tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5704943052235281766.post2471015470465815307..comments2024-03-29T05:45:39.184-06:00Comments on Blood-Red Pencil: The Best Writing Year Ever, With Less Stress Danihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14471919576687777886noreply@blogger.comBlogger13125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5704943052235281766.post-58998704832988154592020-01-29T15:43:20.267-07:002020-01-29T15:43:20.267-07:00Congratulations and best wishes on your book Ann.
...Congratulations and best wishes on your book Ann.<br /><br />My advice on stress reduction--inventory your life. Mind you, I have never succeeded in this, except with certain must-do things, like buying food. I stress on shopping. When I found myself in the store for the umpteenth time, I started planning menus and making lists and, incidentally, reducing binge eating. And I saved the menus and lists so as not to reinvent the wheel continuously. <br /><br />Most must-dos are stressful, so organizing them works for me.Liz V.noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5704943052235281766.post-58191580817095157282020-01-29T10:34:03.464-07:002020-01-29T10:34:03.464-07:00First, congratulations on your publication. That a...First, congratulations on your publication. That alone must relieve some stress. No more agonizing about sentences, plot points, punctuation, etc, until you reread and think you wish you could change one little thing. Maybe that only happens to me. We all need a bit of stress relief these days. Thanks for the great ideas.Polly Iyerhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/05729656119287702191noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5704943052235281766.post-22766790142243992020-01-28T23:37:11.731-07:002020-01-28T23:37:11.731-07:00Great post, Ann, and and good advice to help other...Great post, Ann, and and good advice to help other writers trying to manage and meet stressful deadlines. <br /><br />I confess to using chocolate and brownies to manage my stress, both writing-related and otherwise. I also practice deep breathing, deliberate calm and walk 3 miles a day seven days a week, and I never miss a day.<br /><br />So in this karmic world in which we live, I guess what I am saying is that I hope the mindfulness and regular walking somehow make up for the sins I regularly commit with chocolate.Pat Smithhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/11004933270844397256noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5704943052235281766.post-17141266020325206282020-01-28T23:31:35.404-07:002020-01-28T23:31:35.404-07:00This comment has been removed by the author.Pat Smithhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/11004933270844397256noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5704943052235281766.post-8560972542625319222020-01-28T20:12:30.675-07:002020-01-28T20:12:30.675-07:00Believe it or not, I meditate every single day in ...Believe it or not, I meditate every single day in the morning. I set my clock so I am able to add the time and it has paid off for me. I also, with few exceptions attend my weekly 'improv' writing group. Not only does the prompts help me find the events of the story I'm working on, it also helps shut the censor off in my head and lets the words flow. (The major rule, you always write, always read and no critiquing allowed). DorisRenaissance Womenhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/09045401344374224512noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5704943052235281766.post-42660072973914369502020-01-28T19:41:46.012-07:002020-01-28T19:41:46.012-07:00That's a good one, Pat. I'm going to keep ...That's a good one, Pat. I'm going to keep it in mind (or maybe write it and pin it on a nearby wall). This is doable even at work in the cubicle farm...Ann Parkerhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/05422047704540904303noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5704943052235281766.post-20725491033304192352020-01-28T19:40:51.683-07:002020-01-28T19:40:51.683-07:00Hi Maryann... When the fun things stop being fun, ...Hi Maryann... When the fun things stop being fun, I agree: it's a good time to stop and do something different. Or heck, maybe do nothing and just "be" for a while. :-)Ann Parkerhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/05422047704540904303noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5704943052235281766.post-24271616495369050792020-01-28T19:39:08.323-07:002020-01-28T19:39:08.323-07:00Hi Linda! Sometimes just being "aware" o...Hi Linda! Sometimes just being "aware" of what's going on helps, right? :-) Ann Parkerhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/05422047704540904303noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5704943052235281766.post-39573998230298054102020-01-28T19:38:19.203-07:002020-01-28T19:38:19.203-07:00Ah life, it gets in the way of best intentions, ri...Ah life, it gets in the way of best intentions, right? One thing that helps me "in the moment" is to repeat: "Right now, everything is okay" (assuming it isn't a moment of crisis, of course). Ann Parkerhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/05422047704540904303noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5704943052235281766.post-29741728478741312942020-01-28T10:59:41.667-07:002020-01-28T10:59:41.667-07:00We can only do our best when stressed, Ann. What h...We can only do our best when stressed, Ann. What helps me the most is taking 5 minutes to sit (or lie down), breathe, and relax my muscles, one group at a time. Anyone can take that 5 minutes.Patricia Stolteyhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/17192369425956406122noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5704943052235281766.post-45154322183616381542020-01-28T10:59:27.484-07:002020-01-28T10:59:27.484-07:00I respectfully disagree with Shaban. I think most ...I respectfully disagree with Shaban. I think most of the advice is good and realistic. It only takes five minutes to do some deep breathing Yoga style to relieve a lot of stress tension. And exercise is also great. I feel so much better after walking my dog for a mile. <br /><br />It all comes down to decisions we make: to be happy despite whatever is going on in our lives, to be productive when we are at the keyboard - ignoring the pull of social media, and to do things that refresh our creative spirits. I do a lot of coloring and quilting, but stop the minute I'm not having fun. I try not to pile on any extra frustration.Maryannwriteshttps://www.blogger.com/profile/09479027709233807149noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5704943052235281766.post-88189541823636199072020-01-28T10:59:25.994-07:002020-01-28T10:59:25.994-07:00As a writer who lives with "life gets in the ...As a writer who lives with "life gets in the way" syndrome, I empathize. For me, the most practical stress-reducing suggestion is the one about distractions. Thanks for sharing, Ann. :-)Linda Lanehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/06686488133905538811noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5704943052235281766.post-57395054464521590252020-01-28T05:46:09.662-07:002020-01-28T05:46:09.662-07:00The advice you listed is great but I do not think ...The advice you listed is great but I do not think its practical or realistic at all. You are right, they would work in a vacuum but sadly life is a bit more complicated than just doing things that are right for you.<br /><br />Good luck with your best writing year ever and may it be so.<br /><br />https://aab-edu.net/Shabanhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/06658127172025682574noreply@blogger.com