know any better. Quality novels tend to use dialogue to serve the narrative, not the other way around. Dialogue can also be a lazy way to show character development. Dialogue is important, but if it’s the mainstay of your book, write a screenplay instead.

8. Underestimating the Intelligence of the Reader (e.g. hitting the reader over the head)
Here’s an example: He was sad. He was depressed. It was hard for him because he seemed so sad. Okay, we get it. He’s sad. Once is enough…and even at that, it’s better to describe what he looks like and feels like.

9. Avoid Descriptive Clichés or Sayings
“She felt like a million bucks”
“Smoother than a baby’s bottom”
Well, you can think of many. Create your own descriptive metaphors and similes instead of using well-known cliches.

10. Point of View
Many first-time novelists tend to use omniscient point of view (POV), that is, in any given scene, the author shows what’s going on in everyone’s mind, even within the same paragraph. This is difficult to do well, even for the experienced, bestselling novelist. And…it can be confusing for the reader. If you want your readers to bond with the characters, try using third person (intimate) POV. For more information, check out my guest post for Savvy Authors.

Eliminating these common errors will improve your manuscript before it even gets to the editor.

Are you working on a fiction manuscript? Do you have any favorite writing books you’d like to share? Please feel free to comment below.

Image purchased from iStock.

President’s Message – January 25

January 25, 2013/0 Comments/in Catholic Writers Conference Live, Catholic Writers Guild, Catholic Writing and Publishing/by Karina Fabian

photo copyright Ellen Gable Hrkach

Here in Canada, the longest month of the year is January, not only because it has 31 days, but because it’s usually snowy, cold and dreary for most of the month. It hasn’t exactly been dreary, but it has definitely been snowy. To date, we’ve had 83 cms of snow (just under three feet) with no indication that it will slow down.

Strangely, enough – and I’m not sure this is the case for other writers – January is usually my most “fertile” writing month. Ideas come so fast I don’t have enough time to write them all down. Not sure why, but it’s been that way for the past ten years.

On a sad note, we have had to cancel the Catholic Writers Conference Online this year. CWG has been holding an online conference for the past six years. I’ve attended and presented at most of these and have enjoyed them immensely. Karina Fabian, the past coordinator, writes about it here.

We are still holding the Catholic Writers Conference Live in Somerset, New Jersey (August 7-9), as well as our Catholic Writers’ Retreat in October. We’ll be sharing more details about both of those upcoming events in future blog posts and newsletters.

And, for those of you who have difficulties with the Catholic Writers Conference website, a newly revamped, newly designed, more easy to manage website is coming.

I will keep all of you in prayer and hope you will do the same for me.

Blessings,

Ellen Gable Hrkach
President, Catholic Writers Guild

Creaky Bones? Fitness for Writers

January 22, 2013/15 Comments/in Catholic Writing and Publishing, Encouragement for Writers, Humour, The Writing Life/by Karina Fabian

My granddaughter, who is three, thinks that I am really (stretch that word out for maximum effect) old. We have a standing joke: Gramma has ‘creaky bones’. We even have a song and a dance to go with it, and it’s great fun. Of course, I’m not that old, nor do I have creaky bones. Er, well, since this is the Catholic Writers Blog, I’d better be totally truthful.

Most of the time I don’t have creaky bones.

But sometimes I do, and this condition is most often associated with writing, one of my favorite activities in the world.

However, writing is a solitary activity that is most often done while sitting. There are some issues common to writers, simply because of the nature of the work. Neck soreness, posture problems, difficulty in managing weight, carpal tunnel syndrome… The list goes on, and I wouldn’t be surprised if you can add to it.

Big, big disclaimer here! I am not giving any medical advice, just pointing out common sense things we can do to counteract the, ahem, hazards of our profession. For some great discussion and support, visit The Healthy Writer. This blog was formed a couple of years ago by authors who recognized the benefits of raising awareness regarding health topics specific to writers.

One of the first things to address is the ergonomics of your work station. Invest in a great chair – not a good chair, a great one. Find one that encourages – nay! – compels good posture. You’ll have to provide the muscle for attaining and maintaining that posture, although often all that is required awareness of your spine, shoulders, and alignment. For me, when I think about it, I sit up straight. When I don’t, I can count on encountering creaky bones.

Getting up from the chair is important, too. Some writers set timers to stay in the chair and write; don’t overlook the idea of setting a timer to get out of the chair once an hour and walk around. I sometimes lose track of time when I’m absorbed in my work, and when I surface, I’m stiff. It helps to get up, step outside, and remind myself there is a beautiful world out there. It clears my mind, too, which is always a plus when I go back to work.

You can spend a lot of money to buy a treadmill work station, as they are making inroads in some work environments. Or you can jerry-rig a desk to an existing treadmill. (I did mine with a piece of plywood and a couple of bungee cords.) Either way, set it at a very low pace and write as you stroll. While you aren’t building a sweat and knocking out the miles, you are moving. Here’s a great example of making it fun, too: award-winning author Caroline Fyffe “Walking Across America” on her treadmill. There are also stationary bicycles out there that incorporate a built-on desk. Again, with a bit of ingenuity, you can get a similar end product without spending as many dollars. (*I am not endorsing any products; these were simply links I came across while researching.)

Stretching, yoga, or swimming can be good for tight muscles. Weight lifting can build muscle and increase metabolism. Pay attention to what you put into your body, too. Choose healthy foods; drink adequate water and don’t overdose on caffeine, that quintessential author staple!

Some simple stretches that I’ve learned (again, check with a doctor or physical therapist if you have any musculoskeletal issues) include putting my arms out to the side, elbows level with or slightly above my shoulders, then bending at the elbow and lifting my hands so I look like a football goal post; I find a door and rest my forearms and palms on the jambs and gently lean forward. This gives a great stretch to the chest muscles, which tend to tighten up as I hunch over the computer.

Another great one: extend one arm straight out to the front at or near shoulder height, palm up; bend the wrist so palm is up and out, away from the body, and fingers point toward the floor. Use the other hand to apply gentle traction to palm and fingers for stretching. This may help relieve symptoms of carpal tunnel syndrome.

For any stretch, do what you are able and do not force a stretch, ever. Also, never bounce or apply jerky pressure to a stretch.

If you’re on a deadline or feeling pressured, take frequent breaks to roll your shoulders and roatate your head and neck. The best stress-buster of all? Hugs. You can’t find a better tension reliever than that.

Do you deal with other physical challenges as a result of your vocation as writer? Have any tips for the rest of us? Please share! I know I’m not the only one!