I used to think the voices in my head made me a crazy person. But turns out, they were just untold stories, characters looking for a way out. Mr. Faulkner knew me well. Even when I think I want to give up this crazy world of indie publishing, the characters in my mind scream out, begging to be put on paper so they can live out their own dreams and come to life.
But you know what? Writing takes effort, writing takes time. Like most things that are good for us, writing takes discipline.
During the holidays discipline takes a back seat. It’s easy for us to stop doing the things that are good for us, things like eating healthy, getting enough sleep, drinking lots of water and exercising. If you’re like me, you haven’t been doing these things in…well, a long, long time.
So as 2015 comes to a close, I am more determined than ever to put the characters in my head on to paper and not give up no matter how hard things get. I’m also committing to taking better care of myself. I plan to spend more time outdoors, hitting the road with the shoes on my feet and the headphones in my ears, listening to some great books. Audible and Whisper Sync are slowly bankrupting me, but maybe they’ll help keep me disciplined. I am also adamant I am going to eat a bit cleaner and, in particular, drink more water. It seems such a simple thing, but it is hard to get into the habit of it. As for my sleep, I’m hoping that sorts itself out as I make other changes, but if not I have seen some cool dab rigs and I might consider using cannabis. Its anti-anxiety properties might be what I need to help me destress before bed, plus THC has been said to be responsible for inducing sleep.
If there is a story in you, get it out. Spend time with your characters. And take time to take care of yourself, too.