Self care for writers -

10Jul 2017 by Dianna Gunn

Why you should never feel guilty about taking time to write

As a freelance writer and an author with 20 books outlined and only one published, I always feel guilty when I do literally anything other than write, but I know the opposite is true for many writers. They--and probably you--have day jobs, families, and friends vying for their limited time, not to mention all the things that need to happen to keep their homes and bodies running properly. They feel guilty taking time away from these things to write, and when they do get their butt into the chair, there's always a voice nagging them with all the other things they could be doing. Once upon a time, I struggled with this type of guilt too. Then I realized how much it weighed me down, how it made it difficult…

30Jan 2017 by Dianna L. Gunn

When you feel like the world is about to end

Self care for writers

If you pay any attention to the news, you'll know that the developed world seems to be on a catastrophic and awfully fast-moving downward spiral. The UK is run by an extremely conservative party bent on leaving the EU, no matter how much it screws up their country. America is run by a tyrant with the temper of a four year old boy, and even though both parties spoke openly about what a bigoted asshole he is during the election, the vast majority of American politicians are meekly bowing their heads and accepting the destruction of the democracy they claim to love so much. Here in Canada, things are marginally better. Our government doesn't resemble a dumpster fire. Our prime minister isn't trying to turn this country into a dictatorship.…

31May 2016 by Dianna L. Gunn

Understanding resistance

Mental Health, Mental Health, Self care for writers

Over the last few days I've been reading the DIY MFA book, a writing book by one of my favourite bloggers and writing teachers, Gabriela Pereira. I'm going to post a review of the entire book next week, but today I wanted to examine a specific concept in closer detail: the idea of using resistance as a guide. This idea--the idea that resistance is a good thing because it forces you to grow into a stronger writer--is one I've heard stated in many different ways over the years(or, more accurately, read stated many different ways on different blogs). It's one that resonates with me strongly, but to me it doesn't necessarily mean forcing yourself through the piece anyway. Sometimes it means you need to stop and develop your characters or your world more thoroughly.…

26Aug 2014 by Dianna L. Gunn

Self Confidence For Writers Part 6: Final Thoughts

Mental Health, Self care for writers

When you've been writing for five, ten, fifteen years and have yet to see more than a little extra pocket money from your effort, it's easy to feel like you've accomplished nothing. And it's completely natural to think about giving up once in a while. It would certainly be easier to do just about anything else. Over the past few weeks I've discussed how various factors impact your self confidence, how to deal with different situations and what routines you can build to permanently improve your self confidence. These strategies are all useful, but the best way to build your self confidence is to make consistent progress towards your life goals. We all have issues, things we want to change about ourselves. Many of us also have big career dreams…

19Aug 2014 by Dianna L. Gunn

Self Confidence For Writers Part 5: Daily Exercises to Build Confidence

Mental Health, Self care for writers

You probably know that increased confidence can improve every aspect of your life. It will help you smile in the face of rejection, get the promotion you want, sell your books. Most people will even tell you that confidence is one of the biggest factors that makes someone an attractive date. So how do you boost your confidence? For most people, it takes concentrated effort on a daily basis. It's about erasing negative thought patterns and learning to trust yourself. And no matter how hard you work, sooner or later something's going to deliver a blow to your confidence. How much of a blow--and how quickly you recover--depends on your discipline. Simple daily routines can help you build self confidence: 1. Stretch. A brisk walk or run might also be…

05Aug 2014 by Dianna L. Gunn

Self Confidence For Writers Part 3: Nurturing Relationships

Mental Health, Self care for writers

The right community can provide a massive boost of self confidence to any writer. Writers have a tendency to be more introverted than extroverted, but in the end we all need people. More specifically, we need the right people in our lives. Nobody can go through life completely on their own. Everybody needs help sometimes. Once in a while we all need a shoulder to cry on, a few encouraging words, even somebody to just listen while we rant and rave about how some days we can't stand anyone. Our relationships with non-writers matter just as much as our relationships with writers. I've already talked at length about the benefits of joining a great writing community and if you follow any author blogs, sooner or later you see a great…

22Jul 2014 by Dianna L. Gunn

Self Confidence For Writers Part 1

Mental Health, Self care for writers

Do you sometimes wonder if everything you're writing is complete garbage? Are you afraid to submit your work because you don't think it's good enough? Afraid that you'll never find an editor willing to give you a chance? Not confident you have the stamina for self publishing? Every writer struggles with these feelings, and there's a pretty good chance you struggle with self confidence in more than one area of your life. You might not believe you can ever get a promotion at your day job, or that you're not the kind of person who can attract a good romantic partner, or that you're not smart enough to understand physics or learn a new language. Discovering who you are and what you are capable of is part of the human…

23Jun 2014 by Dianna L. Gunn

13 Ways to improve your day — and your life

Self care for writers

For many writers, life is a constant struggle. Those of us whose books remain unpublished after years of work doubt our ability to write and wonder why we started. Those who have found success fear with each book that their chain of success will be broken. Many of us also struggle with depression. Many writers don't make a living on their work and instead have jobs they hate--or at least jobs that don't fulfill them but are necessary to pay the bills. While I'm lucky enough to be working from home as a freelance writer, I've struggled with depression for years and I may not ever fully conquer it. But now I spend most of my time happy and enjoying life. You may need something more drastic than anything on…

26May 2014 by Dianna L. Gunn

Keeping Your Writing Space Clean

Self care for writers

Your bedroom's a little messy and you're totally fine with that. There are probably some nooks and crannies you almost always ignore when cleaning up. I'll admit, I don't keep my home in perfect condition all the time either. Life gets in the way and there are many worse things than a couple pairs of dirty socks on the floor. Still, no matter how messy you let the rest of the house become, it's important to keep your writing space clean. You need some kind of organization. Everything you're likely to need in a given day should be within easy reach. All the things you need should have designated homes where they return when you're done with them. Even a small work area can seem spacious if it's well organized…

12May 2014 by Dianna L. Gunn

How to Harness Creative Energy When You’re Exhausted

Inspirational, Self care for writers, Writing

Insomnia has long been a common ailment among writers. Most people will probably go through a few bouts of insomnia during their lifetime. There's a good chance you've already been through several--and that you'll experience several more. Many writers--at least among those I've met--do the bulk of their work late at night. I tend to get quite a few ideas at 4AM, and while not all are good, the sheer number means some always are. Still, a person can only go so many days without sleeping properly in a row. Sooner or later you're going to feel the effects. Over the years I've learned a number of tricks to help myself sleep, but much like my wrist problems, I know sleep problems will eventually return. So I've also developed a…