With the help of SparkPeople and accountability partners, I’m striving to lose weight. Again. My weight has been a constant battle for the past 15 years . Part of my weight increase stems from health issues, but some comes from liking food and disliking exercise.
Losing weight is more helpful this time because I have a tangible goal—Lakeside Reunion, my debut novel releases this fall. I would like to have a stronger, healthier, and smaller body by my book launch party on November 5.
With SparkPeople and Leslie Sansone’s Walk Away the Pounds, I’m able to stay within my nutritional limits and strengthen my body in a way that doesn’t feel like work. This time, I want it enough to make it happen.
The same goes with writing.
You’ve heard people say “I want to write a book someday.” The difference between those who do and those who don’t is writers write.
Many wanna-be writers have plenty of reasons—lack of time, lack of ability, lack of inspiration.
Time is tough when you’re juggling family, work, and life, but it can be done. Several years ago, I worked full-time, went to school part-time, cared for my family, and still wrote. It wasn’t easy. I wanted it badly enough so I did it.
I hosted a My Book Therapy chat last year about Carving Out Writing Time. FlyLadysays you can do anything in 15 minutes. One of my favorite writing tools is adownloadable timer. My Book Therapy offers amazing resources to learn the craft of writing. And inspiration is everywhere.
You may be going through challenges in your life right now—job changes, losses of loved ones, health issues. This post isn’t meant to make you feel guilty about not writing. Those stresses make it hard to focus on a fictional happily ever after. Capture those feelings in an emotional journal to use when you do have time to write. You’ll be able to provide a deeper emotional journey for your characters and a stronger reading experience for your audience.
Stretch your writing muscles. If you want to write, find 15 minutes in your day, and write something. Keep at it each day and soon, you’ll see the fruits of your labor.
Your Turn: Are you a writer or someone who plans to write someday? If you’re a writer, how do you write through the tough times? If you’re not writing yet, but want to, what steps do you have in place to get started? How can the MBT Ponderers help you?
Lisa, I go up and down on the scales myself and it's tough to lose weight. I'll be praying for you. I think you look fabulous. By the way, I covet your alluring dimple in your chin. I seem to want to give ALL my characters one! ha. Writing through the tough times seems easier to me because it's my way of escaping it for awhile and when I write I also feel close to the Lord since it's for His glory I do it. I never thought about writing down my feelings when I do go through things to look back on them as tools to help my characters. That's a great idea. Thanks! PS I think my hubby ordered me a book buddy for M Day! Woot!
Great post, Lisa. So true – if we want something bad enough, we'll do it.
Lisa, after I read your tweet about Leslie's Walk at Home website, I went and tried it. I love the idea that I can jump up from the computer and gets some quick exercise in without having to go too far. It energizes the writing too!
Thanks for sharing that and good luck on your journey.
You have read my mind, Going through some rough times here and thinking about stopping for awhile as I want to be able to write more upbeat stuff–so not sure what to do.