Friday, March 5, 2010

Obama's Health Care and the writer...




A Big Hello from Lisa Mondello. I want to take a moment for a quick shout out to our regular blog visitors from the US, Canada, Romania, Australia, Vietnam, the Philippines, Africa, France, Denmark, Netherlands and the UK. It's always great to see where the Craftie Ladies of Suspense visitors originate from and we appreciate you coming back.

St. Patty's Day is going to be here soon and since our Valentine's Day story was such a hit, we're going to do another story for St. Patrick's Day. More on that in a few days when everything is squared away.

And if you don't want to miss a single post of the St. Patty's Day story, make sure you scroll down to the bottom of the page and sign up to be a FAN on the Craftie Ladies of Suspense FACEBOOK page.

Now, to my subject heading. If you're a writer, chances are you've pulled a "few" all nighters to get a manuscript finish by the deadline. I know myself that I'm a back-to-the-wall-writer and I thrive that way. When I'm on a deadline (which is pretty much all the time since I write fiction AND non-fiction work) I set my date on the calendar for the project and the juices of the muse start flowing. I write and revise non-stop when I'm on deadline. I need a timer to remember to pick the kids up from school or that I've put something on the stove. (One day I'll tell you how I turned hard boiled eggs into popcorn!) But those moments when words are flowing and the magic of the story is coming together is really exciting.

What does this have to do with Obama and health care? Pulling all nighters, grabbing a bite to eat (usually not as healthy as I'd like) and running from one commitment to the next can wear you down very quickly. It's hard to stay healthy and get regular exercise when you're chained to your computer. After a long haul, you'd think I'd take a moment to catch my breath and enjoy being done with a writing project. Unfortunately, when I'm on a tight deadline my house suffers. So I go from one marathon project and start up again with marathon cleaning! It's a good thing I don't notice the dust when while I'm writing.

I always tease my husband and tell him that one day when I'm rich and famous I'll hire a housekeeper to do my cleaning and laundry. Well, that day hasn't come...yet.

What do you do to keep yourself healthy when you're on a deadline? How do you fit in exercise, daily committments AND give your writing projects your all? For me, I am on a first name basis with the local take-out restaurants. And I truly LOVE my crock pot. If I'm organized for 15 minutes in the morning I always feel like someone else has cooked dinner for me when I emerge from my little writing room at the end of the day. I wonder if there is a special line in Obama's Health Care package that addresses the working writer. What do you think?

Until next time, many blessings, Lisa Mondello

2 comments:

EllenToo said...

I don't know about Obama and his health care but I do know I am delighted that you are going to have a St. Patty's Day story. And then you can have an Easter story in April.

Debby Giusti said...

Yes, Ellen, we're planning to write an Easter story, as well. Glad you enjoy the stories!

Lenora will start us off again for the St. Patty's Day tale. I'm on second so be sure to catch each exciting segment! :)