I was flipping through a book on freelance writing where the author wrote that exercise and eating right should be part of every writer’s routine. I will agree that when I regularly exercise I have more energy and handle stress better. But what happened to good ole’ fashioned messed up writers? Should we go back in time and sober up Hemingway in order to get better writing? I’m not condoning alcoholism, but it has fueled some pretty interesting stories.
Maybe healthier people are better organized or more prolific because they feel so great. And, of course, freelance non-fiction writing and creative writing are very different things. Even so, I can’t help but think that writers need a couple of screws loose to submit themselves to the torture that is putting thoughts into words on a regular basis. Whether we like it or not that often manifests as unhealthy behavior.
I don’t think you need to be healthy to be a good writer. What I have noticed personally, though, is that participating in a daily writing habit is contributing to my overall health. Maintaining one habit makes it easier to maintain other habits like a daily walk or eating more fruits and veggies. But I plan to keep (most of) the craziness that makes me me.
HourADayWriter 